The Uncommon Area

Is AI changing business for better or for worse?

In this condensed edition of Episode 103 of The Uncommon Area, host Matthew Holbrook sits down with Chris Lema and Brad Perry to explore the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence and what it means for the future of business.

Covering the first 15 minutes of their conversation, this shorter edition explores how quickly AI is advancing, the opportunities it's creating, and the questions businesses should be asking as technology continues to reshape the way we work.

Is AI opening the door to new possibilities, or are we overlooking some of the risks that come with it?

🎧 Want to hear more? Watch the full episode, "For Better or For Worse: The AI Revolution | Ep. 103," on our YouTube channel, or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Subscribe to The Uncommon Area for more conversations about technology, leadership, business, and the future of community management.

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AI is making it easier than ever to analyze data, automate work, and even build custom software. But easier doesn't always mean better, and the consequences of getting it wrong can be significant.

Matthew Holbrook welcomes Chris Lema, CEO of Motivation Code, and Brad Perry, CIO of Action Property Management, for a conversation about what the AI revolution actually means for businesses and the customers who depend on them.

They explore why industry expertise still matters when building with AI, how companies can turn their data into something useful, and what customers should look for when evaluating AI-powered services. Chris also shares why a surprisingly positive experience with his own HOA changed his perspective on what great service can look like.

The discussion ultimately raises a question for every service business: When AI gives your employees more time, what will you do with it?

Listen to The Uncommon Area for a practical look at the opportunities, risks, and decisions shaping the future of AI in business.

Follow The Uncommon Area for expert-led discussions on HOA law, governance, and property management best practices. Rather watch the episode? Subscribe to our YouTube channel or go to our page. Have a topic you’d like covered? Email us at [email protected] or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

Chapters

00:00 – Why most people shouldn't build software with AI

00:54 – Introducing Chris Lema and Brad Perry

03:28 – The evolution of AI and the rise of AI agents

05:11 – How the AI revolution compares to the early internet

12:23 – What will differentiate companies in an AI-driven world?

18:50 – Why owning and understanding your data matters

24:28 – Making data accessible to the right people

29:37 – The importance of context and accuracy in AI

37:25 – AI, business judgment, and the economics of service

41:53 – Should companies build their own software with AI?

47:30 – How AI is changing software development

53:25 – The hidden risks of AI-generated software

1:02:19 – Turning AI prototypes into enterprise applications

1:07:31 – Connecting business systems with APIs and AI agents

1:12:43 – Chris Lema's HOA experience and the value of great service

1:17:01 – Using AI to create more meaningful human interactions

1:18:41 – Closing thoughts

Can a homeowner with a perfect credit score still lose their mortgage? Yes, if their condominium association does not meet Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines. In this episode of The Uncommon Area, HOA attorney Clint Brown joins host Matthew Holbrook to break down the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac lender letter that is reshaping condominium loan approvals nationwide.

Clint explains why the limited review process is gone, why every condo loan application now goes through a full review, and what HOA boards and community association managers must do to stay compliant. Topics covered include the shift from actual cash value to 100% replacement cost insurance coverage, the $50,000 per unit insurance deductible cap, the 36 month reserve study requirement, what it actually means for an association to be fully funded, and the increase in required reserve contributions from 10% to 15% of annual assessment income.

Whether you serve on an HOA board, manage condominium associations, or are a condo owner preparing to sell, this episode gives you a practical compliance roadmap to avoid loan denials and protect your community's fair market value.

0:00 Introduction: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Condo Guidelines

1:29 Why HOA Boards Should Care About Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

3:19 The Cost of a Denied Condo Loan

4:16 The March Lender Letter Ends the Limited Review

7:52 Three Compliance Criteria Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Changed

8:46 Condo Insurance Requirements: Replacement Cost vs Actual Cash Value

12:03 Reserve Study Requirements and What Fully Funded Means

15:59 Reserve Contribution Rules: 10% to 15% of Assessment Income

18:22 Does the HOA Blacklist Still Exist?

21:19 What to Do When a Condo Loan Is Denied

22:28 Accurate Reporting and Fraud Risk for HOA Boards

24:27 Closing Thoughts

Follow The Uncommon Area for expert-led discussions on HOA law, governance, and property management best practices. Rather watch the episode? Subscribe to our YouTube channel or go to our page. Have a topic you’d like covered? Email us at [email protected] or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

Is 70% funded really the gold standard for HOA reserves?

In this episode of The Uncommon Area, Matthew Holbrook sits down with Andrew Stoutenburg of Reserve Advisors to take a closer look at what percent funded actually measures, where it falls short, and why many well-run communities never climb above 30% funded. As Andrew puts it, the goal is having the right money at the right time.

Matthew and Andrew cover why even brand-new communities need a reserve study, how percent funded is calculated, and what it really means to be adequately funded. Andrew also breaks down the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac move from 10% to 15% of condo assessments going to reserves, the difference between Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 reserve studies, and how boards should handle repairs, upgrades and aging systems like plumbing.

In this episode:

- Why reserves matter from day one

- How percent funded works and where it can mislead

- Reserve rules in Texas and California

- New Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac condo requirements

- The three levels of reserve studies

- Repairs vs. replacements vs. upgrades

- The five or six assets that drive your reserve funding

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to The Uncommon Area

00:24 Why every association needs a reserve study

01:11 New communities and owners who plan to move

04:16 What percent funded means

08:30 Where percent funded falls short

09:56 What "safe" and adequately funded really mean

12:29 Baseline threshold and full funding plans

18:07 Reserve rules in Texas and California

18:55 New Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac condo requirements

22:49 When lenders expect a reserve study

25:29 Level 1 reserve studies

27:01 Level 2 updates with a site visit

29:05 Assets that were never reserved for

31:19 Why maintenance records matter

33:32 Major repairs vs operating expenses

39:01 Upgrades vs capital improvements

43:31 The 30 to 40 year funding horizon

45:21 Focus on your five or six biggest assets

48:10 Level 3 updates without a site visit

50:17 Portfolio managers and reserve study data

53:46 Closing thoughts

More on Andrew at Reserve Advisors: https://www.reserveadvisors.com/who-we-are/our-team/andrew-stoutenburg-pe-rs/

Follow The Uncommon Area for expert-led discussions on HOA law, governance, and property management best practices. Rather watch the episode? Subscribe to our YouTube channel or go to our page. Have a topic you’d like covered? Email us at [email protected] or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

What does the Corporate Transparency Act mean for HOA and condominium association boards?

In Episode 100 of The Uncommon Area, Matthew Holbrook sits down with Phoebe Neseth, Vice President of Government Relations for Community Associations Institute, to discuss the Corporate Transparency Act and the important updates surrounding its application to community associations.

The conversation explores why the CTA raised concerns for volunteer HOA board members, including personal information requirements, ongoing administrative responsibilities, potential penalties, and the possibility that federal compliance requirements could make it even harder to encourage homeowners to serve on their boards.

Phoebe also explains CAI's advocacy efforts, including work with Congress, the U.S. Treasury Department, and federal litigation. She shares the current regulatory status discussed in this episode, pending legislation, and why community association leaders should continue paying attention to this issue.

Follow The Uncommon Area for expert-led discussions on HOA law, governance, and property management best practices. Rather watch the episode? Subscribe to our YouTube channel or go to our page. Have a topic you’d like covered? Email us at [email protected] or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

01:03 Introducing Phoebe Neseth and the Corporate Transparency Act

01:52 What is the Corporate Transparency Act?

02:20 What beneficial ownership reporting requires

03:17 What is FinCEN?

04:08 Why the Corporate Transparency Act affects HOAs

04:48 Why homeowners associations were included

05:29 Why CAI opposed applying the CTA to community associations

06:28 How HOA boards differ from corporate boards

07:28 Privacy concerns and administrative requirements

08:20 Why the CTA could make volunteer recruitment harder

09:47 CAI's three-pronged approach

10:13 Working with Congress on an exemption

11:02 Meeting with the U.S. Treasury Department

11:30 Filing a federal lawsuit

12:47 The Treasury Department pauses CTA filing requirements

13:35 The major update for HOAs and U.S. corporations

14:28 Is the Corporate Transparency Act still law?

15:11 H.R. 425 and Senate Bill 100

16:00 Why CAI supports repeal legislation

17:21 Why this update matters for HOA board members

18:33 What community associations should watch next

20:14 Final thoughts and advocacy update

Most HOA boards read the budget every month. Almost none read the balance sheet, and that is where financial trouble actually shows up first.

Host Matthew Holbrook talks with Stacie Donnelly, CFO of Condominium Financial Management, and Bob Spillar, a longtime HOA board member and California Legislative Action Committee member, about what to check on a balance sheet before approving next year's budget, including unfunded reserves, prepaid insurance, cash basis versus accrual basis budgeting, budget surpluses, reserve funding, California's budget mailing deadline, and how to read an accounts receivable aging report.

Follow The Uncommon Area for expert-led discussions on HOA law, governance, and property management best practices. Rather watch the episode? Subscribe to our YouTube channel or go to our page. Have a topic you’d like covered? Email us at [email protected] or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

00:00 Cold open and welcome

00:25 Framing the topic: budgeting and financial planning

00:38 The number one red flag: the balance sheet

01:46 Balance sheet 101: what board members should actually look at

03:15 Educating newer board members on financial reporting

05:05 Case study: how a prepaid insurance policy should behave

07:21 Accounts receivable and how to read an aging report

13:10 Cash basis vs. accrual basis budgeting

14:10 Why accrual still matters at year end audit

14:59 Should a surplus reduce next year's assessments

19:58 Common mistakes in reserve funding

22:17 The deferred maintenance analogy

23:21 A real world reserve percentage example

24:28 The five assets that drive most reserve funding

26:10 The most frustrating part of the annual budget process

27:20 Key data points that move next year's budget

28:35 Why timeliness makes or breaks a budget cycle

29:34 California's budget mailing deadline explained

31:11 The cost of missing the deadline: the 20 percent cap

32:53 Advice for an incoming board member

34:22 Where boards make their biggest financial mistakes

35:16 Wrap up and final thoughts

Is your HOA's roofing ready for El Niño?

Before the rain arrives, HOA boards and community managers have a window of opportunity to find problems, complete maintenance and prepare their communities for a potentially very wet winter.

In this episode of The Uncommon Area, Matthew Holbrook talks with Charles Antis of Antis Roofing & Waterproofing about El Niño, roof leaks, maintenance, inspections, reserves and the decisions boards should be making before the storms arrive.

Charles shares the story that shaped his career in roofing, including the first leak he thought he'd successfully solved and the lesson that changed how he approached every roof afterward.

He also explains:

• Why clogged drainage can cause some of the most expensive leaks

• The three areas where most roof leaks occur

• How often HOA roofs should be cleaned

• Why maintenance can extend the life of a roof

• When a targeted repair could make more sense than replacement

• Why boards should track their community's leak history

• How roofing should factor into reserve studies

• When a third-party roofing consultant can be valuable

• What boards should understand about total systems warranties

• Why now may be the time to prepare for the next rainy season

For HOA boards and managers, the message is simple: don't wait for the first leak to tell you there's a problem.

Follow The Uncommon Area for expert-led discussions on HOA law, governance, and property management best practices. Rather watch the episode? Subscribe to our YouTube channel or go to our page. Have a topic you’d like covered? Email us at [email protected] or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

00:00 Why HOA Roof Maintenance Matters

02:42 Charles Antis: How He Got Into Roofing

04:34 The Roof Leak That Changed Charles Antis' Career

05:53 How Antis Roofing Started Solving Difficult Roof Leaks

09:00 Why Roofing Is About Keeping Families Safe and Dry

15:29 El Niño and California: Why HOAs Should Pay Attention

17:59 How Roofers Predict Weather and Prepare for Rain

19:34 How to Find a Difficult Roof Leak: The Drop of Water Method

22:14 Is California Heading Into a Wet Winter?

23:31 HOA Roof Maintenance: What Boards Should Do Before the Rain

25:09 The #1 Cause of Major HOA Roof Leaks

27:13 The 90/10 Rule: Where Most Roof Leaks Actually Happen

29:34 When Should an HOA Clean Its Roof?

31:44 Why Your HOA Roof Needs Maintenance Like a Car

33:49 Roof Repair vs. Roof Replacement: How to Extend Roof Life

36:55 HOA Roofing Records: Why Leak History Matters

40:31 Should Your HOA Hire a Third-Party Roofing Consultant?

42:40 Roofing Warranties: What HOA Boards Need to Know

45:02 HOA Reserve Studies: Why Roofing Costs Matter

48:21 Rising Roofing Costs: What HOAs Should Prepare For

50:24 How Two Leaves Caused a Major Condo Roof Leak

52:34 HOA Storm Preparation: Why the Time to Act Is Now

In this episode of The Uncommon Area, host Matthew Holbrook sits down with attorney John MacDowell of Fiore Racobs & Powers to unpack how HOA board meetings actually work under California law. They cover the difference between executive session and general session, the four categories that belong in executive session (legal matters, personnel, contract formation, and member discipline), and why the intent of the statute matters more than what a board can technically get away with. The conversation moves into notice requirements, agenda specificity, and disclosure obligations after an executive session concludes. In the second half, John and Matthew get practical, covering how to run an orderly meeting, how to manage open forum without letting it take over the agenda, Zoom meeting settings, and how boards can plan ahead for meetings that go sideways.

Key Takeaways:

- Executive session is for legal matters, personnel, contract formation, and member discipline, not for anything a board finds uncomfortable

- Assessment delinquency issues must be discussed in executive session; other member discipline issues should be

- Attorney client privilege protects communications about what to tell your attorney, even without the attorney present, but not every conversation held in executive session

- Contract formation exists to protect vendor bidding information, not to shield decisions that affect the homeowner experience

- Regular board meetings require four days notice; executive session requires two days notice, and both require a posted agenda

- Open forum must have a mandatory time limit, and boards should set that expectation early and enforce it consistently

- The board president, not the manager, is generally the best person to keep meetings on track

Follow The Uncommon Area for expert-led discussions on HOA law, governance, and property management best practices. Rather watch the episode? Subscribe to our YouTube channel or go to our page. Have a topic you’d like covered? Email us at [email protected] or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

01:45 Welcoming attorney John MacDowell

03:29 The two types of board meetings

04:07 The risk of moving hard conversations into executive session

07:28 Civility clauses and codes of conduct for boards

09:44 The four categories that belong in executive session

10:55 Member discipline: delinquency versus rule violations

12:33 When a homeowner can demand a public hearing

13:28 Legal matters and attorney client privilege

19:20 Personnel matters and management company staff

20:34 Contract formation and protecting vendor bids

22:46 Case study: buying new fitness equipment

26:31 Why budget discussions belong in general session

30:20 Notice requirements for board meetings

35:50 Notice and agenda rules for executive session

39:56 Running an orderly meeting: the board president's role

43:26 Open forum: time limits and best practices

50:45 Zoom meeting settings and homeowner visibility

52:59 The most memorable (and dangerous) board meetings

Are homeowners associations businesses, governments, or something entirely different?

In Episode 96 of The Uncommon Area, Matthew Holbrook sits down with attorney David Graf, partner at Moeller Graf, to explore one of the most important questions in community association management.

Together, they discuss why the most successful HOAs require more than sound finances and legal compliance. From stewardship and fiduciary duty to communication, compassion, and community reputation, this conversation challenges conventional thinking about what it means to lead an association well.

You'll hear practical examples of how boards can reduce conflict, build trust, and make decisions that strengthen their communities for the long term.

Whether you're an HOA board member, community manager, homeowner, or industry professional, this episode offers a fresh perspective on creating communities where people truly love where they live.

In this episode:

• Are HOAs businesses, governments, or something else?
• Why stewardship creates stronger communities
• How communication can reduce conflict
• Balancing fiduciary duty with compassion
• Why reputation matters more than many boards realize

Subscribe to The Uncommon Area for conversations that help reimagine HOAs and equip leaders to build stronger communities.

Follow The Uncommon Area for expert-led discussions on HOA law, governance, and property management best practices. Rather watch the episode? Subscribe to our YouTube channel or go to our page. Have a topic you’d like covered? Email us at [email protected] or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

How do homeowners associations make sure their voices are heard when new legislation is proposed?

In this episode of The Uncommon Area, host Matthew Holbrook is joined by Mike Perlof, Director of Client Services at Fenton Grant Law Group and President of the Community Associations Institute (CAI) Orange County Chapter, along with Cory Neubauer, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Nextier Insurance Services and an active volunteer leader with CAI-CLAC, the California Legislative Action Committee.

Together, they discuss how CAI-CLAC advocates for California community associations, educates legislators, and helps shape legislation that affects millions of homeowners. They also explain the Buck A Door program, which encourages HOAs to contribute $1 per door, per year or more to help fund legislative advocacy that benefits community associations throughout California.

Whether you're a board member, community manager, or industry professional, this episode offers valuable insight into how advocacy works, why it matters, and how you can help strengthen the future of California HOAs.

HOA boards, community managers, and industry partners are encouraged to support CAI-CLAC's Buck A Door program by contributing $1 per door, per year or more to help fund legislative advocacy for California community associations.

Donate / Learn More

https://caiclac.com/donate/

Watch the CAI-CLAC Explainer Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbpAVkszcEA

The Buck A Door program is a simple way for California HOAs to support legislative advocacy that directly impacts community associations across the state. CAI-CLAC monitors proposed legislation, educates lawmakers, organizes grassroots outreach, and advocates on issues affecting HOA governance, insurance, assessments, board operations, property rights, and community living.

Even a small annual contribution can make a meaningful difference when communities across California participate. For example, a 100-unit association contributing $1 per door would provide $100 annually toward advocacy efforts that help protect and strengthen the HOA industry.

CAI-CLAC is not a political action committee and does not contribute to political campaigns. Donations support legislative advocacy, education, communication, lobbying efforts, and grassroots outreach on behalf of California community associations.

Mike Perlof: https://www.fentongrant.com/personnel/mike-perlof/

Cory Neubauer: https://nextierins.com/about-us/

Follow The Uncommon Area for expert-led discussions on HOA law, governance, and property management best practices. Rather watch the episode? Subscribe to our YouTube channel or go to our page. Have a topic you’d like covered? Email us at [email protected] or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.