Professional managers representing Dubai, South Africa, Australia, Canada, and more discover differences and similarities of condominium living in the U.S. and abroad.
As the condominium real estate market continues a steady increase worldwide, professional community managers (commonly referred to as property managers) are looking for solutions to common daily challenges. Today, Community Associations Institute (CAI)—the leading authority in community association governance, management, and education—hosted a group of international managers and business partner representatives on a tour of three diverse communities in Washington, D.C., to learn more about how three model communities have overcome the challenges inherent with project management, deferred building maintenance, and transition from developer control to homeowner control.
The international delegation of more than 35 professionals—representing 10 countries including Dubai, South Africa, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Germany, and Spain—heard firsthand from the managers of the host communities about what they and their boards faced as the maintain and update aging infrastructures.
There are approximately 342,000 homeowners associations in the U.S. today, and condominium communities account for 42–45 percent of that total, according to the National and State Statistical Review for 2016 Community Association Data published by the Foundation for Community Association Research (FCAR).
Most managers today agree that educating homeowners as well as managers is a key component in helping community associations succeed. “It's essential for homeowners to be aware of their rights and responsibilities and to fully engage in serving their communities as either a committee member or a board member," said Chrishana Loritsch, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, general manager of Town Square Towers
Condominium, one of the host communities on the tour.
Today's tour was held in conjunction with CAI's 2018 Annual Conference and Exposition, May 9–12, at the Wardman Park Marriott in Washington, D.C. For more information on the conference, visit www.caionline.org.
About Community Associations Institute
Since 1973, Community Associations Institute (CAI) has been the leading provider of resources and information for homeowners, volunteer board leaders, professional managers, and business professionals in 342,000 homeowners associations, condominiums, and co-ops in the United States and millions of communities worldwide. With nearly 40,000 members, CAI works in partnership with 36 legislative action committees and 63 affiliated chapters within the U.S., Canada, United Arab Emirates, and South Africa, as well as with housing leaders in several other countries including Australia, Spain, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom. A global nonprofit 501(c)(6) organization, CAI is the foremost authority in community association management, governance, education, and advocacy. Our mission is to inspire professionalism, effective leadership, and responsible citizenship—ideals reflected in community associations that are preferred places to call home. Visit us at www.caionline.org and follow us on Twitter and Facebook @caisocial.
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