The Community Associations Institute celebrates its silver anniversary this year as the nation's leading voice for condominium, cooperative and homeowners associations, an industry still growing and maturing. Since CAI's founding in 1973, the number of community associations in the U.S. has burgeoned from 10,000 in the industry's infancy to 150,000 today, housing more than 32 million Americans. The industry's growth has spurred demand for accredited management services as well as education and training for professionals and homeowners who serve on community association boards.

With more than 50 percent of new development in large metropolitan areas in planned community settings, CAI forecasts continued growth of 10,000 additional community associations each year. Consumers are attracted to community associations because covenants and deed restrictions help protect home values, and because many community associations provide pools, exercise facilities, tennis courts, golf courses and other amenities homeowners might not have access to otherwise.

Among current trends, CAI sees increasing sophistication among homeowners who serve on community association boards. Heightened awareness of the benefits of board member education, through such programs as CAI's "ABCs: A Basic Course for Community Associations," fosters training in finances, reasonable rule enactment and enforcement and community-building leadership tactics. "ABCs," a one-day class, is offered through CAI chapters around the country, in addition to books, guides and periodicals; conferences and workshops; and 12 specialized professional development courses.

Savvy homeowners are demanding trained and certified community association managers as well. The National Board of Certification for Community Association Managers has launched the Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA®) program to establish a national standard of fundamental knowledge that managers need to help boards manage effectively. CMCAs must complete 20 hours of required coursework, pass a national exam, adhere to strict standards of professional conduct and secure 16 hours of continuing education credits every two years. CAI also offers two designation programs for seasoned professional managers, Association Management Specialist and Professional Community Association Manager.

The Community Associations Institute is a nonprofit association created in 1973 to educate and represent the nation's 150,000 community associations—condominium associations, homeowner associations and cooperatives. CAI members include homeowners, associations and the professionals who provide products and services to them.