San Francisco & Marin County Homeowners Association Management Blog

Short answer: Your association's money, records, and decisions belong to the association, not to its management company. In California, the board must review bank statements and reconciliations every month. Owners have a legal right to inspect association records. Large transfers need prior written board approval. If your manager blocks your bank access, keeps your files locked in its own system, or makes it hard to leave, those are warning signs. Ask for changes in writing.

Short answer: Full-service management for a small San Francisco Bay Area HOA (4–25 units) typically runs a flat monthly fee rather than per-door pricing. At SNS Management, a 12-unit association pays $1,069/month all-in ($89/door), plus a one-time $499 onboarding fee. Buildings under 6 units have a $500/month minimum. No vendor markups, month-to-month contract (Last updated: October 2026) Most boards under 25 units get quoted an "entry rate" built for 50-unit buildings, then

Quick answer: Before hiring an HOA management company for a small building (10 to 25 units), ask about a-la-carte fees, your manager's total caseload, their Davis-Stirling Act compliance process, their vendor network for older buildings, their 2 a.m. emergency protocol, and where your association's money is actually held. A firm that can't answer all six clearly and specifically is likely to treat a small building as an afterthought. If you manage or sit on the board of a sma

Not all HOA managers are built the same. Here's what boutique HOA management actually means, why more San Francisco Bay Area boards are switching to it, and exactly what to look for before you hire.

A great HOA or TIC management company is the backbone of a smooth-running community. They handle the administrative heavy lifting, keep the financials transparent, and protect the property’s value. But when the relationship breaks down, the community suffers. Are you wondering if your management team is falling short? Here are five critical signs that your HOA manager may be failing you. Downtown San Francisco from Bernal Heights, Aug 2026 Warning sign #1 - Lack of Transparen

In community management, there is no phrase more likely to cause a stalemate than: "That’s your responsibility, not the Association’s. When water intrusion affects a unit, the natural reaction is often defensive. The Board looks at the governing documents to protect the association’s funds, and the homeowner looks at the leak and sees a building infrastructure failure. In a recent project, SNS Management navigated exactly this scenario, and the resolution offers a masterclass

Navigating a property insurance inspection in the Bay Area can be a high-stakes process. With insurance carriers tightening their guidelines across California, properties in San Francisco and Marin County are facing intense scrutiny. For volunteer boards and property owners, passing these inspections is critical to securing the best premium rates and preventing sudden coverage drops. Whether you are self-managing a multi-unit building or relying on professional HOA, condo, an

201 4th Avenue, Sept 2026 If you own a rental inside a homeowners association, a tenancy-in-common (TIC), or a co-op, you already know your property doesn't play by the same rules as a standalone single-family rental. You're not just leasing four walls — you're leasing a unit that's bound by a private governing document, a board of directors or fellow co-owners, and a set of community standards that were written long before your tenant ever signed a lease. SNS Management reco

Confused by California's balcony inspection laws? Learn the differences between SB 721 and SB 326, compliance timelines, and how they impact San Francisco HOAs and TICs. For property owners, homeowners association (HOA) board members, and Tenancy in Common (TIC) communities in San Francisco, structural safety is a strict legal requirement. Following the tragic 2015 balcony collapse in Berkeley, the California legislature passed two major pieces of legislation to ensure the in

For San Francisco HOA boards, a smooth-running association is a paramount goal. From maintaining a professional appearance to ensuring essential services function properly, reliable vendors are the backbone of any successful homeowners association. Yet, a common source of intense frustration for both HOA board members and third-party contractors in San Francisco and the rest of the Bay Area is the consistent delay in invoice payments from some well-known established homeowner

San Francisco Alta Plaza Park, Sept 2026 In the high-stakes world of San Francisco Bay Area real estate, owning a unit in a prestigious condo building management association comes with an expectation of long-term value. However, many boards in neighborhoods from Pacific Heights in San Francisco to San Mateo are operating on a "reactive" financial model that puts every owner’s equity at risk. The single most important tool to deflect this risk is a professional association res

San Francisco HOA Water Heater Guide

This blog addresses the escalating HOA insurance crisis in San Francisco, where associations are facing unprecedented premium hikes and policy cancellations.

Examining how the initial desire for autonomy and savings can lead to complex, long-term problems. 1. The Legal and Compliance Nightmare One of the single biggest and most dangerous downsides of self-management is the massive legal liability. HOAs are not just social clubs; they are non-profit corporations or legal entities bound by a matrix of laws.​ The Complexity of Laws Navigating the legal landscape is perhaps the most significant challenge. Professional management compa