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On Tuesday, May 14, 2013, CAI’s Pennsylvania Legislative Action Committee will host its annual day at the Capitol in Harrisburg. Members of the LAC will spend the day meeting one-on-one with state senators and representatives to discuss issues ...

By Jonathan H. Katz, Esq.Hill Wallack LLP  As you may have heard, as of January 24, 2013 you can no longer dispose of many electronic items – such as televisions and computers – with your regular trash. Signed into law in 201...

Chapter Executive Director Tony Campisi and President  Robert Travis, CIRMS, will be accepting a Chapter Achievement Award in the Member Services category for the recent redesign of the chapter website. The award will be given during the award...

Join us this week as we once again honor community association managers for their educational and professional achievements.CAI awards qualified professionals with designations in order to improve the quality and effectiveness of community management...

On Monday, March 18, CAI's Pennsylvania Legislative Action Committee presented an informational session at the State Capitol to members of the Urban Affairs Committee of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and staff members of the committee. T...

 You may not know his name. But you will definitely know his story. Join us on May 9th for the keynote address at “Soar! CAI’s Annual Conference & Expo” to hear the extraordinary story of Adam Taliaferro.On a Saturday ...

The Philadelphia condominium community's long running battle with the city over equitable delivery of public services, most notably refuse collection, takes center stage again today at a hearing of the City Council's Streets and Services Committee, w...

 With a new Congress sworn in and the pageantry of President Obama’s inauguration passed, CAI is moving aggressively in Washington, DC to make sure your voice is heard. The road ahead for CAI’s federal affairs agenda includes fairnes...

 Is it possible that the results of Super Bowl XLVII, America’s most watched game, could have been affected by a neglected piece of building conservation technology? You watched it. We all watched it as San Francisco almost came back ...

The Pennsylvania Legislative Action Committee (PA-LAC) is your watchdog in Harrisburg and to be affective, we need your help. With the help of our lobbyist, your PA-LAC works hard advocating for legislation that is beneficial to community associat...

 Laws that affect condominium and community associations in New Jersey are proposed, debated and voted on in Washington and in Trenton nearly every day. Some are passed and signed into law, and some are not. CAI's New Jersey Legislative Action ...

From Backyard Planning Sessions to 40 Years of Growth and Success In 1964, the Urban Land Institute (ULI) published Technical Bulletin No. 50, a document that called for the creation of a national organization to provide education and act as a cl...

 On January 10, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released its long-awaited federal Qualified Mortgage (QM) standard. The new federal guidelines, which are required by the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (commonly kn...

On New Year's Day, members of the Pennsylvania State Senate and State House of Representatives were sworn in for the new two year term of the legislature. New members have taken office in districts across the state. New chairs have been named for th...

CAI members impacted by Hurricane Sandy are facing high recovery costs as local governments are being denied Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reimbursement for debris removal and other disaster recovery expenses in community association...

CAI honored various individuals and organizations with the chapter's Annual Recognition Awards, including the Robert Wise President's Award, at our holiday party on December 12, 2012 at Pinecrest Country Club in Lansdale.Robert Wise President's Awar...

 David C. Hoffman, Vice President and General Manager of CAI Business Partner member Vector Security Patrol, Inc. and a longtime CAI volunteer in various capacities with the chapter's Pocono Mountains Regional Council, was awarded the council's ...

 CAI’s Pennsylvania Legislative Action Committee is asking you not to be silent – but to yell out and tell us that you will help and donate an item to the LAC’s Silent Auction! The PA-LAC needs desperately to raise funds...

In order to promote high standards of conduct and ethics, and to promote respect and professionalism among members, the chapter Board of Directors has adopted this Code of Conduct and encourages all members and attendees at chapter functions to compl...

CAI is pleased to announce the nomination period is now open for the chapter's Recognition Awards! These awards have been created to recognize the contributions of our hardworking and excellent members and volunteers.Winners will be announced at our ...

The Pennsylvania Legislative Action Committee (PA-LAC) is excited to announce that we have secured additional space at the Valley Forge Casino Resort for Thursday, October 18th, and as a result, our sold out 1st Annual Wine & Beer Tasting Dinner ...

Community Associations Institute (CAI) commends the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) for issuing new guidelines that will provide more opportunities for homebuyers and sellers and greater stability for condominium communities. CAI has pressed FH...

On August 8, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) requested public comment on the use of eminent domain authority by municipalities to seize mortgage loans for purposes of offering homeowners a reduced mortgage balance. The County of San Bernard...

Post by Dave Sylvester, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, PA LAC DelegateI am a member of the CAI’s Pennsylvania Legislative Action Committee (PA LAC) and have been for close to 20 years. I was very interested in joining the committee’s ranks after watchi...

Join CAI on our ongoing mission: to grow our membership, provide outstanding education and networking opportunities to our members, and promote and protect our industry through legislative advocacy. BEAM UP great prizes by helping to recruit new m...

Community Associations Institute has endorsed S. 3085, the “Responsible Homeowner Refinancing Act of 2012.” The legislation, spearheaded in the U.S. Senate by Senators Robert Menendez (NJ) and Barbara Boxer (CA), will help more homeowners...

Noting changes in housing development and modern housing preferences, CAI urged the Federal Housing Finance Agency, or FHFA, to recognize community associations as a distinct housing market. More than 60 million Americans live in 314,000 community ...

CAI's legislative action committees, at the Federal and state levels,  continue to work hard to improve recent changes to FHA  regulations on project approvals for condominiums.Recently, Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (R-PA-08) of Bucks Count...

Members of CAI’s Pennsylvania Legislative Action Committee participated in the LAC’s annual Legislative Day in Harrisburg on April 3, 2012. Approximately fifteen members from the LAC and the chapter board of directors met with doze...

Mr. Dick Pruess, long-time CAI member and chair of California’s Legislative Action Committee, told federal lawmakers that association homeowners suffer when lenders delay foreclosures, allowing delinquent owners to remain in their propertie...

Do you want your meetings recorded, uploaded to YouTube and shown on tonight’s 6:00 news? It may be the law if we do not do something about it. ...

For the fourth time in seven years, community association residents have told pollsters they are satisfied with their homeowners associations, condominium communities and cooperatives....

 On April 5, the Federal Reserve System issued guidance to banks intended to spur the temporary conversion of Real Estate Owned (REO) to rental property. Earlier this year, the Federal Reserve strongly encouraged the sale of REO to investors for...

CAI's Pennsylvania Legislative Action Committee (LAC) spent the day in Harrisburg at the Pennsylvania State Capitol on April 3 meeting with legislators....

Win Phillies tickets or Flyer playoff tickets! Participate in our Legislative Action Committee Raffle during the Annual Conference & Expo on April 19th!...

CAI held our Second Annual Manager Designations Breakfast on March 22 and honored community association managers who've recently earned the CMCA, AMS or PCAM designation. ...

On March 15, 2012, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) issued its long awaited final rule on transfer fees. FHFA had proposed a federal regulation which would have banned federally backed mortgages for property in a community association with ...

CAI’s Government & Public Affairs office made the following announcement today: President Obama has announced changes to the Federal Housing Administration’s streamline refinance program to help more borrowers take advantage of hist...

Help us Boldly Grow! Our 2012 Recruiter Rewards has a Star Trek Theme and you’re all invited to participate in this exciting “Enterprise!”   Recruiter Rewards is the Pennsylvania and Delaware Valley Chapter’s way ...

Legislation was recently introduced in the Pennsylvania State House that would establish the Office of the Cooperative and Condominium Ombudsman and provide for its powers and duties. House Bill 2155, introduced by Representative John Galloway, a...

For most of us of a certain age, the question “How much REO do you have in your portfolio?” was usually answered in terms of the number of eight-track tapes. Of course with the advent of the housing crisis, this term, which references ...

February 8, 2012, Harrisburg: Pennsylvania’s legislature gave final approval today to House Bill 1582 which affects community associations located within any Business Improvement District (BID) in the Commonwealth. The Bill alters the billi...

CAI is pleased to welcome Michael A. Smerconish as our 2012 “Coming Attractions” Annual Conference & Expo Keynote Speaker. Michael A. Smerconish is a nationally syndicated radio host, newspaper columnist, author and MSNBC contribut...

CAI’s Pennsylvania Legislative Action Committee (LAC) is the “watchdog” for the millions of homeowners living in community associations throughout the Commonwealth.  Volunteer delegates sitting on the LAC work very hard educ...

On January 18th, the Philadelphia Regional Council kicked off 2012 with its first program. This program was co-sponsored with the Greater Philadelphia Condo Managers Association (GPCMA) and covered pertinent topics relating to the use of social me...

In 2010, Congress created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to serve as the nation’s “cop on the beat” to protect consumers from harmful financial products. Officially opened for business on July 22, 2011, the CFPB ...

This morning, dozens of CAI chapter volunteers came together at the Annual Chapter Kickoff to start planning out another exciting year of Chapter volunteers get down to work on a new year of programs and events. ...

The Pennsylvania Joint State Government Commission released its report on Common Interest Ownership Communities in late December and while the commission’s report falls short in certain goals outlined in the legislature’s resolution, ...

At the Annual Meeting & Holiday Party, held on December 8th at Chef Salvatore Restaurant in Blue Bell, a record number of community associations were recognized with CAI’s Gold Star Award. Ten new communities received the Gold Star honor...

CAI was pleased to announce award winners at both our Pocono Mountains Regional Council Holiday Party and Chapter Annual Meeting & Holiday Party, held on consecutive nights in December. All award winners were nominated by CAI members. The foll...

CAI members know that 2011 saw the beginning of the federal government’s effort to rebuild our mortgage finance system in the wake of the worst housing and economic crisis since the Great Depression. As Congress and a host of federal agencie...

CAI’s Pennsylvania Legislative Action Committee is asking you not to be silent – but to yell out and tell us that you will help and donate an item to the LAC’s Silent Auctions! The PA-LAC needs desperately to raise funds to sup...

The ever-changing FHA Condominium Guidelines continued to create problems for many CAI members in 2011. Despite the challenges, CAI was able to work with FHA to amend some of the FHA lending criteria even as FHA released new policy that created n...

Congressional leaders are expressing serious reservations about Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA) mortgage-approval policies for condominiums-policies that are the source of mounting confusion and angst for condominium boards, homeowner...

As the warm weather came to an end and thoughts turned to the busy Autumn season, the New Jersey Regional Council hosted an end of summer networking event back in September that Attendees enjoy some networking in South Jersey on Sept. 29, 2011. The...

The Finance Committee of Philadelphia’s City Council held a hearing on Tuesday, October 18, 2011 at City Hall on Bill 110130 which would provide a credit against the tax for owners of condominiums, cooperatives and planned community units w...

The challenges presented by the wave of federal regulatory proposals that are reshaping the mortgage finance system made the summer of 2011 one of the busiest advocacy periods in the history of CAI. At stake is the health and marketability of the ...

CAI has partnered with Affiliated Power Purchasers International (APPI Energy) to provide the Powerful Solutions Program, an exclusive member benefit that assists members in managing and reducing their energy expenses.   APPI Energy navig...

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has announced its plans to disqualify condominium associations from FHA financing if the association charges a deed-based transfer fee at time of sale. This would put FHA at odds with the Federal Housing Fi...

CAI members know that during the course of 2011, the federal government is restructuring the entire mortgage finance system.  This means that the rules for who gets a mortgage, for what type of home, and in what type of community will dramati...

CAI members are taking their concerns over the restructuring of the federal mortgage finance system to Congress. In response to challenges from federal regulators on transfer fees, the Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA) condominium under...

Legislation affecting condominium associations within business improvements districts throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania could have a far reaching administrative impact on condos without changes sought by CAI’s Pennsylvania Legisla...

On Friday, June 24, Governor Tom Corbett signed into law House Bill 442 which bans the use of private transfer fees in Pennsylvania. The Bill is Act 8 of 2011. CAI’s Pennsylvania Legislative Action Committee supported this Bill and worked...

The following letter to the editor was submitted to the Philadelphia Inquirer by CAI. To the Editor: A letter appeared in the June 10 issue of the Philadelphia Inquirer with the title “Doubly taxed seniors could opt for secession.” The a...

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Pennsylvania’s Legislature has passed legislation banning private transfer fees. CAI’s Pennsylvania Legislative Action Committee supported this Bill and worked with a coalition of interest groups across the state including the PA ...

This morning, the Pennsylvania and Delaware Valley Chapter of CAI hosted our first annual Managers Appreciation Breakfast. Seventy attendees came out for breakfast, networking with CAI colleagues, and to recognize those managers who’ve recei...

CAI’s 2011 Annual Conference & Expo: Love Where You Live was a smash hit for exhibitors and attendees alike. Rave reviews for the venue, exhibit hall, speakers, after party and much more were received from attendees and exhibitors to this y...

Thanks to efforts by CAI members, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has issued a revised draft regulation governing so-called private transfer fees. Originally proposed in August of 2010, the FHFA regulation would have banned any federall...

Following the worst housing and financial crisis since the Great Depression, the federal government is undertaking sweeping changes to the mortgage finance system. These changes will determine who gets mortgages, for what type of home and in what ...

Today, Philadelphia City Councilman James Kenney introduced legislation that would provide a credit against the tax for owners of condominiums, cooperatives and planned community units who do not receive regular City refuse, recycling and bulk ite...

The Pennsylvania State Senate has just passed, unanimously, Senate Bill 353 banning private transfer fees. CAI’s Pennsylvania Legislative Action Committee supports this Bill and is working with a coalition of interest groups across the s...

Community Associations Institute (CAI) is praising the Federal Housing Finance Administration (FHFA) for revising a proposed regulation that could have prevented potential homebuyers from securing mortgages for as many as 11 million U.S. homes. CA...

This week, CAI’s Pennsylvania and Delaware Valley Chapter launched our online Community Action Center, which is designed to bring CAI’s legislative alerts, updates and advocacy reports to a broader audience of homeowners, community ass...

The chapter held its Annual Meeting and Holiday Party on December 9, 2010 at Hotel Fiesole in beautiful and festive Skippack Village. In addition to electing board members, the holiday party featured a silent auction that raised over $1500 for CAI...

On December 1, CAI’s Pocono Mountains Regional Council held its annual holiday party and gave out annual awards. The holiday party also raised over $500 at a special Silent Auction to benefit CAI’s Pennsylvania Legislative Action Commi...

State Representative John Siptroth (D-Monroe) held a legislative hearing on September 8 at Fernwood Resort in the Pocono Mountains to hear testimony on the on-going study of community associations undertaken by the state with the adoption of HR35...

CAI’s Gold Star Community program recognizes communities that  work hard to develop and maintain standards, encourage community participation, maintain fiscal stability and positively impact the quality of life for residents. Homeowners...

What a day! Last week we held our 2010 Annual Conference and Expo at Citizens Bank Park and we could not be more pleased with the success of the event. It was, without a doubt, the best Expo our chapter has held in many years. The day started w...

Over the course of the last ten years, CAI has from time to time engaged a national research firm to study whether or not people who choose to live in an association governed community are happy or not. The results of the latest study by Zogby Int...

“We can do the innuendo, we can dance and sing. When it’s all over we haven’t told you a thing. We all know that crap is king, give us dirty laundry.” So go the lyrics in Don Henley’s song Dirty Laundry, about a media ...

The Pocono Record published an article on Sunday July 5th that sums up the reasons why the state legislature just approved HR350 calling for a study of private communities in Pennsylvania. The article quotes Reps. Scavello and Siptroth from the Po...

Stuck in Harrisburg in absence of a budget deal, lawmakers took up a host of Bills and Resolutions today at the state capitol. Among them was House Resolution 350 which was drafted in part by CAI. The resolution directs the Joint State Government ...

On Tuesday, June 30, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives’ Urban Affairs Committee took up House Resolution 350.  After brief remarks by the sponsor, Rep. John Siptroth (D-189) of Pike/Monroe County, the committee unanimously...