Business and Engineering Technologies Division

NORTHSEATTLECOMMUNITY COLLEGE

Business and Engineering Technologies Division

RES 204. Community Association Management / Instructor: Ellen Fix Office: Cubicle #16, REIT
Spring Quarter, 2010 – Thursdays 6:00PM-9:00PM / Business Division: 206 527-3730
Room: – Instructional Building 3417 /

Home Office Telephone:

Office Hours: By Appointment

Web page: / E-mail:

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Study the opportunities and responsibilities of managing Community Associations, including condominiums, single family homeowner associations (HOA, CA, PUD), cooperatives and master associations. Learn about the dynamics of Board of Directors and communication with them. Learn how to determine the costs of managing associations and develop a basic marketing proposal. Become knowledgeable the various aspects of governance, documents, insurance, collections, budgets and financial reporting.

(This course fulfills 30 Real Estate/ DOL continuing education clock hours for licensed realtors and requirement for initial license renewal under RCW 18.85.095[2][a]. To earn 30 clock hours, student must advise the instructor of the request for clock hours, attend every class and/or complete instructor approved extra credit assignment/project. Preq: WA real estate license or permission by instructor. )

INSTRUCTOR BACKGROUND:

Ellen Fix brings decades of real estate experience to her position as an instructor at North Seattle Community College, teaching Practical Apartment Management and Association Management. Starting in real estate sales, shebecame a broker specializing in condominium and waterfront properties in the Seattle area. She was the founder of EMB Management, a Bellevue company specializing in community association management, currently managing 8,000 doors, an estimated 1.5 billion in real estate value. She served as President and CEO of EMB Management, Inc. for 15 years. Currently she consults and lectures on the property management industry. She is on the faculty at NSCC and Rockwell Institute, teaching classes in both Residential and Commercial Property Management, Green Designation Courses for NAR Green Certification and an Instructor Development Workshop. She attended the University of Washington, earning a BA in English and a teaching certificate. She did business masters studies at UPS and PLU.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

1. Identify the types of community association and understand their differences.
2. Identify and understand the governing documents of an association.
3. Understand duties and responsibilities of the board of directors.
4. Understand duties and responsibilities of board committees.
5. Understand good communication and use of communication tools.
6. Be familiar with the management office and management contract.
7. Understand basics of general accounting terms, a budget and financial statements.
8. Understand assessments, collection and liens of community associations.
9. Understand insurance terms and coverage.
10. Identify and understand the duties of a community association manager.
11. Know the certifications available to a property manager.

NSCC GENERAL EDUCATION OUTCOMES MET BY COURSE:

Outcome 2. Use quantitative reasoning processes to understand, analyze, interpret, and solve quantitative problems.

Outcome 4. Access, evaluate, and apply information from a variety of sources and a variety of contexts.

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY:

My teaching effort is directed at providing a general background and the basic information of the property management industry. I want my students to become familiar with the principals, practices, resources and duties of the community association manager. I combine live lecture, class exercises and handouts, encouraging active class participant. Guest speakers from the industry help to enrich the learning experience. This information will provide the basic essentials to launch a career in management, purchase community association properties responsibly or function effectively as an owner or board member in an association.

TEACHING AND LEARNING STRATEGIES:

• Lectures
• Power point presentation
• Directed readings
• Class discussions
• Guest speakers
• Applied learning
• Class projects

REQUIRED TEXT: Community Associations, A Guide to Successful Management, by Barber and Gaskill; IREM of the NAR Publisher; (Available from NSCC Bookstore)

ADDITIONAL REFERENCES: On line websites including:

CLASS MATERIALS: Text, pencil, pen, paper, laptop, etc.

GRADING SYSTEM: Based on the following:

33% Attendance at all 10 classes, points given for each class attended

20% In-class participation, in classexercises & projects

14% Midterm Exam

33% Final exam

100 % TOTAL GRADE

Grading scale:

96-100% = 4.0

95 = 3.9

94 = 3.8

93 = 3.7

92 = 3.6

91 = 3.5

90 = 3.4

89 = 3.3

88 = 3.2

87 = 3.1

86 = 3.0

85 = 2.9

84 = 2.8

83 = 2.7

82 = 2.6

81 = 2.5

80 = 2.4

79 = 2.3

78 = 2.2

77 = 2.1

76 = 2.0

75 = 1.9

74 = 1.8

73 = 1.7

72 = 1.6

71 = 1.5

70 = 1.4

69 = 1.3

68 = 1.2

67 = 1.1

66 = 1.0

65 = 0.9

64 = 0.8

63 = 0.7

62 = 0.0

DETERMINING STUDENT GRADES: At the end of the quarter the final grade will be calculated on the

basis of a possible 100 points. Passing grade is 63%.

EXAM POLICY: Make up exams must be arranged with the instructor.

All make-up exams are due within 1 week of the scheduled exam date. Any take-home mid-term or assigned projects are due as directed by the instructor. With prior approval only, students may receive and turn in take-home projects or take exams prior to the scheduled times.

MISSED CLASS MAKE UP POLICY; Students who miss a class must complete a make up assignment related to the missed class, to be assigned by the instructor.

POLICY ON LATE ADDING OF CLASS; The final day to add a class for Spring Quarter is April 17th, (NSCC Policy). Approval by the instructor is required.

CRITERIA FOR CLASS PARTICIPATION:Contribute ideas, interact with peers and instructor, engage in class activities, maintain attention on class work, and come prepared for class (completed reading and any assignments).

POLICYON COURSE WITHDRAWAL: The instructor may initiate administrative withdrawals of students who do not come to class during the first/ second week of the quarter in order to accommodate other students seeking entry into the class. Official withdrawal at other times of the quarter is the responsibility of the student.

CLASSROOM CONDUCT: Students are expected to comply with NSCC student conduct policy and procedures. Information on student responsibilities and rights is available at the following website: Cell Phone Etiquette in the Classroom: Students are expected to turn off or silence cell phones during class. Rules of class participation include respect for any recognized student speaking, with only one person speaking at one time. Breaks will be provided as needed, typically one short break per classroom hour.

AMERICANS WITH DISBLILITES ACT: If you need course adaptations or accommodation because of a disability; if you have emergency medical information to share with your instructor; or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated; please meet with your instructor as soon as possible.

ACADEMIC HONESTY: Academic honesty is highly valued at NSCC. A student must always submit work that represents his/her original words or ideas

EXAMINATION CONDUCT: Students are expected to complete examinations without the unauthorized use of reference materials, notes, or classmates.

ATTENDANCE: Students, who anticipate absence from class sessions are requested to email the instructor in advance prior to the absence. Repeated absence may interfere with the student’s class participation and result in a lower grade for that component of the course.

COURSE OUTLINE: Please refer to the 204 Class Weekly Class Outline issued, which follows this Syllabus. All chapters should be read prior to scheduled discussion and prior to the final week of class. This Weekly Class Outline is subject to change by the Instructor.

Community Associations Management – RES 204

NorthSeattleCommunity College

Weekly Class Schedule ~ Spring 2010

Thursday, 6:00 – 9:00 pm~ Instructor: Ellen Fix

Class #1. Thursday, April 8, 2010

Introduction to Community Association Management & Chapter 1

a.History of Associations

b.Types of Associations

c. Future of Community Associations

Class # 2. Thursday, April 15, 2010

Procuring the Association ~ Chapter 2

a.Marketing your Service

b.Promotional Tools

c.Establishing Fees

d.Making the Presentation

e.TransitionAssociation Governance

a.Uniform Acts & State Statutes

b.Governing Documents

c.Federal Matters

The Association Governance ~ Chapter 3

a.Uniform Acts & State Statutes, Federal Matters

b.Governing Documents

Class # 3. Thursday, April 22, 2010

The Board of Directors ~ Chapter 4

a.Board Members

b.Titles and Job Descriptions

c.Board Meetings

d.Effective, Productive Boards

Procuring Board and Committee Volunteers ~ Chapter 5

a.Volunteer Leadership

b.Responsibilities & Rights

c.Community Building Skills

d.Strategies and Tactics to Help Leadership Teams

e.Role of the Professional Manager

f.Transition from Declarant to Homeowners

APRIL 29, 2010 ~ NO CLASS

Class # 4. Thursday, May 6, 2010

Speaker: Jim Comin, PCAM, President, CDC Management, Bellevue, WA.

Professionally Managing the Community Association ~ Chapter 7

a.Self Management vs. Professional Management

b.The Management Office

c.Professional Community Association Managers

d.Support Equipment

Class # 5. Thursday, May 13, 2010

Keeping the Books ~ Chapter 8

a.Accounting Terms ~ Financial Statements

c.Assessments: Types, Collections, Foreclosures

d.Banking

e.Audits, Taxes

f.Reserve Planning

Mid-Term Exam ~ 50 Questions

Class # 6. Thursday, May 20, 2010

Speaker ~ Kris Sundberg, Attorney, Sundberg Law, Mercer Island, WA

Legal and Insurance ~ Chapter 10

a.Legal Issues

b.Insurance Practices

Class #7. Thursday, May 27, 2010

Speaker ~ Vickie Gaskill, CPM, Bell Anderson, Author of text, Kent, WA.

Successful Communications ~ Chapter 6

a.Communicating with the Association

b.Resolving Conflicts

c.Strengthening Communication Skills

d.Delivering Difficult Communications

e.Email Communications

1. Understanding and being Understood
2. Sample Hearing ~ Rules Violation

Class # 8. Thursday, June3, 2010

Maintenance Processes ~ Chapter 9

a.Maintenance Coordination/Tracking

b.Negotiating Contracts

1. Emergency & Disaster Planning
2. Reserve Study ~ PPT

Class # 9. Thursday,June 10, 2010

Conclude any remaining chapters.

Follow up on any questions, projects, etc.

Review material for FINAL EXAM

Class # 10. Thursday, June 17, 2010

Review for Final Exam.

Final Exam ~ 100 Questions

Note: This course schedule is flexible and subject to change

based on speakers, class participation and interest.