Oct. 21, 2020 — Falls Church, VA — Results of a recent survey from the Foundation for Community Association Research examine how 2.3 million Colorado residents describe their experience living in a community association and reaffirm how the growing housing model in the U.S. continues to meet the needs and expectations of its homeowners.
According to the 2020 Homeowner Satisfaction Survey: Colorado Communities, an exclusive industry report conducted by Zogby Analytics on behalf of the Foundation, the majority of Colorado residents (83%) rate their overall community association living experience as “very good" or “good" (49%) or “neutral" (34%). Respondents say cleanliness/attractiveness is the top benefit of living in a community association, followed by the maintenance-free lifestyle.
Colorado residents also commented on other factors of community association living, including:
· The average amount of monthly assessments or fees is $101–$300.
· The majority of residents (77%) say they get along “very well" or “well" with their neighbors.
· More than two-thirds of those surveyed (71%) prefer “less government control" or “no change" to state laws and regulations for governing community associations.
· Seventy-eight percent say that their elected governing board “absolutely" or “for the most part" strives to serve in the best interest of the community as a whole.
· Eighty-seven percent say their association's rules protect and enhance property values (55%) or make no difference (32%).
· More than half of respondents (64%) say their community association manager provides value and support to residents and the community as a whole.
· Sixty-six percent say they always vote in national elections, and more than half (62%) say they always vote in state and local elections.
“Throughout the U.S., including in Colorado, community associations are the preferred places to call home," says Thomas M. Skiba, CAE, CAI's chief executive officer. “We are proud to see that more Americans are choosing to live happily in condominiums and homeowners associations. They understand that having a clean, attractive, and safe community where neighbors work together—despite their differences—comes with certain tradeoffs, such as rules and assessments."
The 2020 Homeowner Satisfaction Survey is a biennial, nationwide report that provides a better understanding of today's condominiums and homeowners associations—communities where neighbors share a fiscal responsibility and commitment to pay for common expenses, such as trash collection, landscaping, and snow removal, and maintain amenities, such as pools, fitness centers, and playgrounds.
Over the past decade, the number of community associations in Colorado has risen steadily to more than 10,000, according to the 2019-2020 National and State Statistical Review for Community Association Data, published by the Foundation.
“Community associations are often described as having three core functions—governance, business, and creating community," says Dawn M. Bauman, CAE, executive director of the Foundation for Community Association Research and CAI's senior vice president of government and public affairs. “The Foundation's research allows us to examine these functions and benchmark how our communities are working to serve today's homeowners—especially as our society adapts to new changes in the way we live and work. We believe that a highly functional community of neighbors sharing interests and resources speaks to our human needs and shows why community associations are so important today."
CAI is the only global organization establishing standards and offering best practices and world-class education for community association board members and managers. Colorado has two CAI chapters and the Colorado Legislative Action Committee delivering critical resources, information, and guidance to people living and working in the state's community associations. Visit www.caionline.org/chapters for more information.
The Foundation conducted similar surveys in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018. Results can be accessed at foundation.caionline.org.
View the 2020 Homeowner Satisfaction Survey: Colorado Communities report.
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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 the more than 350,000 homeowners associations, condominiums, and housing cooperatives in the United States and millions of communities worldwide. With more than 42,000 members, CAI works in partnership with 36 legislative action committees and 64 affiliated chapters within the U.S., Canada, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates as well as with housing leaders in several other countries, including Australia, Spain, 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.
About the Foundation for Community Association Research
Our mission—with your support—is to provide research-based information for homeowners, community association board members, community managers, developers, and other stakeholders. Since the Foundation's inception in 1975, we've built a solid reputation for producing accurate, insightful, and timely information, and we continue to build on that legacy. Visit foundation.caionline.org.