
What is a Master Association in real estate?
Understanding Master Associations. In a large planned community, usually consisting of hundreds of homes, individual communities are established. The master association is the umbrella group responsible for overseeing the HOAs for each of the communities, called satellites.
How are Master Association members selected?
In Leisure world, members of the Master Association are selected by the boards of each Mutual Sub-Association, not elected by all members of the sprawling community. To clarify, although members do elect their Village or Sub-association boards (after the developer turns over control of the HOA), they do not elect officers of the board.
What's the difference between a Master Association and a sub-association?
"The easiest analogy I can make is that a master association is like state government, and the sub is like city government," says Nancy T. Polomis, a partner at Hellmuth & Johnson PLLC who advises homeowners associations. "The master generally oversees on an umbrella basis a number of smaller communities.
How many buildings in a Master Association?
An HOAleader.com reader writes, "Our community consists of 13 buildings, each with its own CC&Rs, bylaws, etc. In 1974, 100 percent of the owners formed an owners' association (note: NOT an HOA; this would be under different rules and regulations, and we aren't incorporated). We believe this is referred to as a master association.

What is a Master Association in Florida?
The master association is responsible to maintain or provide for the maintenance of all common property in the complex which is not owned and controlled by any of the sub-associations. The master association did not have any responsibility on any of the condominiums.
What is a master association Illinois?
In a master association, one or more condominium associations delegate, by the terms of their declaration or other recorded covenants, certain powers that would otherwise be exercisable by the condominium association, such as the responsibility to maintain certain common elements, to a nonprofit corporation or ...
What happens if you do something without HOA approval?
If you don't ask for approval and your project breaks HOA rules, the board can force you to redo the work. They might also slap you with a fine. Avoid the extra expense and hassle. Make sure your project is compliant before anyone lifts a hammer or buys a $40 can of paint.
Can you refuse to join a homeowners association?
Generally speaking, there is no way around it. Membership must be taken seriously, rules must be followed, and dues must be paid. If you buy a home in a neighborhood that already has an established HOA, you must join as a condition of purchasing the new home.
Can HOA evict owner in Illinois?
Can an HOA Evict a Homeowner? Yes. Under Illinois state law (765 ILCS 605/9.2), a homeowners' association can 'evict' a member from their unit in order to recover past due assessments. If your community is considering eviction as a remedy, an experienced Chicago HOA/condo lawyer can help.
How do I get around HOA rules?
Here are six ways to effectively fight with your homeowners, co-op or condo association:Know the rules. You should have read all the government documents, including the rules and regulations, before you closed on your purchase. ... Respond in writing. ... Don't argue the rule. ... Know the penalties.
How do I get around HOA pet restrictions?
By asking all homeowners to register their pets, the HOA can more easily keep up with pets in the community, follow up with homeowners who are not following the pet restrictions, and even make certain all pets in the community are up-to-date with important vaccinations.
What to do if HOA does not respond?
If your HOA is unresponsive to written communication, the first thing you want to do is take every action to contact the directors by phone. If you get no answers, find out if they are holding a meeting and attend it. If they still don't address your concern, you might need to seek legal advice.
Who regulates homeowners associations in Illinois?
Therefore, if you need legal advice, we encourage you to consult an attorney of your choice. Which Law Governs My Association? Most homeowners associations are governed by either the Illinois Condominium Property Act or the Illinois Common Interest Community Association Act.
What is a common interest community Illinois?
"Common interest community" means real estate other than a condominium or cooperative with respect to which any person by virtue of his or her ownership of a partial interest or a unit therein is obligated to pay for the maintenance, improvement, insurance premiums or real estate taxes of common areas described in a ...
Examples of Master association in a sentence
Master association common expenses shall be allocated among the members of the master association in a fair and equitable manner.
More Definitions of Master association
Master association means an organization described in RCW 64.34.276, whether or not it is also an association described in RCW 64.34.300.
What is a master association?
"In my experience, when people use the term master association, that's typically when you have a big development, like some sort of master-planned development with many sections or sub-areas ," says Cagle. "Maybe one part has condos, another part has townhomes, and then there are single-family homes. There might even be mixed-use commercial and retail uses. You'd then have a master association that would oversee all of it. Then you'd have a subassociation for just the condos. And then you'd have another association for just the townhomes, and so on."
What percentage of owners formed an owners association in 1974?
In 1974, 100 percent of the owners formed an owners' association (note: NOT an HOA; this would be under different rules and regulations, and we aren't incorporated). We believe this is referred to as a master association.
How does a master association affect the lives of its owners?
How does a master association affect the lives of its owners? The most obvious way is through the wallet. You may have to pay two assessments, one to your sub and the other to your master association. "Depending on how the project was structured and what the governing documents say," says Polomis, "your payment might be remitted directly to the master by your sub, or you might have to pay it yourself."
What is a master association?
"The easiest analogy I can make is that a master association is like state government, and the sub is like city government," says Nancy T. Polomis, a partner at Hellmuth & Johnson PLLC who advises homeowners associations. "The master generally oversees on an umbrella basis a number of smaller communities. Generally, they're townhomes, condos, and sometimes single-family homes done in a grand plan. When there's a master and subs, they might all be called Sunset Ridge, but there might also be Sunset Ridge Condominiums, Sunset Ridge Townhomes, and Sunset Ridge Estates."
What is the key to conflict-free interaction between a master and subs?
The key to conflict-free interaction between a master and subs is cooperation. "Members of sub boards tend to view the master board in the same way owners view their board—with a certain amount of suspicion and concern—and it's probably because they feel a little powerless," says Berger.
What does overlapping authority mean?
Boards can also have overlapping authority, which means a master can step on its sub's toes. "The master may have the authority to say to a sub board, 'You're not doing a good job of enforcing covenants, and we're taking over the authority to enforce that among your people,'" explains Berger. "I've seen overlapping authority in some associations ...
Is a homeowners association a subassociation?
You buy a home in a community knowing full well that you'll become a member of your local homeowners association only to learn that your homeowners association is really a subassociation and you're bound to follow the rules of a bigger "master" association.
How does a master association affect the lives of its owners?
How does a master association affect the lives of its owners? The most obvious way is through the wallet. You may have to pay two assessments, one to your sub and the other to your master association. “Depending on how the project was structured and what the governing documents say,” says Polomis, “your payment might be remitted directly to the master by your sub, or you might have to pay it yourself.”
What is a master association?
“The easiest analogy I can make is that a master association is like state government, and the sub is like city government,” says Nancy T. Polomis, a partner at Hellmuth & Johnson PLLC who advises homeowners associations. “The master generally oversees on an umbrella basis a number of smaller communities. Generally, they’re townhomes, condos, and sometimes single-family homes done in a grand plan. When there’s a master and subs, they might all be called Sunset Ridge, but there might also be Sunset Ridge Condominiums, Sunset Ridge Townhomes, and Sunset Ridge Estates.”
What is a master association?
Many people think that the master association is always the only homeowners association with the community.
Why is it important for master associations and subs to work together?
To ensure harmony and maximize value and lifestyle, it’s important that master associations and subs work together to avoid conflict and achieve the same goals. That means subs shouldn’t compete and put their own goals ahead of others.
Who decides whether a master plan is professionally managed?
Within one master-planned community, the master association and sub-associations are governed by their own Boards of Directors. As part of their duties, each Board decides whether its association should be professionally managed – and if so, which property management company it wishes to hire.
Is there a sub association in a master association?
However, within the master association, there may be separate sub-associations, or “subs,” with their own dues, policies and governing documents, as created by their developers. If you own a home in one of these standalone subs, you are a member of that association as well.
What is a master association?
The master association is the umbrella group responsible for overseeing the HOAs for each of the communities, called satellites. By way of analogy, if you think of satellite HOAs as county governments, the master association is the state government. The master association maintains common facilities, roads, landscaping, road lighting, ...
What is the purpose of a HOA?
Its purpose is to regulate activities in such a way as to maintain and enhance the value of the properties within the HOA. The two flavors of HOA are a master association and a satellite HOA. Both charge fees for the services they render.
What is satellite HOA?
A satellite HOA, when part of a master association, concerns itself with the rules, regulations and guidelines that pertain to individual communities within a larger tract. The satellite HOA charges fees for an agreed set of services that includes maintaining common areas within the set community, such as lobbies, paths, landscaping, elevators, ...
Do HOA fees have to be disclosed?
HOA fees must be disclosed upfront to new residents. Failure to pay the satellite or master HOA fee can result in several different actions, depending on the contract between the homeowners and the HOA. For example, the HOA might assess a late fee on delinquent homeowners and might suspend services unique to the homeowner. Some HOA contracts allow the association to sue the offending homeowner, put a lien on the property and even foreclose on it. HOAs are known for jealously preserving their rights, because each resident depends on the HOA to help maintain property values.
Do homeowners have to attend HOA meetings?
While HOA meetings aren't mandatory, homeowners should attend both the satellite and master HOA meetings to understand the workings of their community. Fee structures, pending work orders, costs, budgeting and all financial details are revealed through the meetings. A tightly run HOA, both locally and overall, gives structure to the community, helping to maintain property values.
