The Uncommon Area
Episodes
HOA Board Conflict Series (Pt. 1): Can a Board Member Be Removed? | Ep. 87
24 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when conflict erupts inside the HOA board?In Episode 87 of The Uncommon Area, Matthew Holbrook speaks with HOA attorney James McCormick o...
HOA Audits Explained: Fraud Risks, Financial Controls, and What Boards Should Watch | Ep. 86
10 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
HOA audits play a critical role in ensuring financial transparency and accountability within community associations.In this episode of The Uncommon Ar...
How to Avoid Defect Litigation | Ep. 85
24 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Litigation is one tool, not the only tool. This episode with Chad Thomas of Berding & Weil explores how boards can evaluate defects, understand SB...
Hacked? Understanding Cybersecurity in HOAs | Ep. 84
10 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Cybersecurity threats against homeowners associations are increasing, and HOAs are becoming prime targets for cyber attacks, fraud, and data breaches....
What Every HOA Board Member Should Know | Ep. 83
27 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What does it really mean to serve on an HOA or condo board?In this episode of The Uncommon Area, attorney Grant Neidenfeuhr joins Matthew Holbrook to ...
How Creative Financing Impacts Homebuyers and Investors in HOAs | Ep. 82
13 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Creative financing is changing how homes are bought and sold. Caleb Christopher joins The Uncommon Area to explain what HOAs need to know about invest...
[SPECIAL EPISODE] Be Astonished & Tell About It | The Uncommon Area Ep. 81
23 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As the year comes to a close, we wanted to share something a little different.This special holiday episode is a story about a delayed flight, a tired ...
HOA Fiduciary Duty: Can Board Members Be Sued Personally? | Ep. 80
09 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Attorney Cang Le of Le Firm joins The Uncommon Area for a clear look at what fiduciary duty really means for HOA board members.Cang and host Matthew H...
How SB 326 Is Shaping Home Values and HOA Stability | Ep. 79
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Matthew Holbrook sits down with mortgage advisor John Farrell to break down how SB 326, the Balcony Bill, is reshaping condo sales across California. ...
Can My HOA Arrest My Neighbor? | Ep. 78
11 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Can an HOA act like law enforcement? Attorney Darren M. Bevan joins host Matthew Holbrook to unpack what homeowners associations can and can’t do wh...
Avoiding Costly Mistakes in Construction Defect Litigation | Ep. 77
28 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is your HOA facing construction defects or considering legal action? In this episode of The Uncommon Area, host Matthew Holbrook talks with Joe Smith ...
Fighting Fair: HOA Conflict, Mediation, and the Art of Dispute Avoidance | Ep. 76
14 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
HOA disputes are inevitable, but how your board handles them determines whether your community grows stronger or fractures under pressure.In this epis...
What Makes an HOA Thrive? | Ep. 75
30 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What makes some HOAs consistently successful? In this special episode of The Uncommon Area, host Matthew Holbrook talks with Judge Bugbee, founder of ...
Disaster Strikes: How HOAs Can Prepare, Notify, and Protect | Ep. 74
16 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Insurance is one of the most complex and fast-changing aspects of HOA management. In this episode of The Uncommon Area, host Matthew Holbrook talks wi...
Property Lines: When Public Access Meets Private Communities | Ep. 73
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When public access meets private HOA property, the legal boundaries can get complicated. In this episode of The Uncommon Area, host Matthew Holbrook t...
Texas Edition: Short Term Rentals | Ep. 72
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Attorney Leah Burton joins host Matthew Holbrook to unpack what HOAs can do regarding short-term rentals.
Understanding AB 130: New Rules for HOA Fines | Ep. 71
28 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
California HOAs face major changes with AB 130, the new law limiting fines to $100 per violation and requiring homeowners be given an opportunity to c...
Managing Rising HOA Insurance Costs | Ep. 70
22 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
HOA insurance costs are skyrocketing, and boards need to act before it impacts residents and budgets. In this episode of The Uncommon Area, host Matth...
Can HOAs Take Away Free Speech? | Ep. 69
08 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Can an HOA restrict what homeowners say or display? In this episode of The Uncommon Area, host Matthew Holbrook sits down with attorney Sarah A. Paas ...
SB326: Your HOA’s Structural Wake-Up Call | Ep. 68
24 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
California HOAs face major compliance and financial challenges under SB 326, the Balcony Bill. In this episode of The Uncommon Area, host Matthew Holb...
HOA Elections EXPOSED: Behind the Scenes with a Ballot Expert | Ep. 67
10 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
HOA elections can make or break community trust, yet many boards and managers underestimate the complexity of running them fairly. In this episode of ...
Can Communication Kill Conflict? | Ep. 66
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Clear, consistent communication is essential for successful HOA management. In thi...
Electronic Voting in 2025 | Ep. 65
30 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Electronic voting is coming to California homeowners associations! Starting Januar...
Board Member Blunders: These Mistakes Can Wreck Your HOA | Ep. 64
20 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Uncommon Area, Matthew Holbrook and guest Kate Kilanowski f...
The Evolution of HOAs: What’s Changed and Where Are We Going? | Ep. 63
20 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode tackles the evolving nature of the HOA industry, recorded with a live...
Are HOAs a Scam? | Ep. 62
15 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this eye-opening episode of The Uncommon Area, we tackle one of the most freque...
Reserve Studies Pt. 2: The Build-Out | Ep. 61
30 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the second episode of our HOA Management Podcast series on Reserve Stud...
Reserve Studies Pt. 1: The Blueprint | Ep. 60
04 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to another episode of The Uncommon Area with your host, Matthew Holbrook! ...
Why HOA Repair Projects Fail | Ep. 59
07 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Description (SEO-Optimized): HOA and homeowners association repair projects are getting more complex and more expensive. In this episode, host Matthew...
Is Your Home a Criminal Target? | Ep. 58
09 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join us as we dive into the crucial topic of neighborhood safety with Phil McMullin from Orange PD. From spotting red flags of criminal activity to th...
HOA Industry Changes and How Boards Can Adapt | Ep. 57
15 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join host Matthew Holbrook and HOA expert Mike Perlof as they explore the changing landscape of HOA and homeowners association management. Learn why m...
Do Homebuyers See HOAs as a Strikeout or Home Run? | Ep. 56
06 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Uncommon Area, we discuss the relationship between real est...
Stop Telling Boring Stories | Ep. 55
19 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Katie Quesada sheds light on the importance of storytelling in every industry, inc...
When HOAs and Hotels Collide | Ep. 54
27 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A discussion with hospitality expert Kevan White on how hospitality services are i...
Dinosaur CC&Rs | Ep. 53
24 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Are your CC&Rs from the dark ages? Even if they are only 10-15 years old, they mi...
Board Communication by Email | Ep. 52
20 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
New California case law changes the restrictions for an HOA board regarding how it ma...
Getting Your Insurance Budget Right | Ep. 51
13 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The insurance market for HOAs is very volatile right now. Jonathan Naranjo from Newf...
Common Budget Failures | Ep. 50
13 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Attorney Jeff Beaumont discusses the legal ramifications of budgeting mistakes that b...
How HOAs Can Prevent Homeowners From Getting Financing | Ep. 49
21 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Don’t let your HOA get into a position where homeowners cannot get Fannie Mae re-fi...
Avoid Contract Catastrophes | Ep. 48
23 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Missing something small in a contract can lead to a very big consequence. Attorney Sa...
Hot Take: Shorten Your Board Meetings | Ep. 47
28 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Questions don’t have to drag out your board meetings. ...
Hot Take: You Can't Prioritize Everything | Ep. 46
19 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A practical way to give attention to what really matters. ...
The Future of HOAs in California | Ep. 45
24 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nathan McGuire talks about California’s changing climate and its impact on the futu...
Does Your HOA Have a Clean Bill of Health? | Ep. 44
10 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Sarah Morales from Personal Touch Cleaning and Maintenance talks about how the right ...
Does Earthquake Insurance Make Sense? | Ep. 43
26 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jonathan Naranjo from Newfront Insurance talks about HOAs and earthquake insurance –...
Hot Take: Daytime Board Meetings | Ep. 42
13 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Reasons to ditch the evening meetings. ...
Insurance companies may not want to insure your HOA | Ep. 41
30 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jonathan Naranjo of Newfront Insurance discusses what HOAs can do to make insurance c...
Is My HOA’s Money Safe in the Bank? | Ep. 40
15 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A discussion with Carson Lappetito, president of Sunwest Bank, regarding what is happ...
Seagulls Make Messes—What Should You Do? | Ep. 39
22 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
General manager Claudia Faison discusses her experiences with a beach community and a...
Hot Take: Nice Is Unfair | Ep. 38
15 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Unintended consequences of relaxed board meetings. ...
Why Are My Natural Gas Prices So High? | Ep. 37
09 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A discussion with Jens Hansen from Commercial Energy about why natural gas p...
Leadership: Meddling in People’s Lives | Ep. 36
01 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A discussion with Scott Vandeventer, of Empathic Inc Coaching and Consulting, a...
Hot Take: Not Everyone Can Do It | Ep. 35
25 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The life of an HOA portfolio manager. ...
A Jerk or Lawbreaker? | Ep. 34
18 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A discussion with attorney Sandra Gottlieb, of SwedelsonGottlieb, about the ...
Hot Take: Saving Pennies, Losing Dollars | Ep. 33
05 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
HOAs that save a dollar, only to cost homeowners thousands. ...
H2O for HOAs | Ep. 32
07 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ralph Figueroa of RGS Landscape shares everything you need to know about HOA irrig...
Are You Sitting on a Mold Mine? | Ep. 31
02 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Don’t let mold create a dangerous situation. In this episode, Troy Gianerakis sh...
Hot Take: Do Your Homeowners Love Their HOA? | The Uncommon Area Ep. 30
16 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s possible for homeowners to love their HOA. ...
The Call of the Wild | Ep. 29
12 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Lions and tigers and bears? No. But how about coyotes and rabbits and bees and rats a...
Don’t Ruin Your HOA’s Streets | Ep. 28
04 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jeremy Taylor of Ben’s Asphalt joins Action CEO Matthew Holbrook to share everythin...
Hot Take: Longer Meetings Don’t Make for Better Decisions | Ep. 27
19 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Board meetings can and should be shorter. ...
Hot Take: Number one way homeowners are ripped off | Ep. 26
13 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Most common way homeowners get ripped off by their HOA. ...
Biggest budgeting mistakes in 2022-23 | Ep. 25
27 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Considerations for HOA budgets for 2023 are different than any other time in recent m...
How an HOA can regulate rental units | Ep. 24
20 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jenifer Antonelli, Action GM, joins CEO Matthew Holbrook and details how her communit...
HOAs at risk of insurance premiums tripling! | Ep. 23
13 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan Gesell, VP at Cline Agency, joins Action CEO Matthew Holbrook to discuss HOA ins...
Leadership: Organizational Culture and Values | Ep. 22
06 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A discussion with Alan Weisenberger of EnLumen Leadership Services about what leaders...
Energy Savings for HOA High-Rises | Ep. 21
30 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A discussion with Paul Hullar of Brightwave Energy about how to understand energy costs ...
Can you kick someone off an HOA board of directors? | Ep. 20
16 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Attorney Jane Blasingham provides some helpful insight on the legal aspects of naviga...
Leadership: Perspectives from the Navy | Ep. 19
09 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Steve Lathrop, captain in the US Navy as well as executive VP of USI Insurance, discu...
Tech Talk: HOA Analytics | Ep. 18
26 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Brad Perry, VP of technology, discusses technology and analytics and how they can ser...
How to run an effective board meeting | Ep. 17
13 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matthew Holbrook, CEO, discusses legal and practical input on holding an effective bo...
Introducing a unique Action community: Yerba Buena Island | Ep. 16
23 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Candace Caldana-Walk, Action director, and Kate Drobny, general manager, provide an i...
What do you need to know about the installation of EV charging stations? | Ep. 15
23 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ariel Fan, CEO of GreenWealth Energy, and Michele Florence, GM at Azzurra, discuss consi...
What do you need to know when you have a water intrusion? | Ep. 14
23 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
John Ayala, Freedom Restoration, breakdowns the things to know and do when you have a...
Thinking about funding large-scale landscape projects | Ep. 13
23 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Tiffany Kaldenbach, senior community manager, explains what she did to help an associ...
What are some creative ideas to fundraise for a community association? | Ep. 12
23 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Cecilia de Heras, community manager, talks about ideas that she has implemented to ra...
What do you need to know about California deck inspection requirements? | Ep. 12
23 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan Darby, regional manager, gives a detailed breakdown of what you need to know abo...
How to tell if you have settlement issues and what to do about it | Ep. 11
23 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Darrell Conger, CEO of CPR Construction, discusses geotechnical issues that may arise...
What do you need to know about dry rot? | Ep. 10
22 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Darrell Conger, CEO of CPR Construction, talks about dry rot in communities. ...
What do you need to know about fire life safety in a high-rise? | Ep. 9
22 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
John Ramirez, regional manager – engineering services, explains the factors involve...
What managers wish board members understood | Ep. 8
22 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Anthony Edwards, community manager, answers the question of what would be helpful for bo...
What’s it like being an HOA manager? | Ep. 7
22 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Anthony Edwards, community manager, discusses his experience in becoming an HOA manager....
How can technology make property inspections more effective? | Ep. 6
22 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Brad Perry, VP of technology, and Greg Tantum, lead full stack developer, talk about ...
How is Action leveraging technology? | Ep. 4
22 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Brad Perry, VP of technology, and Greg Tantum, lead full stack developer, have a disc...
What do you need to know about re-piping an HOA building? | Ep. 3
22 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Davidson, executive vice president, and John Ramirez, regional manager – engineer...
What do you need to know about cooling tower maintenance? | Ep. 2
22 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
John Ramirez, regional manager – engineering services – provides a breakdown of t...
What do you need to know about communication in an HOA? | Ep. 1
22 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Regional managers Alex Esteves and Ryan Darby have a conversation about how managers ...
How can an HOA pay for a large project when it does not have the funds? | Ep. 1
09 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Has your community ever had an unexpected expense? How was it handled? Hear how one of our community managers handled an unexpected $4 million expense...
Hacked? Understanding Cybersecurity in HOAs | Ep. 84
07 Feb 2001
Contributed by Lukas
Cybersecurity threats against homeowners associations are increasing, and HOAs are becoming prime targets for cyber attacks, fraud, and data breaches....