If we played HOA Family Feud, the number-one answer on the board for almost every argument would be: “What do your documents say?”

That is especially true when it comes to community maintenance. Who owns a property element? Who is responsible for fixing it? And who is legally obligated to pay for it? The answers to those three questions are rarely the same.

In this episode, host Kelly Hawkins and community manager Jennifer Cordell settle the score between townhomes and condos, revealing why physical architectural looks can be deceiving and breaking down how to navigate your community’s governing documents like a pro.

In this episode, we take a look at:

• Condo vs. Townhome Deeds: Why a standalone unit that looks like a townhome might legally be deeded as a condo and why county records and unit definitions matter.
• The Document Hierarchy: The distinct roles of plat maps, articles of incorporation, declarations (CC&Rs), bylaws, and rules & regulations (and why people incorrectly call everything “the bylaws”).
• Definitions You Can’t Skip: Understanding unit boundaries, common elements, and limited common elements (decks, balconies, windows, and doors).
• The “Purpose of Assessments” Clause: Where to look in your documents to find the explicit list of what the board is legally allowed to spend HOA funds on.
• Maintains vs. Pays: Why the HOA performing a repair doesn’t automatically mean the cost is split among all owners, including NC Chapter 47-C charge-backs and building-specific expenses.
• The 6 Biggest Board & Owner Mistakes: Why “we’ve always paid for it,” “it’s outside so the HOA pays,” or assuming quick turnarounds on maintenance demands lead to costly legal friction.
• Pro Tip for Boards: How to use AI to generate an HOA vs. owner maintenance matrix, get it vetted by your association attorney, and distribute it to eliminate community confusion.

Connect with Main Street Management Group:

• Website: mainstreetmanagers.com
• Share Your Story: Have a question about your documents or a maintenance debate in your neighborhood? Reach out via our website’s contact form!

Subscribe & Follow: Never assume what your governing documents say—start with the definitions, determine who maintains it, and verify who pays. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Music, iHeartRadio, or wherever you listen to podcasts, and follow Main Street Management Group on socials to stay ahead of the curve!

Produced by: Main Street Management Group & Charlotte Content Marketing