The term “common interest development” (CID) describes a form of real estate and home ownership that gives individual owners access to common property and facilities. A CID typically includes an operating entity in the form of a non-profit mutual benefit corporation, registered with the State of California and governed by an elected Board of Directors.

As mandated by the Department of Real Estate (DRE), a CID also provides a system of self-governance through an association of homeowners within the CID. The purpose and benefit of an association is to enhance residents’ community life by maintaining the integrity and appearance of common areas, and by ensuring the quality of provided amenities and services.

As the oversight body that governs the association, the Board of Directors has a fiduciary responsibility to implement community covenants and ensure that funds are properly budgeted, collected and spent. The board is also responsible for decisions pertaining to maintenance of common areas, landscaping and similar services.

The governing documents of a CID are the declaration and any other documents that govern the operation of the development or the association. These governing documents may include by-laws, articles of incorporation, the association’s operating rules, and Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs). The association’s bylaws specify the composition of the board. To ensure that the vision and integrity of the community is upheld during its formative stages, the builder and/or developer holds a majority of board positions during the construction and sales phase. New homeowners are invited to make up the balance of the board to ensure that homeowners' voices are heard. The first annual election is held in accordance with the time frames established in the CC&Rs, and homeowners are encouraged to submit their candidacy for the board. As the community continues to build out, the association board transitions from being developer controlled to being homeowner controlled.

The board sets the frequency of its meetings in accordance with provisions contained in the California Civil Code (CC) and the California Corporations Code (Corp C), taking into account the association needs. Regular session board meetings are open to all homeowners, with time provided on the agenda for homeowner input. Depending on the structure of the community, there may be opportunities for committee participation by residents in an advisory capacity.

Membership in the homeowners association is an automatic and integral component of purchasing a home in a CID.

The assessment amount is determined by DRE-mandated budgetary guidelines for ongoing maintenance of a community. Prior to actual property sales, the developer is required to submit a detailed association budget to the DRE which, when approved, determines the assessment paid by the residents. Once a community is fully built-out, the board determines the amount of its assessments by reviewing the association’s financial needs. These include requirements under association contracts its anticipated annual expenditures, and forecasting necessary sums for long-term maintenance of its community facilities (reserves).

Assessments are subject to fluctuation under certain circumstances, including, but not limited to, the effects of the overall economy on the cost of services or a vote by the board or association membership to add or eliminate services. Limitations on the amount an assessment can be increased each year are detailed in the CC&Rs and/or the California Civil Code.

CC&Rs are based on state-mandated requirements for community management and operating procedures. CC&Rs are recorded on the development, apply to all property in the CID and, with few exceptions, can only be changed by a prescribed vote of the association members. The association bylaws contain provisions concerning operation of the development and the association.

As a general rule, provisions that relate to property rights—such as membership rights relating to property ownership—are found in the CC&Rs, and provisions concerning an association’s internal and operating matters are found in the bylaws. Examples of bylaw items include the procedures for electing the Board of Directors and for defining the duties of the association’s officers.

Day-to-day responsibilities of managing a community association are extensive. A professional management company provides associations and the homeowners they serve with assistance in crucial areas, including:

Financial affairs
* Submitting monthly financial statements to the Board of Directors detailing collections, payments and cash flow
* Collaborating with the association’s CPA on annual audit and tax filings
* Paying vendor invoices
* Collecting monthly assessments and monitoring delinquencies

Maintenance administration
* Coordinating subcontractor activities and work orders
* Guiding the proposal process between the association and qualified service providers (landscaping, street sweeping, etc.)
* Acting as the association’s liaison between the board, homeowners, vendors, builders and oversight entities

Communication
* Providing a summary overview of association-related communications received by the management company
* Forwarding written requests and communications from homeowners to the board for further direction
* Communicating board actions, decisions and requests to the appropriate entity

Legal
* Working with the board and the association’s legal counsel to resolve issues in a timely, cost-effective manner
* Monitoring relevant state code requirements and facilitating prompt action and compliance

Insurance
* Facilitating insurance coverage as needed for the association

One of the benefits of association living is the reliable network of resources already in place to respond to questions or requests homeowners may have about a number of topics, including:

* Their home’s interior
During the first year, homeowners should contact the builder’s customer service department. To ensure accurate and timely processing, it is advisable to put requests or questions in writing and send any communication by certified mail.

* Their home’s exterior
Because architectural harmony is one of a community’s most valued aesthetics, homeowners wishing to make residential modifications must submit written requests to the association’s board or its delegated committee for approval before proceeding with any modifications.

* The community’s common area
The association’s management company may be contacted for situations affecting the common area (landscape, slopes, pools or other elements defined in the CC&Rs). For those situations outside the management company’s authority, homeowners will be directed to the most appropriate resource for prompt assistance.

* The association’s annual assessment
The management company’s accounting staff is available to answer questions about assessment statements or other fees. In some cases, account balance information can be obtained by phone via Interactive Voice Response (IVR) or on the Web.

CIDs enhance residents’ community experience by providing access to well-maintained amenities, preserving community standards, and providing opportunities for social and recreational involvement.

As a resident, you can enhance the experience as well. A viable, vibrant community is one where homeowners play an active part, not only by fulfilling basic association obligations but also by running for elected offices, serving on committees and participating in group activities. Governing documents lay the logistical foundation, but involved homeowners build the vision and spirit of a community.

Fiber to the Home (FTTH) networks are a subset of the broader FTTP category, which includes fiber networks to all premises, both residential and business. While traditional copper systems extend fiber only to a node in a city or neighborhood, FTTH networks extend all the way to the customer’s home. FTTH networks do not downgrade or convert fiber to copper at any point from the telephone company to the customer’s home. The FTTH architecture ensures that bandwidth performances and quality will not diminish on its way to the home.

Greenfield's fiber optics Internet service is the fastest and most powerful connection we’ve ever offered. We offer downstream connection speeds of up to 7.0 Mbps and upstream connection speeds of up to 3.0Mbps (the speed that data is transmitted to your computer). Connection speeds are between your home and the Greenfield central office serving your home. Actual download and upload speeds will vary based on numerous factors, such as the condition of home wiring at your location, computer configuration, Internet and network congestion, and the speed of website servers you access, among other factors. Speed and uninterrupted use of the service are not guaranteed.

Yes, Greenfield's fiber optics Internet service allows you the ability to create a home network so that multiple computers can be online at the same time. However, a router is required for multiple connections. If you are interested in purchasing a router, any brand name router will work with our Internet.

No, you will not need a telephone line. Greenfield Internet does not require a phone line to operate, however you will need a Cat 5 Ethernet cable to plug your computer into your wall data jack.

Your IP address may change, but it depends on how the network is setup.

No, your home is already equipped with an optical converter that will convert the fiber optics to the cables that are already run throughout your home.

Most routers will work with our fiber network. We recommend 802.11g adapters for all networks.