Boston, MA Community Associations Institute’s (CAI’s) Foundation for Community Association Research recently updated its 2015 Community Association Fact Book.  In addition to providing historical data on the number of U.S. homeowners associations, condominiums and cooperatives; the number of units in those communities; and the number of people who call them home, the five-part, online PDF also documents the history, status, trends and future issues of U.S. community associations, and includes state summaries and top-level association housing data for other countries.

One of the most notable additions to this year’s Community Association Fact Book is Part Five: Large-Scale Association Survey Results. The Large-Scale Managers Committee of Community Associations Institute, in collaboration with the Foundation, conducted the nationwide study to broadly explore the community, governance and business services provided by large-scale associations (LSAs) to their members and residents. The 150+ page report defines LSAs, which typically have more than 1,000 lots or units and budgets of several million dollars, by five primary-use and lifestyle-theme categories: Age restricted, mixed-use, private club, residential and resort/residential.  

The resource also includes housing data for all 50 states and the District of Columbia, including general housing characteristics; age of residents, household type, disability and place of birth; property values and real estate taxes; and mortgage data—with and without a mortgage by age group and compared to national data. 

The Fact Book is divided into five parts:

• The National and State Statistical Review for 2015—a summary brochure of key national and state data

• The Community Association Fact Book 2015—comprehensive data and information

• State-level association data and information

• Data on 55+ U.S. condominium owners in each state and the District of Columbia

• Large-Scale Association Survey Results

In addition the Fact Book includes the following:

• A section on community associations in other countries, including a table on general population and housing data

• Data comparing community associations to other entities such as public charities, corporations, partnerships and governmental units

• National Flood Insurance Program data on condominium policies, claims and premiums in all states

• Additional links to Federal Housing Administration programs, including data on cooperatives

• Information on community association lien priority issues and related litigation

• Links to publications, such as Ethics, the Foundation’s latest best practices report; and surveys, such as the most recent national survey of community association residents

The Foundation for Community Association Research provides authoritative research and analysis on community association trends, issues and operations. Its mission is to inspire successful and sustainable communities.  The statistics in the free PDF were developed by CAI past president Clifford Treese, CIRMS, president of Association Data, Inc., in Mountain House, Calif.

The fact book and other foundation resources can be downloaded at www.cairf.org