Organization

• Most such associations are nonprofit corporations, as described at Definitions.uslegal.com.
  
  

Services

• The primary reason for a property owners association is the provision of necessary services for the properties for which the association has responsibility. For example, condominium complexes may not have coverage for such municipal services as waste disposal.
  
  

Preservation

• One of the association's responsibilities is that of maintenance of the integrity of the overall property. For example, a condominium complex may allow individual owners to enclose balconies but require a consistency with the overall appearance of the complex as a whole.
  
  

Maintenance

• Another responsibility of the property owners association is that of routine maintenance. This includes things like repainting exteriors and the maintenance of any amenities such as a swimming pool.
  
  

Dues

• The homeowners as a group finance the operations of the property owners association through the payment of dues, also called assessments, as described at Definitions.uslegal.com.