Education, Transparency, and Community: Judge Bugbee on HOAs

HOAs have a reputation problem. Too many people see them as rule enforcers with little to offer beyond violation notices. Judge Bugbee, founder of HOA Connect North Texas, is trying to change that. In a recent episode of The Uncommon Area, he explained how education, communication, and a little creativity can make an association the heart of a neighborhood instead of a headache.

Why HOA Connect Exists

Judge didn’t start out as an expert. He joined his community’s board with the same questions most volunteers have: What’s a reserve study? How do budgets actually work? What are we even supposed to do here? Instead of stumbling through, he built HOA Connect North Texas to provide what he wished he had—clear guidance, ongoing education, and access to people who know how to get things done. The best part is that it’s all free for board members.

The Power of Transparency

One of the fastest ways for an HOA to lose trust is to act in silence. Judge has seen it time and again—boards that fail to communicate, homeowners who assume the worst, and conflict that spins out of control. His solution is simple: open the books, explain the decisions, and actually talk to people. He shared a story about a property manager who personally called homeowners to explain violations. The result was a drop from nearly 900 open issues to under 200.

Making HOAs Memorable for the Right Reasons

Crown Ridge, the community where Judge first got involved, did something different. They put on Easter egg hunts, fall festivals, and events that made kids excited to show up and families proud to participate. It seems simple, but those experiences created a shift in how homeowners viewed the HOA. Instead of just paying dues, they started to feel like they belonged to a neighborhood with a purpose.

Planning Ahead with Numbers That Matter

No one likes special assessments, but they often happen because boards don’t plan ahead. Judge talked about the role of reserve studies, especially in an inflationary environment. He gave a sobering example: his community went from being 123 percent funded to 68 percent funded in one year without spending a dollar. That’s the kind of wake-up call that pushes boards to take budgeting seriously.

Building Partnerships That Last

HOAs can’t thrive on their own. They need reliable vendors, city support, and professional partnerships to keep communities running. Judge’s upcoming vendor fair is a good example of how HOA Connect is bridging that gap. It’s a chance for board members to meet the people and companies who can help them solve problems, improve amenities, and make better decisions.

The Takeaway

Judge Bugbee’s message is straightforward. HOAs succeed when they focus on education, transparency, and building community. They fail when they get stuck in the narrow role of enforcing rules. Through HOA Connect North Texas, he is helping boards rethink what leadership looks like and showing homeowners that their HOA can be a partner, not an adversary.

For the full conversation with Judge Bugbee, listen to this episode of The Uncommon Area. It’s a guide for anyone who wants their community to run better and feel stronger.

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