Associa CEO John Carona joined the Building Texas Show to discuss the role of homeowners associations in preserving property values, the company's growth from two employees to 24,000, and its plans to expand across Europe. The episode, recorded at Associa's Richardson headquarters, features host Justin McKenzie exploring the origins of the company now in its 49th year.
Carona, who founded Associa 18 months after graduating from the University of Texas at Austin, described the company's organic growth "one client at a time" and through more than 200 acquisitions. Associa now adds 25 to 30 management firms annually. Carona emphasized that HOAs preserve property values by enforcing reasonable rules, noting that communities with mandatory HOAs see faster property value growth. He acknowledged that while over 95% of residents appreciate their HOA experience, the company works to address concerns from the remaining minority. Associa surveys every board of directors three times a year to identify and resolve issues early.
Carona highlighted Associa's investment in technology and training as key differentiators. "We live in the Amazon age. People want more for less," he said, stressing the need to deliver timely, cost-effective services. With 340 branch offices across 44 states, Associa offers employees career mobility, contributing to long tenures of 25 to 40 years. The company has been voted a national best place to work for nine consecutive years, an achievement Carona called his proudest.
Associa recently acquired the number two operator in Spain, its first large international purchase, and expects to become the number one operator in that market by the end of December. Carona described this as the first step in a three-to-five-year rollout across Europe, targeting the UK, France, Italy, and possibly Germany. He noted that while terminology varies—such as "stratras" in Canada—the core management work remains the same.
For homeowners in Texas's booming growth triangle, Carona advised scrutiny of transportation, location, and build quality, as Texas does not license builders. The full episode is available on podcast platforms.
