In the latest episode of Dallas Dirt, host Candy Evans sits down with John Carona, former Texas Senator and founder and CEO of Associa, the largest home management firm in North America — for a wide-ranging conversation about how HOAs have evolved, what makes them work, and why community still matters.

Carona’s been in the business for nearly 50 years, growing Associa from a small Dallas firm into a powerhouse with more than 17,000 employees and 300 offices across the U.S. and beyond. He and Candy talk about what that journey has taught him about leadership, change, and what homeowners really want from their neighborhood communities.

“ When you look today at what’s going on and the issues that we face as a nation and into our communities, we think having well well-constructed, well-organized, close-knit community is probably as important as it ever has been,” Carona says.

He’s authored three books on the topic, including In the Common Interest: Embracing the New American Community (2014); In the Common Interest 2: Embracing Five-Star Customer Service (2018); and In the Common Interest 3: Unlocking the Potential of Community (August 2025).

As someone moving into an HOA herself, Candy digs into what life in a managed community actually looks like today. The two talk candidly about how neighborhood life has shifted from the looser, more informal connections of decades past to a model built on shared standards and mutual accountability.

“It requires a degree of conformity,” Carona says. “That’s not always popular, but it’s what helps protect property values and quality of life.”

That structure, he adds, isn’t about control — it’s about creating stability and predictability for homeowners who’ve made a major investment. And while HOAs often get a bad rap, Carona points out that most homeowners appreciate the benefits: well-kept neighborhoods, clear rules, and a sense of belonging.

Even after decades at the helm, Carona says he’s far from done. “Even at my age, I don’t think I’ll ever see a day of true retirement,” he says. “I love what I do — and there’s always something new to learn.”

https://share.transistor.fm/e/16529813