Funding your reserves
Every board argues about dues. This guide replaces the argument with numbers: how much your community should actually hold, where the money lives, what underfunding costs, when a special assessment is the honest answer, and the new lending rules that make all of it every seller's problem.
The honest answer isn't a dollar figure — it's a fraction. Here's how percent funded defines "enough," what the new lender rules require, and how to work out the real number for your community.
Nobody enjoys paying fees. That’s just human nature. But it’s a lot less painful when you know where your fees are going, what they pay for, and how you benefit from their use. HOA funds are a perfect example. We may grumble when they’re due, but it helps when we know how they are used to benefit our community. Your…
So it looks like your homeowner’s association has some projects to be done. The roof on a common building is on year 15 of its 20-year lifespan. The pool house needs painting. And hasn’t there been talk of building some new walkways in the greenspace? How do you know if your HOA has the money to fund these big projects…
The one thing every homeowner in an HOA agrees on is that they don’t want to pay extra fees. There may be disagreements over what those fees pay for, but no one ever asks to pay more. But unexpected costs are part of HOA life. That’s why you need to know about special assessments. What is a Special Assessment? A…
For loan applications dated on or after January 4, 2027, condo budgets must send 15% of assessment income to reserves — or show a current reserve study funded at its highest recommended level. Here's the timeline, the math, and the board checklist.