Review HOA Financial Documents and Meeting Minutes
Read the HOA reserve study, latest budget, and recent meeting minutes to spot deferred maintenance and upcoming special assessments.
DIY Cost
$0
If Ignored
$15k
Frequency
Once a year
Difficulty
Easy DIY
Most homeowners can handle this in under an hour with basic tools.
How to do it — step by step
Request or download the HOA's most recent reserve study, annual budget, and last 3–6 months of meeting minutes. Key things to look for: (1) Reserve funding percentage — under 70% funded means a special assessment is likely within 5 years. (2) Deferred maintenance items — roof, elevator, boiler, parking structure. (3) Pending lawsuits against the HOA. (4) Budget deficits or steadily rising dues. A surprise special assessment can be $5,000–$50,000+ per unit. Catching warning signs early lets you plan financially and vote on corrective action before it becomes a crisis.
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