Becoming a new board member for a homeowners association (HOA) can feel overwhelming. Beyond navigating the complexities of community leadership, new members must quickly understand all the physical, financial, and political aspects of board leadership. Here we’ll address reserve management—a cornerstone of maintaining a thriving, financially secure community.
Is it time to maintain or fully replace? Which components take priority? How do you save money for your HOA homeowners properly? We’ll give you a handful of real-life examples so you can see how our experts would handle even the most expensive projects!
As an HOA board member, you’re tasked with a monumental responsibility: ensuring the financial health and physical well-being of your community. One of the most critical aspects of this role is effective reserve funding. Underfunded reserves can lead to financial crises, unexpected special assessments, and a decline in property values.
Inflation is an economic force that affects everything, from household expenses to the long-term financial planning of homeowners associations (HOAs). For HOAs, reserve planning is particularly vulnerable to inflationary pressures, as rising costs for materials, labor, and services directly impact the ability to fund major projects.
While reserve funding legislation aims to address the growing issue of underfunded community associations, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Achieving financial stability requires proactive planning, a realistic understanding of costs, and collaboration between boards, professionals, and homeowners.
A successful HOA reserve funding plan balances the need for long-term financial stability with the realities of today’s budget constraints. By aligning future project costs with adequate contributions, associations can avoid special assessments and maintain property values.
