August 4, 2026 | Mark Luis Foster
Are HOAs at a pivot point in America? You know, that single place where things roil in a different direction, possibly uncontrollably and likely not with a positive spin.
A few recent headlines of late point to some trouble in the HOA nation:
Real estate experts say aggressive collection efforts are being driven by rising operating costs, shrinking reserve funds and concerns that unpaid assessments could leave associations unable to cover essential expenses.
Then there’s this little gem:
In 2025, HOAs reportedly filed 284,933 liens against homeowners, roughly one every 90 seconds. That figure represents an 8.6% increase from 2024, according to property records compiled by Benutech Data Insights.
The Fox story also quotes a study that was completed late last year regarding reserve studies, which found that nearly three-quarters of association-governed communities are underfunded. Specifically, 74% of associations were less than 70% funded, meaning they may not have sufficient reserve savings to pay for expected repairs and capital projects.
While we are not hearing that kind of doom and gloom yet in Minnesota, it becomes apparent that as HOA leaders, we have to keep the ship steady through the strong winds and rough seas.
Our chapter meetings resume in September. There’s one near you.
