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eBooks, Articles, & More

  • Blog

Is 10% of Budget to Reserves a Law?

Click here to see a list of laws we compiled from across the country with respect to Reserves. While 30 states have some legal requirements, the "10% of budget to Reserves" is not a law. But it's something you want to do. Due to the financial meltdown that began approx 2008, more lenders are particular with respect to making loans. Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and FHA have enacted a requirement that Reserve contributions comprise at least 10% of total budgeted assessment income (Note: this only applies to condominiums, it does not apply to planned development or home-owner associations).
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  • Blog

Can Reserve Funds be used for Drought-Friendly Landscape Renovations?

In the middle of a major drought, many of our California clients are asking this question as they try to be both “good citizens” and financially responsible. The answer is yes, but… Landscape renovations can be classified as a Reserve Project if they meet the National Reserve Study Standard four-part test:
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  • Blog

Reserve Funding – It’s Not About the Future!

One of the biggest misconceptions about Reserve contributions I hear, even more than “they’re too much” or “we can’t afford them” (which I’ll address in another post), is that they are for the future. I don’t know how I can be any more clear on this matter. Reserve contributions are not for the future. Reserve contributions offset ongoing, day to day, current deterioration.
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  • Blog

Does our Association Need to have Healthy Reserves?

A good answer is both “yes” and “no”. Let me explain.
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  • Blog

Setting our Industry Up for Success

After 30 years preparing Reserve Studies, helping associations make wise decisions about their capital budgets to avoid surprises and the high cost of deferred maintenance, Robert Nordlund of Association Reserves has joined the national “Think Tank” of the Foundation for Community Association Research (FCAR) to help the industry on a broader spectrum. Watch a brief video introducing 2016 Think Tank members and projects here.
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  • Blog

Make your Association 35% Better!

We all know that scarcity causes conflict and stress. Scarcity of Reserves causes deferred maintenance and special assessments, drags down property values, and causes other related problems. How can an association avoid these problems and emerge with sufficient funds to maintain the community, maximizing property values and pride of ownership?
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