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Category: Budget & Finance

Key Steps for Optimal Budget Preparation

Most of Us Dread Budget Season! For some, this task feels overwhelming. For others, it requires digging into the weeds too much. And for many, they feel boxed in by their board or residents’ desire for “no fee increases.” While I don’t love working on budgets, here are some tips that have helped me along […]

New Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac Rules Are Coming. Is Your Community Ready?

On March 18, 2026, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac announced sweeping changes to condominium project standards and insurance requirements. For community association boards, the window to prepare is short — and the stakes are high. If your community isn’t positioned to meet these new standards, buyers in your building could lose access to conventional mortgage […]

How Do Wildfires in California Affect Your Condo Insurance?

I know what you’re thinking—how can wildfires in California have anything to do with your condo insurance rates in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or Delaware? Here’s how:The recent California wildfires are estimated to have an economic loss of over $250 billion, making it one of the costliest natural disasters in United States history. By the end […]

Level Up Your Community Association’s Savings with Strategic CD Laddering

SPONSORED CONTENT Community association managers juggle many financial responsibilities. While some can be planned for, others cannot. One strategy to bridge the gap is certificate of deposit (CD) laddering. CD laddering spreads a community association’s reserve funds across multiple CDs1 with staggered maturities. The goal of a CD ladder is to obtain a higher yield […]

Your Guide to HOA Financing Options

SPONSORED CONTENT When it’s time for one of your homeowners associations to finance a capital project, how do you help them secure the funds? You could charge homeowners a special assessment or dip into HOA cash reserves, but those options put burdens on the homeowners or the association. Another option to consider is financing from […]

Navigating PA’s New Workers’ Compensation Landscape

A recent change by the Pennsylvania Compensation Rating Bureau (PCRB) will significantly affect larger condominiums and homeowners association all across Pennsylvania with workers compensation policies. The PCRB will be revising the Pennsylvania Experience Rating Plan for the first time since 2004. The filing goes into effective for April 1, 2024, for all new and renewal […]

The Champlain Towers Collapse and Its Implications for the Condo Industry

Picture of the 2023 Condo Safety Public Policy Report

SPONSORED CONTENT In the preparation of this article Chat GPT-4 has been used as a reference. By Mitchell H. Frumkin, PE, RSPresident Kipcon Inc.Chair CAI National Condominium Safety, Public Policy Task Force The tragic collapse of the Champlain Towers Condominium in Surfside, Florida in 2021 not only devastated families and communities but has also sent […]

Helpful Tips To Guard Against HOA Scams

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article originally appeared on the FirstCitizens Bank blog and is reprinted by permission of FirstCitizens Bank. HOA fraud is an unfortunate reality—and many of us will fall victim to attempted scams. The good news is that by staying vigilant, we can protect ourselves more effectively. Common HOA scamsOne common HOA scam is […]

How Hackers Get Into Your Computer & Organization

EDITOR’S NOTE: This blog article is courtesy of CAI Keystone 2023 Diamond Partner National Cooperative Bank (NCB). This article originally appeared on NCB’s blog and is reprinted with permission. For more information, contact Mary Alex Blanton, SVP, at: mblanton@ncb.coop, Mark Reid, SVP & Team Lead, Association Banking at: MReid@ncb.coop, or Jessica Marvel, CMCA, VP, Association […]

Key Tips to Help Avoid Costly Fraud Attempts

This article courtesy of Nicole Skaro, CMCA, EBP, CIT – a Division of First Citizens Bank, Community Association Banking Division (CAB) Unfortunately, HOA fraud is a reality – and many of us will experience firsthand such scam attempts. The good news is that by staying vigilant, we can better protect ourselves. Among those HOA scams, […]