The Reserve Board
Reserve planning insights
Practical advice for condo associations looking to protect property values and plan for the future.
- |Condo Board Financial Management
Condo Association Audit Requirements in Florida: What Your Board Must Know
Florida condo audit requirements depend on your revenue. Learn the four reporting levels, deadlines, waiver rules, and how to stay compliant under 718.111.
- |Condo Board Financial Management
How to Raise HOA Dues Without Losing Residents' Trust
Need to raise HOA dues? Here's the Florida legal process, reasonable increase ranges, and communication strategies that keep owners on your side.
- |Condo Board Financial Management
How to Set the Right Condo Maintenance Fee (Without Guessing)
Learn how to calculate condo maintenance fees with a step-by-step process. Cover operating costs, reserves, and contingency so your budget holds up all year.
- |Condo Board Financial Management
How to Handle a Condo Association Budget Deficit
Condo association over budget? Learn your options — budget amendments, assessment increases, and special assessments — plus how to prevent future deficits.
- |Condo Board Financial Management
Condo Association Insurance Costs: What Boards Need to Budget For
Learn what Florida condo association insurance costs in 2026, what's driving premiums up, and how to budget for it. Practical strategies for boards facing rising costs.
- |Condo Board Financial Management
How to Read Your Condo Association's Financial Statements
Learn how to read your condo association's financial statements. Plain-English guide to the balance sheet, income statement, reserve fund, and red flags to watch for.
- |Condo Board Financial Management
What Does a Condo Board Treasurer Do?
What does a condo board treasurer do? Learn the key responsibilities — budgets, financial statements, reserves, and oversight — and what you can delegate.
- |Condo Board Financial Management
How to Create a Condo Association Budget
Learn how to create a condo association budget step by step. Covers operating expenses, reserve contributions, assessment calculations, and Florida-specific requirements.
- |Condo Board Financial Management
Condo Board Financial Management: A Guide for New Board Members
New to your Florida condo board? Learn the financial management basics — budgets, reserves, insurance, and assessments — with a practical guide built for non-finance volunteers.
- |Reserve Funding Strategy
Florida Condo Reserve Funding Requirements in 2026: What Your Board Must Know
Florida condo reserve funding is now mandatory. Here are the 2026 requirements, deadlines, and what your board must do to stay compliant under SB 4-D.
- |Reserve Funding Strategy
Reserve Fund vs. Operating Fund: What Every Condo Board Member Needs to Know
What is the difference between a condo reserve fund and an operating fund? Clear definitions, examples, and Florida rules for board members.
- |Reserve Funding Strategy
How to Catch Up on Underfunded Condo Reserves
Your condo reserves are underfunded. Here's a step-by-step plan to close the gap without crushing owners -- funding strategies, timelines, and Florida-specific rules.
- |Reserve Funding Strategy
Can Your HOA Invest Reserve Funds? What Boards Need to Know
Yes, your HOA can invest reserve funds -- with limits. Learn Florida's rules, safe investment options like CD ladders, and how returns affect your 30-year plan.
- |Reserve Funding Strategy
Baseline vs. Threshold vs. Full Funding: Which Reserve Strategy Is Right?
Compare baseline, threshold, and full funding strategies for condo reserves. Learn the pros, cons, and how to choose the right method for your association.
- |Reserve Funding Strategy
How Much Should a Condo Association Have in Reserves?
How much should your condo have in reserves? Learn the benchmarks, rules of thumb, and Florida-specific requirements -- plus how to calculate your actual number.
- |Reserve Funding Strategy
What Does "Percent Funded" Mean for Your Condo Reserves?
Percent funded shows how your reserves compare to what you should have saved. Learn the formula, what a good number looks like, and what to do if yours is low.
- |Reserve Funding Strategy
How to fund your condo reserves: a complete strategy guide
Learn every strategy for funding your condo reserves -- from assessment planning to investment options. Includes Florida-specific rules and a 30-year modeling approach.
- |Reserve Studies
What Happens When a Condo Has No Reserve Study?
Without a reserve study, your condo board is guessing at reserves. That leads to special assessments, lower property values, deferred maintenance, and potential board liability.
- |Reserve Studies
How Florida's New Condo Laws Affect Your Reserve Requirements
Florida passed four major condo laws since Surfside. Here's what changed, what's required now, and what your board needs to do about reserve funding in 2026.
- |Reserve Studies
Fully Funded Reserves: What It Means and Why It Matters
Fully funded means your reserve balance matches accumulated deterioration. Learn what percent funded thresholds mean, four funding strategies, and Florida's no-waiver rule.
- |Reserve Studies
How Often Should Your Condo Get a Reserve Study?
Best practice is every 3 years with annual reviews. Associations on that cycle see 28.5% fewer special assessments. Here's the update schedule and when to move it up.
- |Reserve Studies
How to Read and Use a Reserve Study: A Guide for Condo Board Members
Learn how to read your condo reserve study — component lists, percent funded, funding plans, and how to turn the findings into a 30-year action plan.
- |Reserve Studies
Reserve Study Checklist: What to Ask Your Engineer
Use this checklist before hiring a reserve study provider. Questions to ask, documents to prepare, Florida-specific considerations, and red flags to watch for.
- |Reserve Studies
How Much Does a Reserve Study Cost in Florida?
A traditional reserve study costs $2,500 to $10,000 in Florida. A SIRS costs $5,500 to $16,500+. See what drives pricing and how to budget for your association's study.
- |Reserve Studies
What Is a Reserve Study? A Guide for Condo Board Members
A reserve study is a financial planning document that tells your condo board what repairs are coming and whether you can afford them. Here's what it includes and why it matters.
- |SIRS Compliance
Florida SIRS Compliance: What Your Condo Board Needs to Know in 2026
Complete SIRS compliance guide for Florida condo boards. Covers who needs a SIRS, what it covers, key deadlines, funding rules, and how to act on your report.
- |Special Assessments
How to Communicate a Special Assessment to Residents
A practical playbook for Florida condo boards delivering special assessment news. Covers legal notice requirements, what to include, delivery methods, and common mistakes to avoid.
- |SIRS Compliance
SIRS Compliance Deadlines: What Florida Boards Need to Know
Every SIRS deadline Florida condo boards need to know. Covers the December 2025 and 2026 deadlines, mandatory funding start date, DBPR reporting, and what to do if you're already behind.
- |SIRS Compliance
SIRS vs. Traditional Reserve Study: Key Differences
SIRS and traditional reserve studies are different tools for different jobs. Learn how they compare, why most Florida condos need both, and what happens if you only have one.
- |SIRS Compliance
What Is a Structural Integrity Reserve Study (SIRS)?
Plain-language guide to Florida's Structural Integrity Reserve Study (SIRS). Learn what it is, why it exists, what it covers, who needs one, and what to do after you get yours.
- |SIRS Compliance
Which Florida Condos Need a SIRS? The 3-Story Rule Explained
Find out if your Florida condo needs a Structural Integrity Reserve Study. The 3-story habitable rule explained, with exclusions, edge cases, and next steps.
- |Special Assessments
Can You Fight a Special Assessment in Your Florida Condo?
Yes, you can challenge a condo special assessment in Florida. Learn the legal grounds, step-by-step process, and why prevention beats litigation.
- |Special Assessments
How Much Can a Condo Special Assessment Cost?
Special assessments range from $1K to $50K+. See real cost ranges by project type and learn what monthly reserves cost vs. a surprise assessment.
- |Special Assessments
How to Avoid Special Assessments in Your Florida Condo
Learn 5 proven strategies Florida condo boards use to avoid special assessments. Build a 30-year prevention plan with reserve funding, SIRS compliance, and proactive maintenance.
- |Special Assessments
Special Assessment vs. Reserve Fund: What's the Difference?
Special assessments happen when reserve funds fall short. Learn the real difference, see the math, and find out how to keep your Florida condo's reserves healthy.
- |Special Assessments
What Is a Special Assessment?
A special assessment is a one-time fee charged to condo or HOA owners when reserves fall short. Learn why special assessments happen, how they're calculated, Florida legal requirements, and how to prevent them.
- |Special Assessments
Who Pays for Special Assessments in a Florida Condo?
Find out who pays special assessments in Florida condos — at closing, between owners, and why proper reserves make the question irrelevant.