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Fannie Mae’s 2027 changes could impact HOA lending standards nationwide. Here’s what boards need to know.
✅ Is a Reserve Study right for you? 👉 https://www.reservestudy.com/

🏠 Condo Status Finder: https://singlefamily.fanniemae.com/condo-status-finder

✉️ Fannie Mae's March 18th Lending Letter: http://www.reservestudy.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/LL-2026-03-Project-Standards_Insurance-03-18-26.pdf

Today we have on the show Jodi Horne, she's principal of single family collateral risk management at Fannie Mae, and that's a long title, but what that all means is that she's the one at Fannie Mae ultimately responsible for lending standards affecting community associations and their latest lending standard update in particular, so at any time Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac make an adjustment to their lending standards. It sends ripples throughout the community association and the entire lending industry. So, to lower your anxiety and to hear what's really going on, we have Jodi here on the program today, speaking publicly on this issue.

Chapters:
00:00 Why is Fannie Mae changing reserve requirements?
00:51 Who is Jodi Horne and why does this update matter?
04:03 What role does Fannie Mae play in HOA lending standards?
05:05 Why did Fannie Mae decide to make this change?
07:45 Why should HOA homeowners care about these requirements?
08:42 What are the two major reserve policy changes?
12:24 When do the new reserve requirements take effect?
14:22 Is this a national standard or a regional change?
15:24 Ad Break - Association Reserves
15:56 Why was the reserve threshold increased from 10% to 15%?
17:58 Who reviews reserve studies and reserve funding levels?
19:06 What qualifies as an acceptable reserve study?
20:45 Why is baseline funding no longer acceptable?
24:05 How do associations support mortgage financing eligibility?
25:23 How long did it take to develop these changes?
27:00 Was the Champlain Towers collapse the reason for this update?
28:59 What should HOA boards do next to prepare?
30:49 Where can boards find the Fannie Mae resources discussed today?

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Think your HOA contract covers everything? Many boards misunderstand what “full service” means…

With us today is Rolf Crocker, the president of Omni Community Management, an association management company located in Northern California. This week we thought we would regale you with all of the information we have about HOA management companies, their relationships with HOA boards, and how an HOA contract might not be what you think.

Chapters:

00:00 Why is there a bandwidth problem in HOA management?
00:54 What does “full service” HOA management really mean?
04:12 What is portfolio management and how does it work?
05:58 Why is time the only real “widget” in management?
06:54 Why can’t small HOAs expect unlimited service?
08:35 Should boards create a wish list before hiring management?
10:01 Why is HOA management still partially self-managed?
11:14 Why do board expectations suddenly change over time?
13:00 Why are some HOA management tasks billed separately?
14:44 Why do rising labor and operating costs matter to HOAs?
17:50 Why is trust essential between boards and managers?
19:15 Ad Break - Community Financials
19:46 Why can’t boards always choose their portfolio manager?
22:27 What is the “span of control” problem in management?
24:24 Why is finding great HOA managers becoming harder?
27:29 How did HOAs become such a massive institution?
30:43 Why are volunteer HOA board members so important?
31:27 How much influence do HOA board members really have?
32:42 What is the biggest takeaway for HOA boards and managers?

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Small HOA board mistakes can become massive lawsuits! See how poor decisions escalate legal and financial risk.
✅ Is a Reserve Study right for you? 👉 https://www.reservestudy.com/

Poor HOA board decisions can quickly escalate into lawsuits costing tens of thousands, or even millions, of dollars. Learn how communication failures, inconsistent rule enforcement, deferred maintenance, discrimination claims, and breaches of fiduciary duty create serious legal and financial exposure for community associations.

Chapters
00:00 Why should HOA boards get training and advice?
01:10 What happens when an HOA board makes no decision?
03:08 How much does a ‘simple’ HOA claim really cost?
04:21 How do procedural mistakes create HOA lawsuits?
08:35 Why is communication critical for HOA boards?
09:56 How can small HOA conflicts become six‑figure lawsuits?
11:18 How do special assessments trigger HOA legal disputes?
12:47 Why do HOA disputes get more costly over time?
15:00 How do inconsistent HOA rules create liability?
15:50 When should an HOA board call attorneys or risk managers?
22:38 Ad Break - Kevin Davis Insurance Services
23:04 What really causes million‑dollar HOA lawsuits?
24:12 How does structural damage becomes a legal disaster?
26:57 How do discrimination claims impact HOAs and boards?
28:57 What is breach of fiduciary duty for an HOA board?
29:23 How can HOAs end up on Fannie Mae’s blacklist?
30:52 How can HOAs reduce lawsuit risk?
32:18 Why HOA board education and training are necessary

The views & opinions expressed in this program are those of the Hosts & Guests, intended to provide general education about the community association industry. The content is not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual or organization.

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What should your HOA do when ICE shows up? Here’s what boards need to know about ICE and HOA responsibilities.
✅ Is a Reserve Study right for you? 👉 https://www.reservestudy.com/

Complying with law enforcement or people in uniform is something that we just do as part of living in our ordered society, but that has traditionally been for issues having to do with life safety. You got to think about letting a fireman into your house, or when a policeman pulls you over for speeding, or when the FBI raids the office of a corrupt politician. So without touching the political sensitivities of this topic today, we'll learn if we should put ICE officials in the same automatic compliance category for your HOA, or if they belong in a different category.

Contact Sandra at: slg@sghoalaw.com or 800.372.2207 x202

Chapters:
00:00 What should you do if ICE shows up at your HOA?
00:45 Why is this topic becoming relevant for associations now?
03:09 Why should HOAs prepare policies for law enforcement access?
04:18 How did real late-night ICE situations create panic?
06:36 Why should HOAs slow down instead of reacting quickly?
08:26 What legal factors make ICE situations more complex?
10:00 Why can oversharing create liability for associations?
10:56 Why is having a written ICE protocol so important?
12:17 Are ICE agents using fear as part of their strategy?
13:44 Who is the HOA actually responsible for protecting?
15:00 How can vendor situations create unexpected risk?
17:13 Ad Break - Kevin Davis Insurance Services
17:41 Why is access control critical when ICE arrives?
18:13 What is the difference between administrative and judicial warrants?
19:35 Why should HOAs request documentation and copies?
20:20 Why is this not an emergency situation?
21:19 When should HOAs step aside if force is involved?
22:50 Should ICE be treated like other law enforcement?
23:52 Why should all requests be documented in writing?
25:00 How should front desk staff respond in the moment?
26:01 What if your attorney is unfamiliar with these situations?
27:21 What is the most important takeaway for HOA boards?

The views & opinions expressed in this program are those of the Hosts & Guests, intended to provide general education abou

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HOA votes shouldn’t feel like a battle. Here’s how to run them smoothly and avoid costly mistakes.
✅ Is a Reserve Study right for you? 👉 https://www.reservestudy.com/

🔎 Learn More About The Inspectors of Election 👉 https://inspectorsofelection.com/

Why should a board put in long hours preparing for HOA votes of any kind and then struggle to support or defend it? There's so many types of elections and ways you can stumble setting up a vote of any kind, whether it's getting quorum or an election of new board members seeking approval for a special assessment, or any one of these different types of voting situations where you need to reach out to your ownership in an official manner. Need to get it done, and get it done in a way that there is no question of the validity the results, so you don't have to do it over again. That’s where our guest Kurtis Peterson from The Inspectors of Election comes in. He’s here to talk everything about elections in your HOA community!

Chapters

00:00 Why do HOA votes become so complicated?
00:51 What types of HOA votes can go wrong?
04:39 Why is election season so busy for associations?
06:33 What kinds of votes require member approval?
07:56 Why is online voting difficult in California?
10:25 Can HOA voting be fully digital today?
11:41 What is a hybrid HOA voting system?
13:57 What are common HOA election mistakes?
15:55 Why do many associations need outside help?
17:25 Are small or large HOAs more at risk for voting issues?
18:47 What makes an HOA vote contentious?
19:05 Ad Break - Association Reserves
20:18 Why use an independent election inspector?
22:22 Why do recalls happen after special assessments?
23:26 How does outsourcing voting reduce risk?
25:51 Why shouldn’t volunteers run HOA elections?
27:17 What role does legislation play in HOA voting?
29:04 Is online voting allowed in every state?
30:49 How early should HOAs prepare for elections?
31:46 What is election by acclimation and how does it work?
33:48 What is the biggest takeaway for HOA boards?

The views & opinions expressed in this program are those of the Hosts & Guests, intended to provide general education about the community association industry. The content is not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual or organization.

Podcast Links:
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Call our 24/7 voicemail line at (805) 203-3130 or send an email or voice memo to podcast@reservestudy.com

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HOA loan approvals aren’t guaranteed. Here’s why more communities are being turned down…
✅ Is a Reserve Study right for you? 👉 https://www.reservestudy.com/

Today, we have two industry professionals, former managers, both with the prestigious pcam credential, and they're both now in the banking industry, Michelle Underwood and Marcy Kravit. We asked them to join us on the show today because we had a situation where one of our clients with a lot of deferred maintenance and almost no money, didn't like the idea of a special assessment, and so they reached out to one of the more prominent Community Association financial institutions, and the deal was they were initially denied, which I understand is more and more common, and after some discussion and clarification and adjustment, they were finally approved. But it wasn't easy or straightforward, and it's a lesson that you need to hear.

Chapters:
00:00 Why are HOA loans getting denied more often?
00:55 What problem are HOAs facing when funding major projects?
03:05 Why do banks reject associations with poor planning?
06:55 Why are reserve studies now critical for loan approval?
08:23 How does deferred maintenance impact loan eligibility?
11:29 What financial documents do banks review first?
14:19 What delinquency levels make HOAs too risky?
15:49 How long does the HOA loan approval process take?
18:25 Why do loans still require special assessments?
20:21 How can insurance costs impact loan decisions?
21:24 Ad Break - OurFiPhO.com
21:55 What are the automatic disqualifications for HOA loans?
25:04 What are typical loan terms for HOAs?
26:50 Why can a loan hurt your association’s marketability?
27:56 Are HOA loans becoming harder to get approved?
29:39 Why do board decisions impact homeowners’ lives directly?
30:42 What should HOAs look for in a lending partner?
33:19 What is the most important takeaway for HOA boards?

The views & opinions expressed in this program are those of the Hosts & Guests, intended to provide general education about the community association industry. The content is not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual or organization.

Podcast Links:
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Call our 24/7 voicemail line at (805) 203-3130 or send an email or voice memo to podcast@reservestudy.com

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Julie Adamen

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Every HOA board has conflict. The best ones use diversity to make better decisions. Here’s how to turn your board diversity into success…
✅ Is a Reserve Study right for you? 👉 https://www.reservestudy.com/

Today, Julie Adamen and Robert Nordlund will be addressing a common challenge among board members: seeing the world differently from one another. The question is, will that tear your board apart, or can you use that to have success because of that diversity? And that's a question we'll tackle today!

Chapters

00:00 Why do different perspectives create tension on HOA boards?
00:48 What challenge do new board members bring to existing teams?
03:54 Why should boards avoid expecting the worst from new members?
05:41 How does change impact HOA board dynamics?
07:32 Why do different generations see HOA decisions differently?
08:48 How should new board members approach change responsibly?
10:34 What is political capital and why does it matter?
12:00 Why are HOAs like small governments with real impact?
13:55 What types of diversity affect HOA board decisions?
16:23 How do different strengths improve board performance?
19:21 How do communication and translation challenges affect boards?
20:31 Ad Break - Kevin Davis Insurance Services
21:00 How do you shift from defensiveness to collaboration?
23:46 How do you find common ground on difficult decisions?
25:29 How can boards align on financial decisions like repairs?
27:36 Why does consensus building take time in HOAs?
30:05 How does communication help unify diverse board members?
31:29 What is the best way to build trust on a diverse board?

The views & opinions expressed in this program are those of the Hosts & Guests, intended to provide general education about the community association industry. The content is not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual or organization.

Podcast Links:
Full Episode List
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Engage in the conversation!

Call our 24/7 voicemail line at (805) 203-3130 or send an email or voice memo to podcast@reservestudy.com

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Julie Adamen

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HOA finances suffer when boards delay decisions. Learn the legal and financial risks of inaction.
✅ Is a Reserve Study right for you? 👉 https://www.reservestudy.com/

HOA finances are at risk when boards avoid making decisions. Kevin Davis and Sherry Branson break down how “no decision” leads to legal exposure, deferred maintenance, and financial strain. Learn how fiduciary responsibility, communication, and proactive leadership help protect your community, maintain property values, and avoid costly mistakes.

Chapters:

00:00 Why does avoiding decisions create bigger HOA problems?
01:45 What does “no decision is a decision” really mean?
03:05 Why are HOA boards often afraid to make decisions?
04:48 Why do financial decisions cause the most indecision?
06:52 What is fiduciary duty and how can boards violate it?
08:15 How does deferred maintenance turn into legal risk?
10:06 Why do boards become defensive instead of proactive?
11:42 How does inconsistent enforcement create liability?
14:28 Why should HOA boards act like a business?
16:01 Ad Break - Community Financials
16:32 What are the three biggest areas affected by indecision?
18:10 How do delays lead to lawsuits and financial loss?
20:27 What makes a decision seem “reckless” to homeowners?
22:12 Why should boards rely on expert advice?
23:39 How does communication reduce conflict with homeowners?
25:29 How do decisions protect long-term property value?
27:18 Why does tone and kindness matter in board leadership?

The views & opinions expressed in this program are those of the Hosts & Guests, intended to provide general education about the community association industry. The content is not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual or organization.

Podcast Links:
Full Episode List
Watch On Youtube

Engage in the conversation!

Call our 24/7 voicemail line at (805) 203-3130 or send an email or voice memo to podcast@reservestudy.com

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Julie Adamen

Kevin Davis, CIRMS

Robert Nordlund, PE

Support Our Sponsors

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Kevin Davis Insurance Services

Stoke Light Video & Marketing

The Inspectors of Election