HOA, Condo & Townhouse Buyer's Decision Checklist

Most people who get hurt inside an HOA didn't do anything wrong. They planned. They budgeted. They just didn't know what to ask before they signed.

This checklist was built to close that gap, before the tour, before the offer, and before the closing table.

What's inside:

• Financing eligibility — Roughly half of condo buildings aren't HUD-approved. Know this before you fall in love with a unit.
• Reserve fund benchmarks — The single number that predicts your financial exposure before you sign anything.
• Questions to ask the board — Financial, governance, and management. Their response tells you as much as the answers.
• The four CC&R sections — Special assessments, rentals, modifications, and occupancy. These are where surprises live.
• Red flags that mean walk away — Nine structural problems most buyers don't see until they're already inside.
• Turning findings into leverage — What you discover in due diligence can change the deal in your favor.

Eight sections. Every question that matters. The checklist most buyers wish they'd had.