Below is a review of the posts on Facebook and LinkedIn from the past week. You can check out the full posts by clicking on the links.
NOTE: remember that we now post every other day.
The posts on Sunday 5/17/2026, here and here, were about how to Avoid HOA (or condominium) surprises before buying home.
Thinking about buying a new home? You probably know that many properties require you to be a member of a condominium or homeowners association (“HOA”), and that can come with added rules/restrictions, fees and responsibilities. HOAs can be controversial, largely because of how much control they can have over what homeowners can and can’t do. From property appearance to rental restrictions and much more, it’s critical to understand the details before signing a contract.
Why HOAs get a bad reputation. Many (perhaps most) people love their HOA, but others love to hate HOAs, and that sentiment has even made its way to social media (as noted by way of example in the post). But jokes aside, HOAs are a serious part of many home purchases. Associations manage neighborhoods, enforce rules and restrictions, and collect fees, and failing to follow the rules can have consequences. What one realtor said about those who do not follow the HOA rules is in the post.
What to review before you buy. That same realtor said buyers should always request HOA rules and regulations in advance. (NOTE: in Pennsylvania, whether buying from the builder/developer or other current owner, the law requires that prospective purchasers be provided with certain information including the various restrictions and rules.) Interested buyers should look for the things that do or might interest them – see some examples in the post.
If the documents are long or complex, you can upload the documents and use artificial intelligence tools to summarize key points. And keep in mind that they are LEGAL documents, so having them reviewed by a community association lawyer and explained to you is a great idea.
Don’t skip the financials. Whether buying a condo, townhome, or single-family detached home, reviewing the HOA’s finances is just as important as reading the rules. Specifically – and especially now with the new Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac rules that are being implemented see our posts of Thursday 5/21/2026 here and here – check whether the association has enough money set aside in reserve funds for major repairs or upgrades. What might happen if reserves are underfunded is noted in the post. But don’t look solely at reserves. Also look at regular, ongoing maintenance and how that is funded. If dues/assessments have not increased in years, how has ordinary maintenance been accomplished while the cost of everything has gone up everywhere?
Do your own digging. Look online. Most associations have an online presence of some point (whether their own website or a Facebook group or neighborhood app (like the one referenced in the post) which can offer insight into what residents experience day to day. You might be able to pick up some little details that way. Or if you know someone who used to or does live in the community, talk to them.
In addition to the HOA, research the management company, if there is one.
TAKEAWAY: Skipping the fine print now could cost you later, literally or figuratively. Before buying into an HOA, take the time to understand the rules, restrictions and responsibilities, review the finances and learn how the community operates.
The posts on Tuesday 5/19/2026, here and here, explained a new Pennsylvania law revised intestate succession effective January 23, 2026. Make sure your estate planning documents are in place (and up to date).
Pennsylvania enacted important changes to its intestacy statute through Act 50 of 2025 (linked in the post) which became effective January 23, 2026. The legislation modifies how estates are distributed when an individual dies without a will and without identifiable heirs. While the core structure of the law remains intact, the treatment of so-called “heirless” estates has been significantly revised.
Under prior law, if someone died intestate (without a will) and no qualifying relatives could be located, the estate ultimately escheated (went to) the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Act 50 possibly changes that outcome.
Now, under the new law, when no heirs exist under the relevant statute (linked in the post), the estate will instead pass to an endowed community fund serving the municipality, school district, or county where the decedent (person who died) resided. Those funds are to be administered for charitable purposes to benefit the local community. But if no qualifying community fund exists, the estate will still revert to the Commonwealth as a final step (just like under the former version of the law).
The purpose of the statutory amendment is to ensure that assets of Pennsylvanians who leave no will and no surviving family members remain in and support the communities where they lived. Estates that previously would have gone straight to the state now are redirected in such a way that they will hopefully benefit the community.
Pennsylvania is now the only state in the nation to guarantee that intestate estates with no surviving family are kept local, charitable, and permanent. It is believed that every county is now served by a community foundation with an endowed community fund ensuring so a final gift stays close to home.
What does Act 50 NOT change? The existing priority system for distributions to spouses, descendants, parents, siblings, grandparents, and more remote relatives.
TAKEAWAY: Estate planning is important. A properly drafted will or trust remains the only way to ensure that your assets are distributed according to your personal wishes and not by statutory default. Contact a lawyer to ensure your estate planning wishes are met.
The posts on Thursday 5/21/2026, here and here, remind us that Fannie Mae condo rule changes spark financing concerns. You must know that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are raising reserve requirements for condo associations from 10% to 15% of annual budgets starting January 2027, while ending the limited review process later in 2026. The FHFA says the changes will lower insurance costs and improve building safety, but some older condos could lose eligibility for conventional financing with these revisions. Buyers and boards now face higher compliance costs and potential restrictions on mortgage access.
Fannie Mae raises condo reserve requirements. Under the updated rules, condo associations must allocate at least 15% of annual budgets to capital reserves by January 4, 2027, up from the 10% required now. The change (the documentary source of which is noted in the post) aims to ensure long-term building health and reduce risk for lenders. While the FHFA calls this a win for owners, experts warn that associations with lean budgets could lose access to Fannie Mae-backed loans if they fail to comply. That means homes will be harder to sell as financing will be more difficult to come by – and sale prices may suffer as well. Let’s take a closer look.
End of limited review increases compliance burden. The limited project review option that now exists for condo loans will be eliminated in 2026, requiring full reviews unless a waiver applies. Many argue that this removes a cost-effective path to financing, especially for entry-level housing. The National Association of Realtors comment as to the effect on larger projects is in the post.
Scenario analysis: compliance vs. blacklisting. If condo boards boost reserves and update reserve studies before deadlines, they can preserve warrantability and financing access. A failure to comply could place buildings on Fannie Mae’s ineligible list (the potential ramifications of which are in the post). Smaller associations may benefit from streamlined waivers, but older, larger complexes will face higher financial hurdles.
Historical context and safety drivers. Fannie Mae’s Selling Guide emphasizes that project-level risks, from inadequate insurance to poor reserves, can undermine mortgage performance. What FHFA intends to do by tightening eligibility, and where it comes from (think Surfside), is discussed in the post.
TAKEAWAY: It is not a bad thing for condo associations to have a minimum reserve. But the increased reserve floor may be difficult for some associations to meet in the short term, necessitating increased assessments or special assessments or both, which may have adverse consequences on unit marketability and value. Discuss this with a community association lawyer.
The posts on Saturday 5/23/2026, here and here, were about the importance of business succession planning, now more than ever. True 2 years ago, truer now.
For organizations to succeed in a competitive market, they must plan ahead. One aspect of planning that often gets overlooked, but has big implications for organizational continuity and success, is succession planning. This involves identifying vital business roles and creating a talent pipeline with the goal of ensuring a smooth transition when key leaders or employees leave and preserving the organization’s viability and maximizing financial return.
Succession planning is important for all businesses, of all sizes and industries, but it is especially true now. With the pandemic in the rear-view but the Iran War and other unknowns front and center, the world still faces new challenges and uncertainties. Without a long-term strategy, businesses risk business continuity and talent management, leaving them open to risks.
The Relationship Between Global Crisis and Succession Planning. The events of the past few years have shown the importance of agility, resilience, and future-readiness in organizations, especially when the COVID-19 pandemic forced many businesses to handle tough situations. Many businesses that survived faced supply chain disruptions and the ongoing talent crunch. Pandemic-related changes also altered the attitude towards work. Workers now look to retire as soon as they can or quit for perceived better opportunities. That led to more employees leaving, triggering the Great Resignation: almost 48 million people quit in 2021 and 4.35 million more in 2022. The statistics for CEOs aren’t any better – see the post.
And just when businesses thought things were smoothing out, along comes the Iran War and other market uncertainties. Combined with the market’s continued high turnover, companies must improve their bench strength at all organizational levels, including management and executives. Succession planning is key to achieving that goal.
Succession planning helps leaders plan for the future (as discussed in the post) and creates a diverse talent pool (which has the benefits noted in the post). But contrary to what’s expected, most companies don’t have a succession plan. See the survey by the Institute of Corporate Productivity that is linked in the post. With no succession plan in place, an unexpected retirement or resignation can have adverse effects as noted in the post.
Why Succession Plans Are Key For Businesses Today. You don’t want to leave gaps when skilled people depart. You need to ensure flexibility for any eventuality. A succession plan also helps the careers of the leaders and the high-potentials within the organization. Some top benefits include ensuring business continuity, mitigating talent shortages, fostering employee engagement and retention, driving the growth goals of the organization, and facilitating knowledge transfer, all of which are discussed in detail in the post.
The Succession Planning Process: A Successful Approach. In order for succession plans to be successful, businesses must take a practical approach to adoption. The steps may vary by organization, but a full succession planning process usually has five stages:
- Identifying Critical Roles. These are the ones critical to the organization’s success, key to the organization’s operations, strategy, and long-term growth. This may involve working with business experts or consultants to help gain an outside perspective. The post talks about how to work through this stage.
- Assessing Internal Talent: Once critical roles are identified, organizations then must assess their talent to find high-potential employees to groom for future leadership or specialized roles. Some of the ways to accomplish this are in the post. This helps build a talent pipeline, which ensures there are candidates ready to step up in the future.
- Developing Talent Pipelines: The focus here is on knowledge transfer to identified successors. Some of the ways to accomplish this are in the post. Best practice is to have a culture where knowledge is shared and not held just by one individual. More-tenured employees should work with potential successors.
How does the foregoing process help with succession planning? It reduces knowledge loss and the other things listed in the post, all of which benefit the organization in the long run.
Implementing Succession Plans: The best plan is no good if it sits in a drawer. Make sure it is on the front burner and implemented.
Monitoring and Evaluation: Succession planning is not a once and done, but rather is ongoing and requires regular monitoring, evaluation, and adjustment. So what organizations should do is in the post.
Overcoming Challenges in Succession Planning. The best of intentions can go awry. Common obstacles to succession planning include lack of senior leadership buy-in, resistance to change, limited resources, and inadequate data and metrics. How to overcome each of these is discussed in the post.
TAKEAWAY: Succession planning will drive your business’ long-term success even if challenges may exist (now or in the future); you will also be able to adapt to (changing) market demands and thrive in a competitive business world. Get assistance with putting in place or reviewing and revising your succession plan.