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 Monday 6/22/2026, here and here, were about Hidden housing cost: Are HOA fees becoming a ‘shadow mortgage”? Well … HOA fees cover maintenance. If the residence were not in an HOA, the owner would still have maintenance, mowing etc. (and most likely would pay in lump sums when needed, not in smaller periodic payments as with HOA assessments).
Homebuyers often focus on home prices and mortgage rates when thinking about affordability. But for millions of homeowners, another housing cost is creeping higher and quietly reshaping the math: homeowners (and condominium or real estate cooperative) association fees.
Once considered a small maintenance expense, HOA dues are increasingly acting like what some are calling a shadow mortgage. This mandatory, ongoing monthly payment can rise unexpectedly and, in extreme cases, even put a home at risk of foreclosure. That possibility has Jo Meleca-Voigt, a 55-year-old, disabled and retired public educator, worried.
In 2021, Meleca-Voigt and her wife, Christine, bought their townhouse in Rochester, New York. The home’s accessibility features and an HOA that handled exterior maintenance attracted them to the unit. The couple, who live on a fixed income, budgeted for the monthly $235 HOA fee.
But over the last five years, their HOA dues jumped more than 60% to $385 a month. On top of that came two special assessments in 2023 – the amount and purpose are in the post. Meleca-Voigt and her wife needed to dip into their savings to cover the surprise bills – not an easy move when every penny counts.
HOAs can offer real benefits by managing residential communities, helping maintain shared spaces and providing amenities, like pools or gyms. But there’s a tradeoff: According to Realtor.com, the median HOA fee has risen the last few years (some average amounts are in the post). That comes as the number of properties with HOAs is also climbing. The percentage of townhomes and condos, as well as single-family homes, with HOAs is in the post.
With inflation and continuing increases in labor and materials, HOA fees are rising as well, often eating up a significant portion of overall housing costs. Sometimes they effectively price people out of living in the home that they bought.
And in addition to monthly dues, special assessments can be even more shocking. Special assessments are used for major repairs or expenses not covered by the HOA’s budget or reserves. Special assessments can sometimes rival the size of a small mortgage, depending on the property’s type and location. An example is in the post (and is by no means a one-off).
Of course, even after a mortgage is paid off, HOA fees continue. They can’t be refinanced, renegotiated or turned into equity.
But that’s not all. Rising HOA dues can impact your purchasing power differently depending on where you stand in the housing market. For current homeowners like Meleca-Voigt, rising dues increase overall cost of living.
Experts say buyers should count on those increases, especially in the instances noted in the post (which are not at all unusual).
And for prospective buyers purchasing a home with an HOA, the impact starts even earlier with a reduction in purchasing power – see the post. That can impact the ability of current owners to sell their homes.
Another way to look at it is that if you miss mortgage payments, fees, interest and potentially legal costs get added on, increasing the balance and shrinking your home equity (which is defined in the post in case you forget what it is). Unpaid HOA dues, which also normally add on late fees, interest and attorney costs, can eat into your equity, too. And what if home values are not increasing? Your home can be affected as detailed in the post.
But HOA fees aren’t always negative. A well-managed association uses your dues to fund repairs and conduct maintenance or to rebuild reserves, all of which can make a property more attractive and marketable (a good thing for current owners who want to sell).
You already know that living in an HOA community means agreeing to follow its rules and covenants which are legally binding and part of the property’s documents of record. Part of that is that just like a mortgage, HOA dues are attached to your home. What that means is that if you don’t pay, the debt doesn’t simply disappear. In Pennsylvania, the unpaid amounts are an automatic lien against the property – the HOA does not need to take any action. The effect of that lien, and what the HOA can do, is described in the post.
You would think that the mortgage lender gets its funds first at a foreclosure. But there are exceptions – the post explains one and it is how things can work (to a certain degree) in Pennsylvania. That is important because the number of HOA-related foreclosures has jumped tremendously over the last few years – see the post.
As we’ve said, when you buy a home in an HOA community, there’s no opting out of the fees or special assessments. But that doesn’t mean you’re powerless. Just be smart. One example is in the post.
Many say that the key is communication. Talk to the board. Try to negotiate a plan where you’re paying down what you owe while staying current, so you’re not stuck in a constant cycle of playing catch-up. And in some cases, it might make sense to prioritize paying HOA amounts before other debts, even your mortgage. That is explained in the post.
Meleca-Voigt’s HOA gave her the option of paying the $3,000 special assessment bill in installments, easing some of the financial strain. In 2023, her wife also joined the HOA board, giving them firsthand knowledge of how their community operates. But even with those wins, they are planning to move to a home not in an HOA.
TAKEAWAY: It is not a bad thing when HOA dues go up – instead, it means that the HOA is trying to fulfill all of its obligations including building reserves.
The posts on Wednesday 6/24/2026, here and here, gave us 10 steps for effective estate planning. You need to get your plan in place (or updated).
An effective estate plan involves taking several key steps. These can include drafting a will, setting up a trust and managing potential tax obligations. Each step helps to create a plan to manage and distribute your assets according to your preferences. You should work with an estate planning professional, like an attorney, to help you make an estate plan that complies with state and federal laws and protects what you want to happen to your assets. Here’s 10 general steps to help you get started.
1. Take Stock of Your Assets – The first step in estate planning is to take a comprehensive inventory of your assets. This includes the tings listed in the post. Knowing the value and location of each asset, along with having the necessary documentation, helps prevent any asset from being overlooked.
2. Create a Will – A will provides for how you want your assets distributed after your death. If there is no will, then state intestacy law kicks in – the problem with that is in the post.
3. Establish Powers of Attorney – A power of attorney (POA) grants a trusted person the legal authority to act on your behalf. Sometimes a POA is effective only if you become unable to make decisions, other times it is effective regardless of your condition. (If you question why the latter type, called a durable POA, is recommended, contact this author.) There might be a financial POA, a healthcare POA, or a general POA that combines the two).
4. Assign a Guardian for Your Dependents – this is if you have minor children (or if beneficiaries have minor children). See the post for more on that.
5. Review Your Beneficiaries – Many assets, such as life insurance and retirement accounts, passed directly to the individuals listed as beneficiaries. Failing to update beneficiaries can lead to unintended outcomes (such as those noted in the post).
The next 4 tips, and an explanation of each, are in the post.
10. Consult Professionals – you can create an estate plan on your own, but consulting with attorneys (or other professionals like those noted int eh post) could assist with resolving complex legal and financial issues that could complicate matters for your heirs.
TAKEAWAY: create an effective estate plan – planning ahead can help minimize complications for your loved ones and address long-term care needs. Consult professionals who can refine your strategy and make sure your estate plan aligns with your final wishes.
The posts on Friday 6/26/2026, here and here, were about a $1.6M condo … for your car? Only in Las Vegas. Well, not really only in Vegas. And you cannot even sleep in this one in this one! Let’s take a closer look (and while you are looking, look at the photos embedded in the post to see how the other half lives).
Luxury show garages have become a must-have among wealthy, high-profile car enthusiasts. Some are mentioned in the post (and will be familiar to you). Those who reside not in luxury mansions, but in high-rise buildings, now have found a way to proudly display their auto collections courtesy of impressive car elevator systems (linked in the post) that let residents drive directly into the property and park inside their unit, turning their automobile into the ultimate showpiece whenever they are there.
Las Vegas (and other cities) has now taken this auto obsession to new heights, with an entire condo development aimed specifically at the cars, not their owners, for a place where vehicles can be stored and enjoyed in a truly luxe setting, And only the motors get to remain overnight!
This new development is called the Stack Auto Lofts (and is inked int he post). How it is being marketed is noted in the post. In essence, The Stack is a car condo community where auto enthusiasts park their valued collections in their own, spacious, multilevel units that are far more glamorous than a basic warehouse like many of the rest of us park in.
So what does a million-dollar car condo complex look like? Here there are 29 spacious, deeded units – the target autos are listed in the post. From the outside, the property looks very much like a warehouse—but it’s not your average storage structure. They are built for “prestige, privacy, and legacy.”
Details on the size range of the units as well as the amazing height of the ceilings an the purpose, are all in the post. The units can be accessorized to their owners’ taste—suggestions (because money is no object!) include party decks, mini golf facilities, rooftop kitchens, or private celebration space. Several of the units even have rooftop decks.
These car condos are selling in the range from $705,000 to more than $1.6 million. For that price, though, owners cannot sleep overnight in them. They are not permitted for (human) residency.
The complex is not quite finished, but at least five units have already been sold. The selling agent talked about one of the buyers and how that one is being customized – see the post.
Most classic and luxury car collectors love to show off their prized beauties. The Stack gives condo owners the opportunity to rub elbows with like minded and similarly equipped collectors. Those in The Stack might even want to gather in the clubhouse which has the amenities detailed in the post.
The Stack is not alone in its class. For example, there are private residences like Eterna, a $20 million estate at The Peak at MacDonald Highlands which features a 10-car showcase space described in the post. (We think humans can overnight there.)
But such elaborate garage space doesn’t satisfy every buyer. Some want even more. That’s where The Stack comes in.
TAKEAWAY: Just as owners spare no expense for their beloved pets, some spare no expense when it comes to their vehicles. Car condos of all types are becoming the next new thing – but they still come with rules and restrictions like residential condominiums.