Yeah, those “surprise” assessments are brutal. I had a similar thing happen with a townhouse—suddenly there’s a $2k bill for siding repairs nobody mentioned. I’m always skeptical when they say fees are non-negotiable. Sometimes just asking for clarification or pushing back a bit gets them to drop something, or at least explain it better. Still, even with all the questions, there’s always something hiding in the fine print... It’s tough to plan for every curveball.
Totally get what you mean about those hidden costs. When I bought my condo, I thought I'd done all the homework—read the HOA docs, checked the reserve fund, even asked about upcoming projects. Still got hit with a “special assessment” for new roofs a few months in. That was a $1,500 surprise I really didn’t need.
Here’s what I do now, step by step: First, I ask for the last two years of HOA meeting minutes before even making an offer. If there’s talk of repairs or upgrades, that usually means someone’s gonna pay soon. Second, I ask for a breakdown of ALL monthly fees and what they cover—sometimes “maintenance” doesn’t mean what you think. Third, I always budget an extra 10% on top of what I think my costs will be, just in case.
Honestly, even with all this, stuff still pops up. But at least it’s less of a shock when it does. It’s wild how much can get buried in the paperwork...
Can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard “maintenance fee” and thought it covered way more than it actually did. My last place, they called it “comprehensive”—then the elevator broke and we all got slapped with a $2k bill. It’s like, what am I even paying for? I’m with you on budgeting extra, but honestly, I think most people still underestimate just how sneaky these costs can be.
It’s wild how “comprehensive” almost never means what you think it does. I’ve seen so many buyers get tripped up by this—those fees usually just cover the basics, like landscaping or hallway lights, and then the big stuff (like elevators or roofs) comes out of nowhere. I always tell folks to dig into the reserve fund details and ask for a breakdown. Even then, sometimes you get blindsided. It’s honestly one of the trickiest parts of condo or strata living.
It’s wild how “comprehensive” almost never means what you think it does. I’ve seen so many buyers get tripped up by this—those fees usually just cover the basics, like landscaping or hall...
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually seen some HOAs that are pretty upfront about what’s covered. Not saying it’s the norm, but sometimes “comprehensive” really does mean most of the big stuff is baked in. Still, you’re right—reserve fund details are key. I’ve had clients surprised by special assessments even after reading all the docs. It’s a bit of a gamble either way.
