Loan basics
Are HOA Board Members Personally Liable for an HOA Loan?
The association borrows, not its board. What board members sign on its behalf, why their credit isn't pulled, and the duties they still owe.
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Loan basics
Loan basicsHOA Financing Options for Small Associations (50 Units or Fewer)
Small associations sit in an awkward spot in the HOA lending market. Smaller loans face higher lender minimums, fewer bidders, and sometimes wider spreads than larger deals, though we arrange financing for projects from $100,000 with no set maximum. This post walks boards under 50 units through the real economics, which lenders actually bid on small deals, and the document discipline that makes a $500K loan close cleanly. Plus a four-question FAQ and next steps.
Loan basicsCase Study: A 12-Unit Townhome Association's First HOA Loan
A real case study drawn from small association work. A 12-unit townhome community with a failing private road, $22,000 in reserves, and a $180K project. Small associations have fewer lenders to choose from. This walks through the situation, the challenge, the four lenders approached (three passed, one said yes), the final structure (10-year fully amortizing, approximately 7.35 percent, no balloon), and the lessons every very small association board should take from it. Ends with a consultation CTA aimed at similar boards.
Loan basicsSmall HOA Loans: What Sets the Terms, and How to Improve Them
Small associations often assume their loan costs more because it is small. Higher-risk communities typically carry a slightly higher spread over the 10-Year Treasury, and smaller communities can fall into that group: it's about the community, not the loan size. This post explains what a small deal changes and what it doesn't, then names three moves that help: bundled documents on day one, a treasurer who responds within 48 hours, and a current reserve study.
Loan basicsWhat Is an HOA Line of Credit? How Draw-to-Term Financing Works
Most associations asking for a line of credit need something else: a draw period sized to the construction schedule that converts into a term loan. Here is how that structure works.
Loan basicsBest Loan Calculators for HOA Projects: Compared
Generic bank calculators, direct-lender HOA calculators, spreadsheet templates, and calculators built for boards all give different answers for the same loan. We compare four approaches across HOA-specific inputs like reserve study, delinquency rate, balloon handling, prepayment modeling, and lender spread over the 10-Year Treasury, and we recommend which board should use which tool.
Loan basicsResidential vs. HOA Loans: Why Your Mortgage Gets Approved Faster Than an HOA Loan
Discover why HOA loans take longer than home mortgages. Understand the difference between residential and commercial lending for community associations.
Loan basicsThe Ultimate Guide to HOA Loans: Pros and Cons
Considering an HOA loan? Learn about the pros and cons, eligibility requirements, rates, terms and how to make an informed decision.
Loan basicsWhat Happens When an HOA Defaults on a Loan?
Discover how to protect your HOA's finances. Avoid loan defaults with guidance from HOA Loan Services. Get the information you need today.
Free guide
A Board Member’s Guide to HOA Loans
A walkthrough of qualifying, approvals, and structuring a loan: everything a board needs before the first lender conversation.