The Surprise Special Assessment: When HOA Fees Threaten Your Closing

A buyer on a tight timeline nearly lost their home when the HOA announced an emergency special assessment for a new roof the week before closing. In this episode Matthew Halliday walks through the real story, then breaks down three actionable lessons every buyer, seller, and agent needs: how to spot HOA financial red flags during due diligence, practical negotiation strategies to assign or split unexpected assessments, and the exact documents and timing (resale certificate, estoppel, board minutes) that lenders and title companies use to greenlight a closing. You’ll leave with a clear step-by-step checklist you can use on your next HOA transaction, plus a short script to use with boards and sellers when assessments appear. This episode is practical, non-technical, and built for people who want to avoid last-minute shocks at closing.