Let’s Talk HOA is a podcast dedicated to providing an inside look at the world of HOA management. Presented by Main Street Management Group, this podcast offers honest answers from experienced HOA management professionals to help HOA boards and homeowners live better and enjoy happier communities.
It’s that time of year again: Annual Meeting and Budget Season.For volunteer board members, it means crunching numbers, planning capital projects, and facing the dreaded question: “Are dues going up?” For homeowners and prospective buyers looking to purchase in an association, it’s the one time a year the financial health of the entire community is laid bare.
In this episode, host Kelly Hawkins is joined by Main Street Management Group’s Director of Management, Diana Bonneau, to take a deep dive into community finances. Together, they strip away the guesswork and lay out a practical playbook for boards, homeowners, and buyers so everyone can navigate budget season without the drama.
In this episode, we cover:
- Timing & Project Bids: Why September is the worst month to ask your manager for project estimates, and why you only need one solid bid during the budgeting phase.
- Funding the Wishlist: How to evaluate dues increases, reserve funds, loans, and special assessments—plus why keeping an HOA loan to a 5-7 year window prevents “loan fatigue.”
- Voting Thresholds: The key legal differences between ratifying an operational budget vs. passing a special assessment or major dues increase.
- The 4 Biggest Budgeting Mistakes: The dangers of lowering maintenance line items just to “zero out” a budget, operating without a reserve schedule, and ignoring future capital replacement costs.
- Homeowner Red Flags: What to look for at your annual meeting (including current-year estimates and multi-year trends) and why monthly financial transparency matters.
- Homebuyer Due Diligence: The three must-see financial documents to demand before closing so you aren’t blindsided by a major special assessment right after moving in.
Connect with Main Street Management Group:
- Website: mainstreetmanagers.com
- Share Your Story: Have a question about your HOA budget or an annual meeting story to share? Reach out via our website’s contact form!
Subscribe & Follow: A healthy community is built on realistic budgets, proactive reserve planning, and complete financial transparency. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Music, iHeartRadio, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows, and follow Main Street Management Group on socials to stay ahead of the curve!
Produced by: Main Street Management Group & Charlotte Content Marketing