Community association management firm shares practical steps boards can take now to protect homeowners from special assessments and steep dues increases

Tulsa, OK (PRUnderground) October 20th, 2026

Homeowners associations across Oklahoma, Missouri, and Arkansas are heading into budget season, and insurance and reserve funding are causing most of the headaches this year. Property insurance and Directors and Officers (D&O) coverage are both costing associations more, and condominium associations face new reserve requirements from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Robson Property Management, a firm that specializes in HOA and community association management, is encouraging volunteer boards to give these line items a closer look before they adopt their 2027 budgets. 

 Insurance is the bigger surprise for most boards. Premiums for community associations have risen steadily over the past several renewal cycles, and in a region that sees regular hail and windstorms, many carriers have also raised deductibles or narrowed coverage. Reserve funds are the slower problem. Plenty of communities set their reserve contributions years ago and never revisited them, even as the cost of replacing a roof or resurfacing a parking lot climbed. Put the two together and a board can end up choosing between a sharp dues increase and a special assessment. 

 Condominium boards have an added deadline. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have required condominium projects to allocate at least 10% of their annual budget to reserves for well over a decade. Effective January 4, 2027, that minimum rises to 15%. Associations that fall short could see their units become ineligible for conventional financing, which affects owners trying to sell or refinance. A current reserve study can serve as an alternative in some cases, but for many associations the change will stretch next year's budget. 

 "I'd tell any board to start by reaching out to their insurance agent to find out what their increase might be at renewal, and not to rely on their current year's budgeted number," said Jennifer Carter, Vice President of Community Management at Robson Property Management. "If you build next year's numbers off of this year's, you're already behind. We'd much rather have a board deal with a realistic increase now than have to explain a special assessment to homeowners in the middle of next year." 

 Five Steps HOA Boards Can Take Before Adopting a 2027 Budget 

 1. Get insurance renewal estimates early. Ask your agent for projected premiums and deductible options before the budget meeting, including D&O coverage. Adding a small percentage to this year's premium usually isn't enough. 

 2. Review the reserve study. It shows what the association owns and when each component will need replacing, along with the expected cost. If the study is several years old, boards should check whether its cost assumptions still reflect current pricing. 

 3. Fund reserves on purpose. Reserve contributions shouldn't be whatever is left over after operating expenses. Base them on the funding plan in the reserve study. Condominium associations should also confirm their budget meets the new 15% minimum reserve allocation that takes effect January 4, 2027. 

 4. Separate one-time costs from recurring expenses. Homeowners are often more receptive to an increase when the board clearly explains whether a cost is a one-time or recurring expense. 

5. Explain the budget in plain language. A one-page summary that shows where costs went up, and why, heads off a lot of questions at the annual meeting. 

 Carter said communication is where many boards fall short. "People can handle an increase," she said. "The ones who get upset are the ones who find out about it at the meeting with no explanation. If the board shares the reasoning ahead of time, the conversation goes a lot differently." 

 Robson Property Management works directly with homeowners association boards throughout Oklahoma, Missouri, and Arkansas on budget preparation, reserve planning, financial reporting, and day-to-day community operations. Boards preparing for their 2027 budget meetings can learn more about Robson Property Management's HOA financial management services at rp-management.com/financial-management. 

 About Robson Property Management 

Robson Property Management is a community association management company based in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, with more than 30 years of experience serving homeowners associations, condominium associations, and planned communities across Oklahoma, Missouri, and Arkansas. Its management team includes CMCA®, AMS®, and PCAM® credentialed professionals. The firm provides financial management, budgeting, reserve planning, vendor coordination, covenant enforcement administration, board support, and day-to-day community operations. Learn more at www.rp-management.com. 

Media Contact: 

Jennifer Carter 

Vice President of Community Management 

Robson Property Management 

918-994-6562 | [email protected] 

www.rp-management.com 

Original Press Release.