HOA HELL

Is your HOA spending reserve money on things it’s not supposed to? In this episode, attorney Michael Kushner, California’s #1 homeowner-side HOA attorney, breaks down which money has to go into your HOA’s reserve account, the short list of things your HOA can spend it on, and how bad HOAs frequently misuse the reserve account to pay for things like ordinary landscaping, insurance premiums, and leaking water spigots. When reserve money is misspent on prohibited items, one way or another, homeowners end up having to pay to replace the money. 

What You’ll Learn in this Episode: 

✅ The interest your HOA’s reserve account earns, and what it means when that money ends up in the operating account.

✅ The four things Civil Code § 5510 lets your HOA spend reserve money on.

✅ The mistake in the Davis-Stirling Act over whether your HOA can use reserve money to build something new, like pickleball courts.

✅ The two ways your HOA has to make up the shortfall when it spends reserve money on the wrong things. 

If your HOA is paying for something out of reserves and you’re not sure it’s allowed to, this episode tells you how to find out. 

HELPFUL LINKS: 

“What Can My California HOA Legally Spend Reserve Funds On?”

https://mbkchapman.com/hoa-reserve-funds-spending-fact-sheet/ 

“What Can My California HOA Legally Spend Reserve Funds On?

https://mbkchapman.com/hoa-reserve-funds-spending-fact-sheet/ 

“Can You Hold HOA Board Members Personally Liable in California?”

https://mbkchapman.com/hoa-board-member-personal-liability-california-fact-sheet/ 

“Can My California HOA Borrow From Reserves?”

https://mbkchapman.com/hoa-borrow-from-reserves-california-fact-sheet/ 

🎧 📞 If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe to HOA HELL. Listen on YouTube at @hoahellpodcastofficial or wherever you get your podcasts. To schedule a consultation, visit https://mbkchapman.com/ and mention the HOA HELL discount. 

DISCLAIMER:  

This content constitutes attorney advertising. The content of this podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by listening to this podcast, submitting a question, or receiving a response. Always consult with a licensed attorney regarding your specific legal situation. MBK Chapman and Michael Kushner disclaim any liability for actions taken or not taken based on the information provided in this podcast. This communication does not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter. 

ABOUT:  

Michael Kushner created and taught the systems now used by the biggest law firms in the state focused on HOA litigation. Managing partner of MBK Chapman, and author of the best-selling book, HOA HELL, Kushner teaches homeowners how to fight their bad HOAs and win.  

💥 Amazon [https://tinyurl.com/tx47hmvn] | Barnes & Noble [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/hoa%20hell] 

#HOAreserves #specialassessment #DavisStirlingAct #CaliforniaHOA #badHOA #HOAHell #HOAlawyer #HOAattorney 

🔥 HOA Hell
Attorney Michael Kushner, California’s #1 homeowner-side HOA lawyer, shares real legal tools to help homeowners fight back and win against Bad HOAs.

👉 Got an HOA nightmare? Submit your question at [email protected]. Or learn more about your rights as a homeowner by visiting: https://www.mbkchapman.com/fact-sheets. 

📲 Follow us on:
Instagram: @mbkchapmanpc
YouTube: HOA Hell
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/mbk-chapman
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/MBKChapman
X:  https://x.com/MBKchapman
Reddit:  https://www.reddit.com/r/hoa_hell/ 

In part 2 of KNX News reporter Steve Gregory’s 5-part series “Behind the Gate” series on California HOAs, California’s most prominent homeowner-side HOA attorney, Michael Kushner, walks him through what homeowners can and can’t say about their HOAs, both online and during open meetings. More than 14 million Californians live under an HOA, and social media has turned into the place where fed-up residents vent, complain, and name names. Some HOAs have tried passing anti-disparagement rules prohibiting online criticism of their activities, but those provisions are illegal under the Davis-Stirling Act. Tune in to find out what happens when those HOAs try to stifle homeowner speech. 

🎯 What You’ll Learn in This Segment: 

✅ The one thing that has to be true before a statement about a board member counts as defamation.

✅ What your HOA has to prove before it can lawfully shut off your mic during open forum.

✅ The kinds of speech that fall outside the protection when you step up to the podium. 

So what happens when you post about a board member, or stand up at a meeting to call one out and the board tries to cut your mic or discipline you? 

HELPFUL LINKS: 

“Can My California HOA Fine Me for Criticizing It on Social Media?”

https://mbkchapman.com/can-hoa-fine-you-social-media-california-fact-sheet/ 

🎧 📞 If you enjoyed this news segment, please like and subscribe to HOA HELL. Listen on YouTube at @hoahellpodcastofficial or wherever you get your podcasts. To schedule a consultation, visit https://mbkchapman.com/ and mention the HOA HELL discount. 

Disclaimer: This content constitutes attorney advertising. The content of this podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by listening to this podcast, submitting a question, or receiving a response. Always consult with a licensed attorney regarding your specific legal situation. MBK Chapman and Michael Kushner disclaim any liability for actions taken or not taken based on the information provided in this podcast.  

This communication does not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter.  

About: Michael Kushner created and taught the systems now used by the biggest law firms in the state focused on HOA litigation. Managing partner of MBK Chapman, and author of the best-selling book, HOA HELL, Kushner teaches homeowners how to fight their bad HOAs and win. 

💥 Amazon [https://tinyurl.com/tx47hmvn] | Barnes &  Noble [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/hoa%20hell] 

#SteveGregory #KFI #AM640 #HOAOpenForum #HOASpeech #HOALaw #CaliforniaHOA #BadHOA #HOAhell #DavisStirlingAct 

🔥 HOA Hell
Attorney Michael Kushner, California’s #1 homeowner-side HOA lawyer, shares real legal tools to help homeowners fight back and win against Bad HOAs.

👉 Got an HOA nightmare? Submit your question at [email protected]. Or learn more about your rights as a homeowner by visiting: https://www.mbkchapman.com/fact-sheets. 

📲 Follow us on:
Instagram: @mbkchapmanpc
YouTube: HOA Hell
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/mbk-chapman
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/MBKChapman
X:  https://x.com/MBKchapman
Reddit:  https://www.reddit.com/r/hoa_hell/ 

Bad HOAs all over California are using the emergency exception to push through massive special assessments without an otherwise required homeowner vote, and sometimes even after homeowners voted one down. In this episode, California’s most respected homeowner-side HOA attorney, Michael Kushner, explains how the emergency exception works (including what it is an exception to) and how homeowners can tell whether their HOA’s emergency excuse qualifies. 

What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 

✅ How Civil Code § 5605 limits what HOA boards can assess without a homeowner vote.

✅ The 3 narrow situations where Civil Code § 5610 lets HOAs skip the membership vote and impose a large assessment.

✅ Whether HOAs can use the emergency exception to pay for a sudden spike in insurance premiums.

✅ How decades of deferred maintenance often precede an HOA board’s reliance on the emergency exception. 

✅ What Civil Code § 5615 requires before HOAs can collect, and what homeowners must do before challenging the legality an assessment. 

If your HOA has justified a new assessment as an “emergency” assessment, this episode shows you how to test that claim. 

HELPFUL LINKS: 

“Is My California HOA’s Emergency Special Assessment Legal?”

https://mbkchapman.com/california-hoa-emergency-special-assessment-fact-sheet/ 

“What Happens If I Can’t Afford My California HOA’s Special Assessment?”

https://mbkchapman.com/cant-afford-hoa-special-assessment-fact-sheet/ 

“Can My California HOA Charge a Special Assessment for Rising Insurance Costs?”

https://mbkchapman.com/california-hoa-special-assessment-insurance-fact-sheet/ 

“The Impact of Rising Insurance Costs on California HOAs”https://mbkchapman.com/rising-hoa-insurance-costs-california/ 

“California HOA Special Assessments: Why Your Dues Keep Rising and a Huge Bill May Be Coming”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x647Oz9zPkE 

“$49,000 HOA Special Assessment: Why They’re Exploding in California (ABC7)”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4hX_PHQVQs&t=40s 

“California HOA Hits Retired People with $26,000 Special Assessment | Michael Kushner on ABC 7”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7RN789iKCY&t=26s 

🎧 📞 If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe to HOA HELL. Listen on YouTube at @hoahellpodcastofficial or wherever you get your podcasts. To schedule a consultation, visit https://mbkchapman.com/ and mention the HOA HELL discount. 

DISCLAIMER:  

This content constitutes attorney advertising. The content of this podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by listening to this podcast, submitting a question, or receiving a response. Always consult with a licensed attorney regarding your specific legal situation. MBK Chapman and Michael Kushner disclaim any liability for actions taken or not taken based on the information provided in this podcast. This communication does not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter. 

ABOUT:  

Michael Kushner created and taught the systems now used by the biggest law firms in the state focused on HOA litigation. Managing partner of MBK Chapman, and author of the best-selling book, HOA HELL, Kushner teaches homeowners how to fight their bad HOAs and win.  

💥 Amazon [https://tinyurl.com/tx47hmvn] | Barnes & Noble [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/hoa%20hell] 

#SpecialAssessment #EmergencyAssessment #HOAHealthandSafety #BalconyLaw #BalconyInspections #HazardousConditions #CaliforniaHOA #BadHOA #HOAhell #DavisStirlingAct 

🔥 HOA Hell
Attorney Michael Kushner, California’s #1 homeowner-side HOA lawyer, shares real legal tools to help homeowners fight back and win against Bad HOAs.

👉 Got an HOA nightmare? Submit your question at [email protected]. Or learn more about your rights as a homeowner by visiting: https://www.mbkchapman.com/fact-sheets. 

📲 Follow us on:
Instagram: @mbkchapmanpc
YouTube: HOA Hell
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/mbk-chapman
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/MBKChapman
X:  https://x.com/MBKchapman
Reddit:  https://www.reddit.com/r/hoa_hell/ 

KNX News reporter Steve Gregory goes behind the gate in this five-part series on California HOAs, and he brings in homeowner-side HOA attorney Michael Kushner, California’s most respected homeowner-side HOA attorneys, to explain how these communities work and why so many of them turn toxic. You've seen the videos on your feed, the shouting matches over mailbox colors and paint shades, the board meetings that dissolve into screaming. This video, Part 1 of the Behind the Gates series, traces where HOAs came from, what they're supposed to do, and the reason the same conflicts play out in gated communities across the state. 

🎯 What You'll Learn in This Segment: 

✅ What an HOA is built to do for the homeowners who live under it.

✅ Where the modern HOA came from, starting more than a century ago in Southern California.

✅ What drives ordinary neighbors to turn board meetings into battlegrounds. 

🎧 📞 If you enjoyed this news segment, please like and subscribe to HOA HELL. Listen on YouTube at @hoahellpodcastofficial or wherever you get your podcasts. To schedule a consultation, visit https://mbkchapman.com/ and mention the HOA HELL discount. 

Disclaimer: This content constitutes attorney advertising. The content of this podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by listening to this podcast, submitting a question, or receiving a response. Always consult with a licensed attorney regarding your specific legal situation. MBK Chapman and Michael Kushner disclaim any liability for actions taken or not taken based on the information provided in this podcast.  

This communication does not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter.  

About: Michael Kushner created and taught the systems now used by the biggest law firms in the state focused on HOA litigation. Managing partner of MBK Chapman, and author of the best-selling book, HOA HELL, Kushner teaches homeowners how to fight their bad HOAs and win. 

💥 Amazon [https://tinyurl.com/tx47hmvn] | Barnes & Noble [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/hoa%20hell] 

#SteveGregory #KFI #AM640 #HOALaw #CaliforniaHOA #BadHOA #HOAhell #DavisStirlingAct 

🔥 HOA Hell
Attorney Michael Kushner, California’s #1 homeowner-side HOA lawyer, shares real legal tools to help homeowners fight back and win against Bad HOAs.

👉 Got an HOA nightmare? Submit your question at [email protected]. Or learn more about your rights as a homeowner by visiting: https://www.mbkchapman.com/fact-sheets. 

📲 Follow us on:
Instagram: @mbkchapmanpc
YouTube: HOA Hell
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/mbk-chapman
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/MBKChapman
X:  https://x.com/MBKchapman
Reddit:  https://www.reddit.com/r/hoa_hell/ 

In this HOA Q&A, California’s most respected homeowner-side HOA attorney, Michael Kushner, explains what happens when a California HOA director sells their home and the board hands the empty seat to a hand-picked replacement instead of holding an election. Most homeowners assume the board can just fill the seat, and most boards assume the same thing. But whether that appointment holds up turns on a distinction between resigning and being disqualified, and on a few lines buried in your bylaws that decide who actually gets to pick the next director. 

🎯 What You’ll Learn in This HOA Q&A: 

✅ The moment a selling director stops being eligible to serve.

✅ Why a director who resigns and a director who sells open the seat under two completely different rules.

✅ What your HOA’s bylaws have to say for the board to have any appointment power at all. 

When a board member sells their home, this Q&A lays out who gets to fill the empty board seat.  

Helpful Links: 

“Can My California HOA Replace a Board Member Who Sold Their House?”

https://mbkchapman.com/california-hoa-board-member-sells-house-fact-sheet/ 

🎧 📞 If you enjoyed this Q&A, please like and subscribe to HOA HELL. Listen on YouTube at @hoahellpodcastofficial or wherever you get your podcasts. To schedule a consultation, visit https://mbkchapman.com/ and mention the HOA HELL discount. 

Disclaimer: This content constitutes attorney advertising. The content of this podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by listening to this podcast, submitting a question, or receiving a response. Always consult with a licensed attorney regarding your specific legal situation. MBK Chapman and Michael Kushner disclaim any liability for actions taken or not taken based on the information provided in this podcast.  

This communication does not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter.  

About: Michael Kushner created and taught the systems now used by the biggest law firms in the state focused on HOA litigation. Managing partner of MBK Chapman, and author of the best-selling book, HOA HELL, Kushner teaches homeowners how to fight their bad HOAs and win. 

💥 Amazon [https://tinyurl.com/tx47hmvn] | Barnes & Noble [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/hoa%20hell] 

#HOABoard #HOAElections #DavisStirlingAct #HOAAdvocate #CaliforniaHOA #BadHOA #HOAhell 

🔥 HOA Hell
Attorney Michael Kushner, California’s #1 homeowner-side HOA lawyer, shares real legal tools to help homeowners fight back and win against Bad HOAs.

👉 Got an HOA nightmare? Submit your question at [email protected]. Or learn more about your rights as a homeowner by visiting: https://www.mbkchapman.com/fact-sheets. 

📲 Follow us on:
Instagram: @mbkchapmanpc
YouTube: HOA Hell
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/mbk-chapman
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/MBKChapman
X:  https://x.com/MBKchapman
Reddit:  https://www.reddit.com/r/hoa_hell/ 

Every year before Halloween and Christmas, California homeowners ask whether their HOAs can restrict their holiday decorations, the religious items on their front doors, and the guests who come to trick-or-treat. In this episode, California’s #1 homeowner-side HOA attorney, Michael Kushner, explains how California law treats seasonal holiday decorations differently from religious items on entry doors, and how far HOAs can go in regulating each one. 

What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 

✅ How Civil Code § 4350 limits the rules HOAs can pass on Christmas lights, Halloween decorations, and other seasonal holiday displays.

✅ How Civil Code § 4706 and Civil Code § 1940.45 protect a mezuzah, a cross, or a Star of David on an entry door, and the drafting error the Legislature still hasn’t corrected.

✅ How the size limit on religious door displays works, and what changes when the same cross goes up on a garage door.

✅ What rules HOAs can set for trick-or-treating hours, holiday noise, invited guests, and haunted houses.

✅ How gated communities can handle trick-or-treaters from outside the neighborhood, and the HOA rule targeting non-residents that made headlines last year. 

If your HOA is threatening you over holiday decorations, a religious display, or your Halloween guests, this episode shows you where the HOA’s authority begins and ends.  

Helpful Links: 

“Can My California HOA Ban Trick-or-Treating or Keep Out Non-Residents on Halloween?” https://mbkchapman.com/california-hoa-trick-or-treating-fact-sheet/ 

“Can My California HOA Ban Christmas Lights, Holiday Decorations, or Religious Items?” https://mbkchapman.com/california-hoa-holiday-decorations-religious-items-fact-sheet/

“The Davis-Stirling Act Explained: California HOA Rules, Board Powers, and Homeowner Rights” https://mbkchapman.com/davis-stirling-act-explained-california-hoa-law-fact-sheet/

“When Are HOA Rules Illegal in California?” https://mbkchapman.com/illegal-hoa-rules-california-fact-sheet/ 

🎧 📞 If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe to HOA HELL. Listen on YouTube at @hoahellpodcastofficial or wherever you get your podcasts. To schedule a consultation, visit https://mbkchapman.com/ and mention the HOA HELL discount. 

DISCLAIMER:  

This content constitutes attorney advertising. The content of this podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by listening to this podcast, submitting a question, or receiving a response. Always consult with a licensed attorney regarding your specific legal situation. MBK Chapman and Michael Kushner disclaim any liability for actions taken or not taken based on the information provided in this podcast. This communication does not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter. 

ABOUT:  

Michael Kushner created and taught the systems now used by the biggest law firms in the state focused on HOA litigation. Managing partner of MBK Chapman, and author of the best-selling book, HOA HELL, Kushner teaches homeowners how to fight their bad HOAs and win.  

💥 Amazon [https://tinyurl.com/tx47hmvn] | Barnes & Noble [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/hoa%20hell] 

#HOAChristmasLights #HOATrickOrTreating #HOADecorations #HOALaw #CaliforniaHOA #BadHOA #HOAhell #DavisStirlingAct #HOARules 

🔥 HOA Hell
Attorney Michael Kushner, California’s #1 homeowner-side HOA lawyer, shares real legal tools to help homeowners fight back and win against Bad HOAs.

👉 Got an HOA nightmare? Submit your question at [email protected]. Or learn more about your rights as a homeowner by visiting: https://www.mbkchapman.com/fact-sheets. 

📲 Follow us on:
Instagram: @mbkchapmanpc
YouTube: HOA Hell
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/mbk-chapman
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/MBKChapman
X:  https://x.com/MBKchapman
Reddit:  https://www.reddit.com/r/hoa_hell/ 

In this HOA Q&A, California’s foremost homeowner-side HOA attorney and expert, Michael Kushner, explains what happens when a California HOA installs Flock license plate cameras at the entrance to an HOA-governed community. Once your HOA mounts an automated license plate reader in your community, every trip you take, every guest who comes to see you, every vendor your hire, and every caregiver who visits you gets photographed and logged. Your HOA didn’t ask you before installing a Flock camera, and you most likely never had the opportunity to vote in favor of it, but now those ALPR cameras are up and collecting data on you. 

Most people are surprised to learn that the Davis-Stirling Act says absolutely nothing about your HOA’s use of Flock cameras, and the few statutes that do address their use in California weren’t passed with HOAs in mind. So, when it comes to your privacy, the gap between what most homeowners expect and what the law delivers is huge. 

🎯 What You’ll Learn in This HOA Q&A: 

✅ What, if anything, the Davis-Stirling Act does to protect homeowner data collected by Flock cameras.

✅ The almost total lack of restrictions on the collection or use of Flock camera data on private organizations, like HOAs.

✅ The completely discretionary nature of the so-called remedies available to homeowners when ALPR camera data is abused by the HOA. 

Flock cameras are spreading through California HOAs significantly faster than the laws aimed at protecting homeowners. This Q&A lays out where homeowners in California currently stand. 

Helpful Links: 

“Can My California HOA Track My License Plate With Flock Cameras?”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nChACcX1yfQ&t=1281s 

“Can My California HOA Track My License Plate With Flock Cameras?”

https://mbkchapman.com/california-hoa-flock-cameras-license-plate-fact-sheet/ 

“Can My California HOA Share My License Plate Data With the Police?”

https://mbkchapman.com/hoa-sharing-flock-camera-data-fact-sheet/ 

🎧 📞 If you enjoyed this Q&A, please like and subscribe to HOA HELL. Listen on YouTube at @hoahellpodcastofficial or wherever you get your podcasts. To schedule a consultation, visit https://mbkchapman.com/ and mention the HOA HELL discount. 

Disclaimer: This content constitutes attorney advertising. The content of this podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by listening to this podcast, submitting a question, or receiving a response. Always consult with a licensed attorney regarding your specific legal situation. MBK Chapman and Michael Kushner disclaim any liability for actions taken or not taken based on the information provided in this podcast.  

This communication does not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter.  

About: Michael Kushner created and taught the systems now used by the biggest law firms in the state focused on HOA litigation. Managing partner of MBK Chapman, and author of the best-selling book, HOA HELL, Kushner teaches homeowners how to fight their bad HOAs and win. 

💥 Amazon [https://tinyurl.com/tx47hmvn] | Barnes & Noble [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/hoa%20hell] 

#FlockCameras #ALPR #DavisStirlingAct #HOALaw #CaliforniaHOA #BadHOA #HOAhell #HOAPrivacy

🔥 HOA Hell
Attorney Michael Kushner, California’s #1 homeowner-side HOA lawyer, shares real legal tools to help homeowners fight back and win against Bad HOAs.

👉 Got an HOA nightmare? Submit your question at [email protected]. Or learn more about your rights as a homeowner by visiting: https://www.mbkchapman.com/fact-sheets. 

📲 Follow us on:
Instagram: @mbkchapmanpc
YouTube: HOA Hell
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/mbk-chapman
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/MBKChapman
X:  https://x.com/MBKchapman
Reddit:  https://www.reddit.com/r/hoa_hell/ 

A Torrance HOA hit its owners with a $49,000 special assessment, and a San Clemente HOA hit its members with one for $26,000, stories that both ABC7’s Leanne Suter and KFI AM 640’s Monks & Merrill brought to California’s foremost homeowner-side HOA attorney, Michael Kushner, for his opinion. In this episode, Kushner walks prospective buyers through how to look into an HOA’s financial health before buying into a community. Looking for these red flags won’t predict the future, but it will give buyers a better chance of avoiding an HOA with a massive special assessment on the horizon.  

What You’ll Learn in today's Episode: 

✅ How to force the required Civil Code § 4525 disclosures into your hands early so you can review them during your contingency period instead of after it’s too late.

✅ The percentage funded number in the reserve study, and the range Kushner points to as a healthy one.

✅ Why to ask for the full reserve study, not just the summary, when you check whether the major components are funded.

✅ The questions to ask the neighbors, and the reserve-borrowing habit that can signal a special assessment ahead. 

Do this before you buy, and you’ll know whether you’re walking into a well-run HOA or the next $49,000 assessment. 

Helpful Links: 

“California HOA Special Assessments: What They Are, When They’re Legal, and How Homeowners Can Challenge Them”

https://mbkchapman.com/california-hoa-special-assessments-fact-sheet/ 

“Why Do My California HOA Fees Keep Going Up?”

https://mbkchapman.com/california-hoa-fees-fact-sheet/ 

“Can My California HOA Charge a Special Assessment for Rising Insurance Costs?”

https://mbkchapman.com/california-hoa-special-assessment-insurance-fact-sheet/ 

“When Can a California HOA Raise Dues Without a Vote?”

https://mbkchapman.com/california-hoa-assessment-increase-fact-sheet/ 

“HOA Reserve Studies in California: Understanding the “Percent Funded” Number”

https://mbkchapman.com/hoa-reserve-studies-in-california-fact-sheet/ 

“Can My California HOA Borrow From Reserves?”

https://mbkchapman.com/hoa-borrow-from-reserves-california-fact-sheet/ 

🎧 📞 If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe to HOA HELL. Listen on YouTube at @hoahellpodcastofficial or wherever you get your podcasts. To schedule a consultation, visit https://mbkchapman.com/ and mention the HOA HELL discount.

 DISCLAIMER:  

This content constitutes attorney advertising. The content of this podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by listening to this podcast, submitting a question, or receiving a response. Always consult with a licensed attorney regarding your specific legal situation. MBK Chapman and Michael Kushner disclaim any liability for actions taken or not taken based on the information provided in this podcast. This communication does not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter. 

ABOUT:  

Michael Kushner created and taught the systems now used by the biggest law firms in the state focused on HOA litigation. Managing partner of MBK Chapman, and author of the best-selling book, HOA HELL, Kushner teaches homeowners how to fight their bad HOAs and win.  

💥 Amazon [https://tinyurl.com/tx47hmvn] | Barnes & Noble [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/hoa%20hell] 

#DavisStirlingAct #CaliforniaHOA #badHOA #HOAHell #HOAlawyer #HOAattorney #SpecialAssessment #SellerDisclosures #HOAredflags #reservestudy 

🔥 HOA Hell
Attorney Michael Kushner, California’s #1 homeowner-side HOA lawyer, shares real legal tools to help homeowners fight back and win against Bad HOAs.

👉 Got an HOA nightmare? Submit your question at [email protected]. Or learn more about your rights as a homeowner by visiting: https://www.mbkchapman.com/fact-sheets. 

📲 Follow us on:
Instagram: @mbkchapmanpc
YouTube: HOA Hell
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/mbk-chapman
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/MBKChapman
X:  https://x.com/MBKchapman
Reddit:  https://www.reddit.com/r/hoa_hell/ 

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac spent 2026 quietly rewriting the rules that decide whether anyone can get a loan to buy a condo in your community, and one more change hits in January 2027. In this episode, attorney Michael Kushner, California’s most experienced homeowner-side HOA attorney, breaks down what already changed, what’s coming, and why your HOA’s finances now decide whether you can sell your unit or refinance it.  

If you own a California condo, the financial health of your HOA is more relevant than ever to your bank account.  

What You’ll Learn in today’s Episode: 

✅ The financing shortcut that vanished on August 3, 2026, and why it could affect your ability to sell.

✅ Why the reserve minimum jumping from 10% to 15% on January 4, 2027 can push your monthly dues up.

✅ How some HOAs will wrongly call this an “emergency” under Civil Code § 5610(c) to skip your vote.

✅ The exact questions to ask your HOA board before you buy or sell a condo in California. 

Whether you’re selling soon or just want to protect what your unit is worth, this episode shows you where you stand and what steps you can take with your HOA.  

Helpful Links: 

“New Fannie Mae Condo Loan Rules: Can My California HOA Make My Unit Unsellable?”

https://mbkchapman.com/new-fannie-mae-condo-loan-rules-california-hoa-fact-sheet/ 

“Why Can’t Anyone Get a Loan to Buy in My California HOA?”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_-m8pfmdIw

Freddie Mac March 18, 2026 Selling and Servicing Updates Bulletin (2026-C)

https://guide.freddiemac.com/app/guide/bulletin/2026-C

Fannie Mae Lender Letter (LL-2026-03)

https://singlefamily.fanniemae.com/media/44986/display 

“Can My California HOA Charge a Special Assessment for Rising Insurance Costs?”

https://mbkchapman.com/california-hoa-special-assessment-insurance-fact-sheet/ 

🎧 📞 If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe to HOA HELL. Listen on YouTube at @hoahellpodcastofficial or wherever you get your podcasts. To schedule a consultation, visit https://mbkchapman.com/ and mention the HOA HELL discount. 

DISCLAIMER:  

This content constitutes attorney advertising. The content of this podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by listening to this podcast, submitting a question, or receiving a response. Always consult with a licensed attorney regarding your specific legal situation. MBK Chapman and Michael Kushner disclaim any liability for actions taken or not taken based on the information provided in this podcast. This communication does not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter. 

ABOUT:  

Michael Kushner created and taught the systems now used by the biggest law firms in the state focused on HOA litigation. Managing partner of MBK Chapman, and author of the best-selling book, HOA HELL, Kushner teaches homeowners how to fight their bad HOAs and win.  

💥 Amazon [https://tinyurl.com/tx47hmvn] | Barnes & Noble [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/hoa%20hell] 

#FannieMae #FreddieMac #CondoFinancing #HOAreserves #DavisStirlingAct #HOAlawyer #HOAattorney #CaliforniaHOA #badHOA #HOAHell 

🔥 HOA Hell
Attorney Michael Kushner, California’s #1 homeowner-side HOA lawyer, shares real legal tools to help homeowners fight back and win against Bad HOAs.

👉 Got an HOA nightmare? Submit your question at [email protected]. Or learn more about your rights as a homeowner by visiting: https://www.mbkchapman.com/fact-sheets. 

📲 Follow us on:
Instagram: @mbkchapmanpc
YouTube: HOA Hell
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/mbk-chapman
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/MBKChapman
X:  https://x.com/MBKchapman
Reddit:  https://www.reddit.com/r/hoa_hell/ 

In this HOA Q&A, California’s leading homeowner-side HOA attorney, Michael Kushner, explains the amendment to Civil Code § 5200, which took effect on January 1, 2026.   

🎯 What You’ll Learn in This HOA Q&A: 

✅ The new amendment to Civil Code § 5200 that put the SB 326 inspection report in every homeowner’s hands, and the tight deadline your HOA has to produce it.

✅ How far back you can reach for older inspection reports, and what comparing two of them can expose about your board.

✅ The money you can recover from your HOA if it refuses to turn the report over. 

Homeowners have a clear statutory right to the full SB 326 report, and this Q&A walks through the law supporting your right and what to do if your HOA stonewalls your request or refuses to turn the whole report over to you. 

Helpful Links: 

“Can My California HOA Refuse to Give Me the SB 326 Balcony Inspection Report?”

https://mbkchapman.com/sb-326-inspection-report-fact-sheet/ 

🎧 📞 If you enjoyed this Q&A, please like and subscribe to HOA HELL. Listen on YouTube at @hoahellpodcastofficial or wherever you get your podcasts. To schedule a consultation, visit https://mbkchapman.com/ and mention the HOA HELL discount. 

Disclaimer: This content constitutes attorney advertising. The content of this podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by listening to this podcast, submitting a question, or receiving a response. Always consult with a licensed attorney regarding your specific legal situation. MBK Chapman and Michael Kushner disclaim any liability for actions taken or not taken based on the information provided in this podcast.  

This communication does not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter.  

About: Michael Kushner created and taught the systems now used by the biggest law firms in the state focused on HOA litigation. Managing partner of MBK Chapman, and author of the best-selling book, HOA HELL, Kushner teaches homeowners how to fight their bad HOAs and win. 💥 Amazon [https://tinyurl.com/tx47hmvn] | Barnes & Noble [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/hoa%20hell] 

#CaliforniaHOA #BadHOA #HOAhell #DavisStirlingAct #SB326 #HOABalcony #HOAAdvocate

🔥 HOA Hell
Attorney Michael Kushner, California’s #1 homeowner-side HOA lawyer, shares real legal tools to help homeowners fight back and win against Bad HOAs.

👉 Got an HOA nightmare? Submit your question at [email protected]. Or learn more about your rights as a homeowner by visiting: https://www.mbkchapman.com/fact-sheets. 

📲 Follow us on:
Instagram: @mbkchapmanpc
YouTube: HOA Hell
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/mbk-chapman
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/MBKChapman
X:  https://x.com/MBKchapman
Reddit:  https://www.reddit.com/r/hoa_hell/