Homeowners associations often turn to special assessments to fund major repairs, but when owners cannot afford a lump-sum payment, the entire project can stall. Jack Miller, principal at Gelt Financial, a national private lender that finances associations directly, says most boards default to special assessments simply because it is the option they know. Yet borrowing against future dues is a legitimate alternative that can fund repairs immediately while spreading repayment over time.
Unlike a mortgage on an individual property, an association loan is not secured by real estate. There is no traditional collateral and no personal guarantees from board members or owners. Instead, the loan is secured by the association’s ability to pass a special assessment or raise condo dues to repay it. That structure means the association borrows against its own income stream, not the building itself. Once the loan closes, the board typically still passes an assessment, but instead of collecting a large lump sum from every owner at once, the repayment gets spread out and the immediate repair gets funded right away.
The biggest obstacle Miller sees is not financial but personal. He described a recent case involving two elderly board members, one 88 and one 92, who served as president and treasurer of a 40 to 50 unit association. Both were retired schoolteachers and reluctant to raise dues because they knew every homeowner personally and did not want to ask neighbors for more money. Miller’s response was direct: if you own your home, the repairs need to get done regardless of how uncomfortable the conversation is. Boards that avoid raising dues because they live alongside the people they would be charging often end up with a bigger problem later, when a roof leak or a failed window becomes an emergency instead of a planned repair.
Not every association needs outside financing. Sometimes individual owners fund their own share of a special assessment directly rather than paying a lender’s rate. Miller pointed out that one owner might reasonably ask why they should pay Gelt’s rate when they could just cover their portion themselves, and for owners who can afford to do that, it is a fair question. Where private lending makes the most sense is when the board needs the repair funded now and cannot wait for a lump sum assessment to clear.
Gelt is not able to help every association. Deals involving existing debt on the property typically do not work, since Gelt wants to be the first lender in, and associations that have let a problem grow too large sometimes need more repair work than makes economic sense to finance. Miller’s advice to boards is to get ahead of the timeline rather than wait for a crisis. Associations should be planning major repairs a year in advance and building relationships with banks and other traditional lenders first, since that financing is typically cheaper. Private lending exists as the option for boards that have already tried that route and still need a way to get the work done.
Gelt Financial LLC is a national private lender and distressed debt buyer with over 37 years of experience across commercial and investment real estate. Operating in 37 states, the company provides bridge financing, foreclosure bailout loans, and non-performing loan acquisitions for real estate investors, operators, and institutions. For more information, visit Gelt Financial.
This article is based on information provided by the expert source cited above. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or real estate advice. Readers should conduct their own research and consult qualified professionals before making any real estate or financial decisions. Disclosure: Individuals or companies mentioned may have a commercial relationship with KeyCrew.
