Dear Reader,

The inflation headlines have cooled, but many homeowners are getting a different message in the mail: higher HOA dues and bigger special assessments. The latest CPI release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed consumer prices up 2.7% over the prior 12 months through November 2025, yet ownership-related costs are still climbing in practical, budget-busting ways.

At the same time, borrowing costs may not fall fast enough to “rescue” household budgets. On January 3, 2026, Reuters reported Philadelphia Fed President Anna Paulson said further rate cuts could take some time, meaning many families will be managing today’s higher-cost environment for longer.

For condo owners in particular, the pressure is showing up in the market. The Wall Street Journal reports the condo market is facing its weakest stretch in more than a decade, with rising homeowner-association fees and higher insurance and maintenance costs making purchases less affordable.

That's the blunt warning from billionaire hedge fund founder Ray Dalio...

And the Wall Street elites agree.

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink... and legendary investors like Paul Tudor Jones, Ken Fisher, and Steve Cohen... have all moved their money into the same corner of the market.

Meanwhile, most of Main Street is still sitting on the sidelines, totally unaware.

And Stansberry Research senior partner Dr. David "Doc" Eifrig says this is no coincidence.

He believes these Wall Street insiders could be quietly positioning for the fallout of what he calls the "Mar-a-Lago Accord"... a carefully orchestrated monetary reset.

It has happened twice before — and, if history is any guide – Americans could lose almost half their wealth...

But, according to Doc, those who know where to put their money today could capture extraordinary gains as much as 1,000%.

Doc is the former Goldman Sachs executive who accurately predicted the 2022 crash months in advance... .

Click here now to view his urgent broadcast while it's still online.

HOA dues aren’t like a utility bill you can shop or a subscription you can cancel. They are a required part of ownership, and they can rise quickly when insurance renewals come in higher, big repairs hit, or reserves were neglected for years.

For retirees downsizing into condos, this can be especially damaging. A lower purchase price can look attractive, but a steady climb in dues can turn into a second monthly payment, and a surprise assessment can land at exactly the wrong time.

For investors, HOA stress is also resale risk. When monthly dues jump, the buyer pool shrinks, financing can get tougher, and price negotiations get harsher because the “all-in” monthly cost no longer pencils out.

Three forces are doing most of the work. First, insurance is repricing for risk. In a December housing poll, Reuters noted insurance and property taxes are putting financial pressure on homeowners, even as price gains are expected to stay modest.

Second, repairs cost more than they used to. On December 15, Reuters reported builders are still contending with rising material and labor prices, and that reality carries straight into what associations pay for roofs, concrete work, elevators, plumbing, and contractors.

Third, reserve shortfalls are being confronted instead of ignored. In states tightening condo safety and reserve expectations, associations are being pushed toward more disciplined budgeting, which often means higher dues today to reduce the odds of a financial shock tomorrow.

Treat HOA dues as a variable-rate obligation, not a fixed expense. Before buying, read the budget, study the reserve funding, ask about insurance deductibles and recent claims, and review meeting minutes for upcoming projects and owner delinquencies.

In plain terms, a well-run association protects property values; a weak one transfers risk to the owners. Paying attention to that difference is part of conservative investing in real assets.

Stay steady,

Kenneth Boyd

Author, Finance Writer, Former Investment Advisor & CPA