Decades of increasing costs and deferred maintenance could lead to people losing their homes unless changes are made.
As aging infrastructure and soaring maintenance costs threaten the nation's condominium stock, a new Shelterforce article examines how this crucial affordable housing option is at risk. The author explains how condo ownership, a crucial affordable housing option is at risk. The analysis reveals that condo ownership — which provides a vital pathway to homeownership for first-time buyers, communities of color, and seniors — faces mounting challenges:
- Monthly fees have increased 60 percent in some markets
- 37 percent of condo owners are now housing cost-burdened
- Only 12 states require associations to maintain reserve funds
- Post-Surfside regulations are destabilizing some markets
The article explores divergent state responses, from Florida's market-disrupting reforms to New Jersey's phased approach, and outlines 11 policy solutions for preserving this affordable housing stock. Key recommendations include mandating reserve studies, providing low-interest repair loans, and implementing foreclosure protections.
Read Karen Black's full analysis in Shelterforce.
FULL STORY: Condos—a Key Source of Affordable Housing for Homeowners—Are in Jeopardy
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City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research