Short answer: contact the association before the due date, read your governing documents, and ask in writing for a payment plan. Unpaid association fees can lead to collection and even foreclosure, so do not ignore the bill. Borrowing is one option to compare, not the first step. This is general information, not legal or financial advice. Your association’s documents and the law where you live decide the rules.
What the CFPB says about HOA fees
The CFPB says a homeowners’ association “is typically formed to manage shared expenses such as landscaping and other maintenance costs for a planned subdivision or other organized community”, and that condo or HOA fees “are usually paid separately from your monthly mortgage payment.” It also warns: “If you do not pay these fees, you can face debt collection efforts by the homeowner’s association and even foreclosure” (CFPB, read October 30, 2026).
Ask whether the bill is a special assessment or regular dues, and check in your governing documents how each one is set and paid.
Read your governing documents
Find your declaration (sometimes called CC&Rs), bylaws, and the association’s rules and collection policy. Look for:
- How a special assessment is adopted, and whether owners vote on it.
- The due date, and whether it can be paid in installments.
- Late fees, interest and collection costs on unpaid amounts.
- Whether unpaid amounts can become a lien on your home, and when.
- How to request a hearing or dispute a charge.
Questions to ask the association
- Can I pay this assessment in installments? What number of payments, and is any interest or fee added?
- Will you confirm the payment plan in writing, including what happens if a payment is late?
- What is the total I owe today, and what part is the assessment, dues, late fees and collection costs?
- Has any part of my account been sent to a collector or an attorney?
- Has a lien been recorded or noticed on my home? If so, how is it released once I pay?
- What did the assessment pay for, and where can I see the budget or bids?
Keep a copy of every notice and letter. If the association or a collector says a lien or foreclosure is coming, talk with a lawyer about the rules that apply to you.
Liens and your mortgage
The CFPB’s warning above shows that unpaid HOA fees can reach foreclosure. Ask the association whether a lien has been filed, and treat an overdue assessment as a debt tied to your home. If you also have trouble with your mortgage payment, see behind on mortgage payments: options, and contact your servicer early.
Escrow
The CFPB says condo/co-op fees or HOA dues “are usually paid directly to the homeowners’ association (HOA) and are not included in the payment you make to your mortgage servicer.” It adds: “Although not common, your mortgage servicer may be willing to include your HOA dues in the escrow portion of your monthly mortgage payment upon request” (CFPB, read October 30, 2026). For how escrow works, see the CFPB’s escrow account explainer. Ask your servicer and the association how a special assessment is billed.
Free help
The CFPB says HUD-approved housing counseling agencies “provide foreclosure prevention counseling free of charge” (CFPB). Find one with the CFPB’s Find a Counselor tool.
A $2,000 assessment, only for the math
This example is only for the math, not a typical assessment. If the association offered 10 monthly installments with no interest, that would be $200.00 x 10 = $2,000.00, plus any fees in the plan. The loan and card rows use the Federal Reserve’s August 2026 averages over 24 months: 11.90% APR for 24-month personal loans and 22.36% for credit card plans (G.19).
| Option | Monthly payment | Interest | Total paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Association payment plan, if offered, 10 installments | $200.00 | $0.00 (plus any plan fees) | $2,000.00 plus fees |
| Personal loan at 11.90%, 24 months | $94.05 | $257.20 | $2,257.20 |
| Credit card at 22.36%, 24 months | $104.11 | $498.64 | $2,498.64 |
$94.05 x 24 = $2,257.20, and $104.11 x 24 = $2,498.64. Your rate depends on your credit and the lender. A home equity line puts your home up as collateral: compare it in HELOC vs personal loan. If the assessment is for repairs to your own unit, see how to pay for home repairs.
Checklist
- Read the declaration, bylaws and collection policy.
- Contact the association before the due date and ask for a payment plan in writing.
- Ask for an itemized balance and whether a lien has been filed.
- Keep paying regular dues and your mortgage if you can.
- Talk with a housing counselor, and a lawyer if a lien or foreclosure is threatened.
- Compare the total cost before you borrow.
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Sources
- CFPB: Mortgage answers, key terms (page last modified December 28, 2022)
- CFPB: Are condo/co-op fees or homeowners’ association dues included in my monthly mortgage payment? (page last modified September 13, 2024)
- CFPB: What is an escrow or impound account? (last reviewed September 11, 2024)
- CFPB: What is a HUD-approved housing counseling agency, and how can they help me? (reviewed September 11, 2024)
- CFPB: Find a housing counselor
- Federal Reserve: G.19 Consumer Credit (released October 7, 2026), terms of credit, August 2026: credit card plans and 24-month personal loans
Disclosure: Modern Lending Solutions is not a lender, loan broker or agent for any lender or loan broker, and does not make credit decisions. Any compensation we receive is paid by participating lenders, only for advertising services. This guide is general information, not financial or legal advice.