Each year, the HOA board of directors has a community budget that includes the total fees for the current year. Depending on how the year goes, sometimes those expenses can maoe unexpectedly, and thus collects fees from ways hoa can make money members for various expenses and repairs. Each year, the board of directors has to do a reserve study, a prediction of sorts that assess how much needs to be repaired and at what cost. Homeowner members pay their fees, which goes into the reserve, and thus that reserve gets used for long-term repairs. Usually, however, the HOA gets drained of resources, thus causes those special assessments to occur. Special assessments usually happen when homeowner members protest increased fees. Understanding how budgets work and what resources you can use can be a valuable skill to. One of the best ways to begin your start is to have a plan.