Blog
Longer pieces for Massachusetts boards and managers, each written from the statute, the lender rules or the city ordinance it covers.
How BERDO, BEUDO and the energy code change a condo reserve plan
Boston's BERDO covers residential buildings of 15 or more units and heads toward net zero by 2050; Cambridge's BEUDO requires buildings of 50 or more units to report energy use. Neither is a reserve law, but both change what replacing a boiler or a roof will cost, so a current study should price the options.
What the 2026 Fannie Mae condo changes mean for Massachusetts associations
From August 3, 2026, Fannie Mae retired Limited Review for most loans, so more unit sales trigger a full look at the budget. A reserve study used to justify a contribution under 10 percent can no longer rely on baseline funding, and the study's highest recommendation must be used.
Special assessments or reserves: what Massachusetts law means for collection
Under Chapter 183A, section 6(c), part of an association's lien for common charges ranks ahead of a first mortgage, but the priority amount excludes special assessments. Money raised slowly through budgeted reserve contributions is usually more secure than a large assessment billed after a failure.
Does a three-unit Massachusetts condo need a reserve study?
The law asks even a three-unit condominium to keep an adequate replacement reserve in a separate account, though it does not require a study. For buildings this small, a short study with one site visit often costs less than a single porch repair and settles years of arguments about who pays for what.
Can Massachusetts condo owners vote to change the reserve requirement?
Yes, within limits. Once the developer has handed over control, owners holding 67 percent or more of the beneficial interest can modify the reserve requirement of section 10(i) by a vote taken each year. The vote does not stop lenders, buyers or the roof from asking what the reserve can pay for.
Get a quote
Start with the condominium's ZIP code. Then your contact details, then some quick taps about the trust and its buildings.
This site arranges quotes; it does not prepare reserve studies. For each request we pick a single firm working near the condominium, give you its name, and forward your details only after you confirm. That firm, not you, pays us for the introduction.
Received. Here is what happens next.
- We look up which reserve study firms take work in your ZIP code and choose one. You get its name from us within one business day.
- Reply to confirm and we send that firm your request. Decline, or say nothing, and your request stays with us.
- The firm then talks to you about the buildings, the documents it needs and its fee. Your contact details are not added to any mailing list.