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Will your reserves
be ready when you need them?

Plan your HOA's reserve fund with our free 30-year projection tool. Compare funding strategies and make informed decisions about your community's financial future.

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How it works

Get a 30-year reserve projection in minutes.

1

Enter your financials

Input your current reserve balance, annual contributions, and expected expenditures.

2

Compare funding strategies

See how different contribution levels affect your reserves over 30 years.

3

Make informed decisions

Use the projections to guide your board's budgeting and planning conversations.

Reserve Study Calculator

Compare funding strategies and project your reserve balance over time.

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Property Details

$
$

Financial Inputs

$

Management, insurance, landscaping, etc.

$
$

Assumptions

%

Applied to anticipated expenditures

%

Applied to average annual reserve balance

Executive Summary

Percent Funded

%

Deficit / Surplus

($1,900,000)

Per Unit

($38,000)

Est. Total Dues

$100

Avg. per unit / month — actual dues vary by ownership share

Summary of Funding Plans

Funding Plan Monthly / Unit vs. Current Lowest Balance Assessment Risk Ending Balance % Funded

Key Insights

Reserve Balance Projection

Ending reserve balance by year under each funding strategy

Dashed line represents the fully funded target, adjusted for inflation over time. Projections assume reserve funds earn interest at the rate specified above.

What Is a Reserve Study?

A reserve study is a long-range financial planning document that every HOA should have. It inventories every major building component — roofs, elevators, HVAC systems, parking lots — estimates when each will need repair or replacement, and calculates how much money the association should be setting aside each year to cover those costs. Most state laws and governing documents require HOAs to maintain adequate reserves, and a professional reserve study is the standard way to prove compliance.

HOA boards should update their reserve study at least every three to five years — or sooner after a major project, a change in costs, or new legislation. The study produces a key metric called percent funded, which compares the money currently in your reserve account to what you should have based on the age and condition of your components. An association at 70% funded or above is generally considered healthy. Below 30% is a warning sign that a special assessment — a one-time charge to every owner — may be needed to cover unexpected repairs.

Use the calculator above to model your community's reserve outlook. Then explore Nestingbird's Building Health Score for a broader assessment, or read our guide on Understanding Your Reserve Fund for a deeper dive.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should an HOA have in reserves?
There is no single dollar amount that fits every HOA. The industry standard is to be at least 70% funded — meaning your reserve balance is at least 70% of what a reserve study says you should have based on the age and expected life of your building components. Below 30% is considered critically underfunded and puts the community at high risk of special assessments.
What does percent funded mean?
Percent funded compares your current reserve balance to the ideal balance recommended by a reserve study. For example, if your study says you should have $500,000 in reserves and you currently have $350,000, you are 70% funded. This metric helps boards gauge whether contributions are on track or need to increase.
What triggers a special assessment?
A special assessment is a one-time charge to all unit owners, typically triggered when reserve funds are insufficient to cover a major repair or replacement — such as a roof, elevator, or plumbing overhaul. Special assessments can range from a few hundred to tens of thousands of dollars per unit. Maintaining healthy reserve contributions is the best way to avoid them.
How often should an HOA update its reserve study?
Most experts and many state statutes recommend updating your reserve study every three to five years. A full reserve study includes a physical site inspection and a complete financial analysis. An update study refreshes the financial projections without a new site visit. You should also update sooner if costs have changed significantly, a major project was completed, or new components were added.
What is the difference between a full and update reserve study?
A full reserve study includes a physical inspection of all building components plus a financial analysis of funding needs. An update reserve study skips the on-site inspection and instead refreshes the financial projections using existing component data. Full studies are typically done every 5–6 years, with update studies in between to keep numbers current.

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