The Condo Trap Tools
Free Tools for Condo & HOA Risk Analysis
Nine tools that take the book's framework from theory to your actual deal: document red-lines, assessment probability math, reserve study translation, true lifecycle cost, insurance gap detection, post-Surfside compliance, and exit playbooks.
Important: These tools produce informational estimates and AI prompt templates. They are not legal, real estate, insurance, financial, or tax advice. Condo law, HOA governance, and insurance rules vary by state and building and change often. Never buy, sell, vote on an assessment, or sign a disclosure based on these numbers alone. Engage a licensed real estate attorney, HOA-document review specialist, insurance agent, and qualified home inspector before acting. See full disclaimer →
Core Calculators
Full-page calculators (sorted A–Z)
Commission Savings Calculator
Flat-fee MLS + title company + attorney vs traditional 5–6% commission. State-aware. Includes condo resale-certificate timing notes.
Condo Calculator
True cost of condo ownership — HOA dues, special-assessment probability, reserve adequacy, and insurance layering.
FIRE Calculator
FIRE math for condo owners — how dues, assessments, and commission costs compound against your FI number.
Investability Score
Score any building for investability — HOA health, assessment risk, market liquidity, regulatory exposure.
Opportunity Cost Calculator
What your down payment would have earned invested instead of sitting as condo equity.
Inline Mini-Tools & AI Prompts
HOA Document Red-Line Analyzer
Paste snippets from CC&Rs, bylaws, budgets, or reserve study summary. Generates an AI prompt to extract assessment risk, rental caps, litigation flags, and reserve underfunding.
Condo Trap Ch 4: Governing Docs | Ch 8: Red Flags
Special Assessment Probability Scorer
Building age + reserve funded percentage + deferred maintenance indicators → probability of a $10K+ assessment within 5 years.
Reserve Study Translator
Paste executive summary of a reserve study → plain-English scorecard + 10-year cash-call forecast prompt.
Condo Trap Ch 11: Reserve Studies Decoded
True Cost of Condo Calculator
HOA fees + property tax + expected assessments + insurance + opportunity cost vs. renting — 25-year NPV comparison.
Master Policy vs. HO-6 Gap Detector
Match master policy type (Bare Walls / Single Entity / All-In) against HO-6 coverage to spot walls-in, loss-assessment, and upgrade exposure.
Post-Surfside Compliance Check
State-specific structural inspection + reserve rules. Covers FL SB-4D (milestone/SIRS), CA SB-326/SB-721 (balcony), and national reserve-funding norms.
Board Meeting Minutes Sentiment Scan
Paste 6–12 months of meeting minutes → AI prompt returning conflict / litigation / embezzlement red-flag summary with quoted evidence.
Condo Trap Ch 22: Board Dysfunction
FHA / Fannie Mae Approval Check
Affects resale pool & refi eligibility. Quick check for FHA-approved status + Fannie Mae warrantability by ID or address.
Condo Exit Playbook
Sell now vs. rent out vs. fight-the-board decision tree, sequenced for your situation.
Pair with the book's core calculators (A–Z): Commission Savings Calculator, Condo Calculator, FIRE Calculator, Investability Score, Opportunity Cost Calculator. Also see the external tools referenced in the book. Full site analyzer suite at jwatte.com/tools.