Not surprisingly, condo owners falling behind on association dues was a problem during the recession. It's important to make sure the association is well-run before buying a condo, and find out how many condos the association manages. If a dozen members struggle with paying dues in any given month and your community has 500 condos, you aren't likely to feel those effects. But if you live in a community of 10 condos and two people fall behind, there goes 20 percent of the association's budget.