Pros and Cons of Homeowner Associations

Living in a neighborhood that has a Homeowners Association is not for everyone. If you buy a property with a Homeowners Association you are required to pay an Association membership fee, which may increase. The Association may also enforce new rules that you may find too restrictive, like what type of bush you can plant or the type of fence you can have in your own yard. There are places where it is becoming more difficult to buy a house that is not governed by an HOA, especially in newly developed areas. There are pros and cons to living in a community with a HOA.

The purpose of a Homeowners Association is to protect the value of homes and neighborhoods within a development. This is done by maintaining common areas, such as playgrounds, boat yards or walking paths and insuring residents adhere to the rules of the Association. The Association has the right to enforce maintenance and design standards, for example the color of the houses and where vehicles can be parked. These restrictions are supposed to help prevent neighbors from doing crazy things to their property that may result in lowering the neighborhood’s property value.

The positive sides for having an HOA are few and far between. Planned communities governed by an HOA usually feature attractive amenities, well developed homes and landscaped open spaces. The homes may even cost less than houses not in a HOA community due to efficient use of the land and more volunteer support by the residents. HOA’s also make efforts to make sure residents keep their property looking presentable. This can help maintain property values.

The problems with having an HOA outweigh the positive. HOA’s benefit one group of people. . . THE LAWYERS who make money off of them. ...

... middle of paper ...

...etters and that she needed to get a hobby other then me. Well, that was the last HOA letter I have received.

My neighborhood has homes in the price range of $350,000 to $750,000 and no one with that much money invested in a property is going to let it go downhill. They are not going to paint it hot pink, through trash on the ground or have twelve cars parked on the front law.

Before you buy a home in a community that has a HOA, find out who is on the board or directors. Your Realtor can usually find this out for you. HOA boards are usually made up of neighborhood residents. I highly suggest asking to attend a board meeting. Observe the meeting and see if the board is really concerned about the neighborhood or tries to have too much control or is just meeting for a social event. Beware of a board that is made up of a neighborhood clique the way mine is.