When searching for a new home, a key step is finding out if the community is governed by a Home Owner’s Association. New to HOAs? They are a community governance group made up of your neighbors that create oversight for community common areas or amenities (parks, ponds, pools, clubhouses, green spaces) and make decisions for the neighborhood to encourage uniformity and protect against neighborhood degradation. There are advantages and disadvantages to these groups, so you’ll want to do your research to determine your comfort level with the group in your prospective area. It can be difficult for one group to balance the preferences of every individual resident with the community as a whole, so you’ll want to find a community that is like-minded.
HOA’s assess fees that you are responsible for, and they may be monthly, quarterly or annually. They also have governing documents, Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs) that you’ll want to read thoroughly. These cover items like assessments, architectural guidelines for decks, additions, fencing, paint colors and landscaping, required maintenance, parking, pets and more. You may find you are in agreement with all of them or you may be completely opposed, a sign that this is NOT the community for you.
If possible, talk to people in the community about the neighborhood and how the HOA is governed and managed. The most important key is to manage your expectations. You don’t want to spend your time in a new home battling the HOA about the fence, pool or paint color. Better to live in harmony with your neighbors and not have the added stress.
Your realtor can be an excellent resource to help find all the information you need on the community HOA. Just don’t be guilty of finding the information AFTER you’ve moved in. That’s a world you don’t want to be in.
