Let’s say you have your heart set on buying a home in a community with a swimming pool, a clubhouse, and maybe even a playground or trails. Having access to these amenities often means living in a community with a homeowners association, or HOA.
Generally, an HOA is responsible for keeping the neighborhood looking beautiful — and as a result, keeping property values high. But since no two neighborhoods are the same, no two HOAs will be the same, either.
What You Should Know About the Homeowners Association
Doing your research on homes and communities means finding the answers to dozens of questions. As a savvy home buyer, you’ve probably already considered some of the most important topics early on in your home search, such as the local property taxes and whether the neighborhood is appreciating in value.
But if you’re considering a neighborhood with an HOA, there are a few additional things that you should know. Here are the essential questions you should ask.
1. What Does the Homeowners Association Do?
Each community varies, but in general, a homeowners association assists residents with property maintenance (by providing services like lawn care, trash removal, or Internet), regularly beautifies the neighborhood common areas, and upkeeps any shared amenities. In return for these services, residents pay an association fee, which we’ll talk about later.
Since the HOA is also concerned with keeping property values high, the homeowners association may also dictate what residents can and can’t do with their properties. These rules keep residents from worrying about a neighbor painting their house a funky color or letting their lawn go wild.
2. Are You Required to Join the HOA?
Before you decide to buy a home in an HOA neighborhood, first check to see whether the community has a voluntary or mandatory HOA. A voluntary HOA doesn’t require that you join the association or pay dues, but a mandatory HOA does.
3. How Much Are the HOA Fees?
As we mentioned before, HOA fees cover the services that the association provides. HOA fee costs (and the frequency with which they’re paid) can vary from community to community, so ask your real estate agent about how much the fees are before you buy a home in the neighborhood.
4. What Are the HOA’s Expectations for Residents?
Typically, a homeowners association will have a list of rules and regulations that residents are expected to follow when they live in the community. (These are known as Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions, or CC&Rs.)
These regulations can dictate everything from what colors you can paint your home to how many vehicles you can park in the driveway. Again, each homeowners association varies, so it’s best to read the Bylaws to learn what’s expected of residents.
5. When (And How Often) Does the HOA Meet?
If you’re interested in joining your neighborhood’s HOA to get involved, consider when the association meets. The HOA may meet annually, bimonthly, or monthly, depending on the association’s size, so check to see if the regular meetings will fit within your schedule.
6. Does the HOA Host Any Activities?
Finally, you should learn whether the HOA provides other ways for you to get involved and meet your neighbors. Ask your real estate agent whether they host block parties, pool parties, holiday celebrations, or any other activities.
We’re Here to Answer Your Home Buying Questions!
Have a question about a specific Ann Arbor area neighborhood or the home buying process in general? We’re more than happy to give you the information you need. Call us today at 734-761-3060 or email info@bouma.com and let’s chat!
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