Homeowner's Associations..Your Friend?

Home Essentials December 2011

Bryan Cerny Rose & Womble Realty Phone: (757)580-6546 Email Bryan Visit Our Website   Homeowners’ Associations – Friend or Foe? You’ve probably heard the horror stories—homeowners’ associations nitpicking about insignificant details, tying up property sales with costly lawsuits, or enforcing expensive and unexpected assessments. But, homeowners’ associations (also called HOAs) can help protect property values, provide great amenities that you couldn’t afford on your own, get you involved with your community, and keep your neighbors from parking cars on their front lawns. Whether you love, hate, or don’t know much about homeowners’ associations, if you’re thinking about purchasing a home that is affiliated with one, it’s important to do your research. Before you sign on the dotted line, ask these important questions: Does this home belong to a homeowners’ association? This question isn’t as simple as you’d think—HOAs aren’t just for condominiums. Don’t assume that just because you’re looking at a townhome, single-family home, or vacation property that you’re in the clear. In fact, according to the Community Association Institute (CAI), four out of five houses built since the late 1990s have an HOA. Can I see some documentation? Ask to see the community’s Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions, commonly known as CC&Rs. These documents are the association’s governing rules, and explain protocol and regulations that officers, homeowners, and tenants are expected to follow. In most cases, CC&Rs are legally enforceable. In addition to reviewing the CC&Rs, ask to see recent meeting minutes and up-to-date financial statements. These documents will let you know if there are any upcoming assessments in the works and help you determine the overall financial health of the organization. How are the HOA’s finances managed? How much can I expect to spend? A well-organized HOA should make very clear the financial responsibilities of its members. Are dues billed monthly, quarterly, or yearly? How much are they? Are there late fees? If a homeowner violates a regulation, are there monetary penalties? Are there limits to the dollar amount and frequency of one-time assessments? What do my dues cover? Inclusions vary dramatically and it is safe to assume that the lower your dues, the fewer services, amenities, and utilities are included. In a traditional condominium association, dues may likely include water, cable, ground maintenance, trash, sewer, recreational amenities, parking, security, and more. HOAs in neighborhoods with single-family homes may cover sidewalks, landscaping, and common areas. Ask to see a comprehensive list of what is included. How do you like the HOA? Hit the pavement and ask neighbors about the association. How is the leadership elected? Have you had any negative interactions? How common are expensive assessments? Can I follow all of the rules? Before you commit to living in an HOA-affiliated building or neighborhood, take an honest look at the rules and make sure that you are comfortable following every single one. Make sure that your lifestyle fits with the HOA’s parameters. For example, if you’re buying vacation property, make sure that the HOA doesn’t have rules limiting or forbidding owners from renting their property. Homeowners’ associations can be a good influence on your condo or neighborhood, but only if everyone follows the rules. Understanding the rules and responsibilities before committing to a purchase is crucial to happiness in your new HOA-affiliated home.