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If you are in the market for a new home and are a first time homebuyer you may be seeing properties that are part of an HOA. But what exactly is an HOA? They make rules for the homeowners in the HOA, take care of shared spaces, and plan events.
This sounds great on the surface and many people love living in an HOA-managed neighborhood. Others, however, are less enthusiastic about it. Like anything, there are positives and negatives. To help you decide for yourself if you would enjoy living with an HOA, we will give you the pros and cons in this article.
Pro – Maintenance of The Neighborhood
One of the big perks of living in an HOA community is that you often don’t have to worry about a lot of outdoor work. The HOA takes care of it. Imagine a winter without shoveling snow from the sidewalks or a summer without mowing the lawn.
The HOA uses the fees collected from homeowners to hire professionals. These pros make sure the shared spaces, like parks and playgrounds, are clean and safe. If a streetlight is out, then the HOA is going to fix it and will often do a better job than the city by using LED post top lights instead of light-polluting ones.
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Pro – Access to Amenities
Living in an HOA community often comes with some extra perks that you might not find elsewhere. Many of these communities have special areas just for residents. Things like swimming pools where families can cool off in the summer, gyms for those who like to stay fit, and clubhouses for gatherings and parties.
Some even have tennis courts, walking trails, or small parks for kids to play. These amenities are usually well-maintained by the HOA, making them a big draw for many people. It’s like having some of the best parts of a resort right in your backyard.
Con – Fees and Assessments
One of the most common cons for homeowners is the fees. When you live in an HOA community, you usually have to pay regular dues. These fees help cover the cost of all the good stuff, like maintenance and amenities.
What the fees are like depends on individual HOAs. Some communities might have low fees, while others can be quite high, especially if they offer a lot of high-end amenities. On top of the regular dues, sometimes there are special assessments. These are extra fees for big projects, like fixing a clubhouse roof or updating a pool.
Con – Restrictions
Another thing to think about when living in an HOA community is the rules. There are a lot of rules about things like landscaping, decorations, and even where you can park your car.
These rules help keep the neighborhood looking nice, but they can also feel limiting. For some people, these rules are no big deal. But for others, it can feel like they can’t fully express themselves in their own home.
