When you purchase a home, you may have obligations set forth by the local Homeowners Association (HOA). At times, it also includes a fee to maintain the neighborhood’s common areas and curb appeal. You will need to educate yourself about the HOA before or after you purchase your home.
HOA Fees
The fees associated with the HOA typically start at a couple of hundred dollars and can range up to a couple of thousand dollars monthly. Usually, the more upscale the residence is, the higher the fees will be for that specific property.
One thing you will need to know about the fees is that it is subject to change. At times, the HOA may not have enough money saved for the new addition to a common area, and the fees may be adjusted accordingly.
Learn the Rules
You may find the rules for those specific HOAs online. However, if you cannot find the rules, you can contact the real estate agent to request these documents.
Make sure to pay very close attention to any information regarding fines or dues. There should also be information listed about meetings.
Is the Property Compliant?
Ensure that the home you wish to buy complies with the HOA rules before making a purchase. Otherwise, you may be stuck with upgrades or fixes that will cost you more money.
Additionally, if you purchase the home and it is not up to code, you may also be subject to fees. Be sure to discuss these issues with the real estate agent before purchasing the home.
Questions to Ask
Here are some specific questions you may want to ask:
- How are the fee increases set?
- How often do the increases occur?
- How much have the fees increased over the last 10 years?
- How large is the reserve fund?
- Is there a record of assessments that you can view?
- What do the monthly fees cover?
To make sure that you are not getting the “raw end of the deal,” compare the fees listed on the homes you are interested in. Then compare the information that you have collected thus far. It will help you to decide whether this is the home you would like to have in association with the HOA.