A Homeowners Association offers many communities the aesthetics and care that it needs. If you are someone who doesn’t want to deal with fixing the outer appearance of your house, then HOA’s might be the place for you. Most like governments, a homeowners association is a neighborhood governed by an entity. This entity is in charge of maintaining the community and improving it for a fee.
But like most communities, there are pros and cons that you need to know before you make a decision. Here we will explain what those pros and cons are.
Pros
There are certain pros that comes with being part of a homeowner association.
There is less work to do when it comes to cutting your grass, shoveling snow out of your driveway and sidewalks, with some homeowners associations taking care of many necessities that your house needs.
Furtherly, with HOA’s you can find more solutions to solving conflicts with neighbors. For instance, if your neighbor is making too much noise with his car engine, or throwing parties at night, all you need to do is file a complaint to the HOA and they will make sure that is taken care of.
Another clear pro is the fact that you are able to sell your house in Phoenix at a higher price in these areas. due to the amount of conformity you have with the recreational areas, the land value rises. According to a study made by the University of California, house prices in HOA’s areas can sell at an average of 4% or more.
Cons
Just like many other associations, being part of a homeowner association comes with a fee. The manpower to keep the neighborhood clean, and livable is not free at all. Fees can be expensive, so make sure that you are aware of what types of fees you will need to pay if you buy a house in one of these places.
Another issue that you might not like, is the amount of liberty you get living in places like this. If your neighbor complains about the sound of your car engine, while you repair it, it can turn into a problem.
Besides that, you need to also be aware that you are bounded to the rules of the house you own. Although it is yours, when you sign into an HOA, you can’t paint or do whatever you want to with your house. Certain HOA’s have specifications depending on their guidelines. There can be limits on the number of pets you can have, how tall your grass can grow, etc…
Before deciding to buy a home in a planned community, make sure that it fits your needs, and check if you are willing to pay the fees they require.