Things To Consider When Evaluating An HOA Before Buying A House
Posted on: 18 July 2019
Before you buy a property managed by a homeowners association (HOA), you should evaluate the HOA to confirm that it is a good fit for your life. The following are some of the factors to consider during the evaluation.
Fees
HOA fees vary greatly. Therefore, even if you have already been paying HOA fees, don't assume that your new home will attract comparable fees. HOA fees can range from a few hundreds of dollars to thousands of dollars. The neighborhood, services, and amenities are some of the things that determine HOA fees.
Unexpected Fees
In addition to the regular HOA fees, there is also the chance that you may be required to chip in when unexpected expenses arise. For example, if a disaster strikes and the HOA reserve fund proves inadequate, HOA members may be required to chip in. Find out how the HOA handles such things beforehand.
Conflict Management
Even if an HOA has the best rules and mangers, you cannot rule out the risk of conflicts somewhere down the line. Disagreements can arise between you and the HOA or between you and another member of the community. You need to know the approaches the HOA will take to manage the conflict if that happens. You want to know whether the HOA uses mediation or alternative conflict resolution methods or they encourage lawsuits.
Rules
HOA rules and regulations will govern almost every aspect of your life in the community. Some of the things HOA rules typically touch on include the following:
- If you can rent your property
- If you can renovate or remodel your property
- The color of paint you can use on the siding
- Who has the authority to remove trees on your property
These are all important things that you should be aware of before closing the purchase deal. You don't want to buy a house with the aim of building a treehouse in the backyard only to learn that the HOA forbids it.
Management
You should also look at the management of the HOA. You can even ask to scrutinize past minutes of HOA minutes to get a good idea of how they run things.
Hopefully, you will get a good HOA for your next home after evaluating the above factors. Talk to your real estate agent about your priorities so that the agent can help you with the evaluation.
For more information, contact a real estate agency near you.
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