The dreaded Homeowner Associations! So many people tell me that they dont want to live in a neighborhood that has Covenants or a Homeowners Association. They believe that if they own a property that no one should be able to tell them what they can or cannot do with THIER PROPERTY! Does this sound familiar?

1. Did you know that The HOA does not control your neighborhood’s covenants. The developer otherwise known as the “declarant” is in charge of all approvals for improvements, building requirements, and what can or cannot be instructed ona  home site. 
2. All too often I hear people say I don’t want a neighborhood in an HOA. I don’t want someone telling me what to do with my property. This to me is a bid red flag. People who don’t want to live in an HOA would be the neighbor who leaves clutter around the home, generally is less likely to maintain the home such as paint and siding, and they will likely be the ones who park rv’s, boats, and other vehicles in the driveway year round.
3. HOAs are designed to keep the integrity of the neighborhood as a whole. To make sure everyone maintains their properties to keep the values of the homes as a whole.
4. Some people think if you live in an HOA that you have to pay monthly dues. This is true, only when, you live in a townhouse or villa. When you purcahse a home in a villa or townhome community would you have to pay monthly dues to maintain the lawn and snow removal. A general new neighborhood does however have dues to maintain the common grounds of the area including entrance monuments but you pay those annually. Other parts of the country have higher dues than we do locally and sometimes are paid quarterly.
5. Another thing I hear is, "The HOA dues are so expensive!" Actually, the higher the dues the more amenities the area should have. Such as neighborhood pools,, splash pads playgrounds, water features or ponds, walking trails, etc. In a subdivision that only has entrance monuments and some landscaped medians to maintain the dues are much less expensive.

So in the end, I hope this helps you understand why Homeowner Associations and Covenants are indeed a good thing. They are needed and they help keep the value of your property increasing year over year makeing your investment worthwhile.

Do you have specific questions on how to find answers within your covnants how to submit something for approval or a general inquiry? I would be happy to help answer. Connect with me today!