This is a question that many buyers, especially first time home buyers are asking and I noticed that many of them are not familiar with what it means. While many think that it is only an extra fee added to their monthly payment, in reality it means more. I will try to explain some cons and pros below. I hope this is going to help you make a decision before starting your home searching process.

Some questions to ask yourself are:

Do you prefer a newer neighborhood or a more established one? Do you care a lot about its curb appeal or its safety? Are you a person that likes to be creative and make modifications to the home? These are just a few thoughts to have. Keep reading.

Every HOA is different and they have their own regulations. If you cannot live by the rules, than maybe this is not your best option. Some limitations could be in regards to vehicles (for example, cars might not be allowed to be parked on the street at night nor having magnets to advertise a business, same thing if you own a commercial vehicle) . If you have an RV, usually you cannot park it on the street nor in your backyard as long as it is visible from outside. The same rule applies to boats. So if you see one or the other…most likely the neighborhood is not in an HOA community.

Would you like to build something in front of the house or in your backyard? Most of the time you’d need permission, especially if you can see it from the street. Would you like to paint your house a certain color? You have to have permission, again, and most likely you have to go with the color options that they give you. Is your irrigation system broken and spraying water upwards? You’d get a notification to fix it. Do you have a dead tree in front of the house? You’d have to remove it, otherwise you’d get a fine. These last two examples happened to one of the transaction where I was representing the buyer and we could not close till they were fixed. You’ll get more information while under contract and even though there are many pages, please read. If something does not work for you, it will not be late to cancel and move forward.

On the other hand, neighborhoods that are under a home owner association maintain esthetic standards and ensure a certain quality of life. You can also benefit of clubhouses, swimming pools or fitness centers, as well as not worrying about the common areas, roads or landscaping. Many times HOA’s responsibility is to take care of the home exterior or roof, this applies especially to condos.

Some HOA communities employ security measures like gated entrances that can contribute to a safer living environment.

All these come with a cost and they can vary I have seen from $33.00/month to a few hundred or more.

I hope this article gives you a better understanding of what it means living in a community that has guidelines and if you have any question in regards to real estate, connect with me, I’d love to be your Arizona real estate agent of choice.