Thinking of purchasing a home? Before you do, consider if the home is in community with a homeowners association (HOA). HOAs have their own rules and regulations you may need to be aware of. Here is a basic guide to HOAs and some of their pros and cons.
What is an HOA?
An HOA is made to govern certain neighborhoods to benefit the community. The organization is typically made up of community members. If your home is in an HOA, you’ll need to abide by the regulations set in place by your HOA. This often includes paying monthly or quarterly fees.
HOA fees
Homeowners associations ask for property owners within the neighborhood to pay fees. Funding is put towards community gardening. It may also be put towards neighborhood trash removal. If your community has a pool or resident center, fees may also go towards the upkeep of these facilities.
Pros and cons of having an HOA
Paying extra fees may seem troublesome. Here are some pros and cons to help you decide if having an HOA is worth it:
Pros
- An HOA board can act as a neutral party to oversell minor neighborly disputes. This can include yard sign placement, grass cutting, etc.
- You may get access to fun amenities in the neighborhood.
- Your overall community is kept neat and clean.
Cons
- The HOA rules may be strict about what you can place in your yard and exterior decor.
- Additional fees to account for.
- Board members may favor one neighbor over the other.
Before you become a property owner, it’s always good to do research on the neighborhood you’re interested in. Speak with your real estate agent to learn more about the community.
About the Author
Kyung Kim
Hi, I'm Kyung Kim. I immigrated from South Korea to the United States in 1968 when I was 7 years old. I have seen my mom struggle with the English language and work hard to raise her four kids by herself. Still to this day, I don't know how she pulled it off, but she bought her first home in 1979 for $70,000 and because of that decision, she was able to live without worrying about her financial future. I want that for everyone, to feel the pride of home ownership and to build their financial wealth using real estate as part of their financial portfolio. I feel so blessed to play a small role in helping others reach this goal.
I live in Beaverton with my husband, Richard. My mom, who lived with us for several years, passed away in our home in February 2022. Her first home purchase in 1979 made it possible for her to live to the very end, without worrying about her finances. As of August 2022 with a little downpayment assistance, our four children own their own homes. Being in real estate, I quickly realized that if they didn't buy now, they may be priced out of the market in the future. Whether that would have been the case, we will never know, but what we do know is that they are all realizing some good, healthy appreciation in their home values.
As passionate as I am about people owning their homes, I'm also passionate about giving back to our community. I support Compassion First, a non-profit organization that provides aftercare for sex trafficked girls in Indonesia. My husband and I also feel called to financially support social injustice organizations.
I'd love to assist you. Whether you're in the research phase at the beginning of your real estate search or you know exactly what you're looking for, you'll benefit from having a real estate professional by your side. I'd be honored to put my real estate experience to work for you.
