Please Be Cautious of Homeowner Associations

Homeowner Associations (HOAs) are not always bad. But they can be. Please understand what you’re getting into before you get into a HOA: You may love it, or it may become a huge mistake. Please Be Cautious of Homeowner Associations explores the risks with dozens of therapeutic coloring pages and explanations.

Plenty of people really like their HOAs.

For others, a HOA can become a nightmare, or at least a deep frustration.

In theory, a HOA isn't necessarily a bad idea: It can protect your property value by preventing eyesores in the neighborhood and providing community services, all-around enriching residents' lives

But you will typically sacrifice a lot of creative license, if you move into a HOA. A beloved lawn gnome? You should probably move that inside and avoid discord.

HOAs are often criticized for being overly stringent and irrational in maintenance demands. Inspectors are typically allowed to assess your property on a regular basis, to make certain it adheres to standards.

These outcomes are often the result of a management company trying to prove its worth: If inspections are done with no violations, it may imply the inspection didn't really happen. So... they're probably coming back with violations.

It's critical to make certain reasonable people are on your HOA board. One bad apple can cause a lot of needless annoyance and stress in your life.