Is HOA a Headache

IS HOA A HEADACHE?

Truc does not have a fixed opinion on whether choosing a home with a Homeowners Association (HOA) is better or not, because that depends on each person’s situation and point of view. In this article, Truc simply presents the pros and cons of homes with and without an HOA.

ADVANTAGES OF HAVING AN HOA:

• Community management:
  An HOA manages and maintains certain standards within the community, from the exterior appearance of homes to the use of shared amenities. For people who like a neat and orderly environment, they may prefer a home with an HOA because neighboring homes are also required to keep their exteriors clean and well maintained. You do not have to worry about keeping your own home tidy while someone else lets their grass grow wild. The HOA is also responsible for maintaining some of the trees and landscaping in the neighborhood.
• Amenities & services:
  Communities with an HOA often provide amenities such as swimming pools, fitness centers, and playgrounds, along with general maintenance services. For example, if a home has a private pool, the monthly maintenance cost can range from $70 to $150 in Orange County, California. If your property is in an HOA community with a community pool, then your HOA dues help cover the cost of using and maintaining those services. However, not every HOA community has a pool, gym, and similar amenities. The more amenities there are, the more expensive the HOA usually is.
• Conflict resolution:
  An HOA can help minimize conflicts such as late-night party noise. Instead of calling the police, residents may be able to report the issue to the HOA. In many cases, HOA penalties can be stricter than police enforcement.
• Safety:
  Sometimes HOA communities are gated, or even have security guards. In today’s unstable times, not only in California but in many other states as well, living in a gated community can provide a greater sense of security and peace of mind.
• Quiet environment:
  In California, most HOA communities prohibit short-term rentals, meaning rentals of fewer than 30 days. Short-term rentals such as Airbnb or VRBO can be difficult to label as entirely good or bad. The same person may want to invest in an area that allows short-term rentals, but at the same time prefer their own residence to be in a neighborhood that does not allow them. Short-term rentals, with people constantly coming and going, can affect the peace and safety of a neighborhood. In HOA communities in California, short-term rentals are generally not allowed, so if you are buying a home purely to live in, this can offer some added reassurance.

ADVANTAGES OF A HOME WITHOUT AN HOA:

• No HOA fees:
  You do not have to pay monthly or annual HOA dues, and HOA fees also tend to increase over time. In Southern California, HOA dues now typically start around $300 or more. Very few HOA communities have fees under $300, and if they do, they usually do not offer many amenities. At the end of the day, the services included in an HOA community, such as pools and gyms, are still paid for by the homeowners. And not everyone actually needs a pool or a gym. After buying a home and working hard to pay the mortgage, who really has the time to go swimming or hit the gym all the time?
• Freedom in use and maintenance:
  An HOA may impose strict rules on how you decorate or use your property. You already have to live under federal, state, county, and city laws, and then on top of that you also have HOA rules hanging over your head. Want to plant a tree? You may need HOA approval. In general, many things require HOA permission. A home without an HOA does not have such strict exterior rules, giving the homeowner more freedom. If something needs approval, you usually only need permission from the city, without another layer of restrictions. Federal, state, county, and city regulations are already enough to deal with. You can paint your house the color you like, choose the roofing material you like, and so on, as long as it complies with city and state code. Sometimes your house may have been painted only five years ago and is still in good condition, but if the HOA is difficult, they may still require you to repaint it. With a home that has no HOA, we have the freedom to decide when to make changes and what colors to choose for our own home.

Conclusion:

In some situations, paying HOA dues is unavoidable. For example, if you do not have enough financial capacity to buy a single-family house and need to buy a condo or townhouse instead, then HOA fees are almost certain. Also, most newly built homes today come with an HOA.

The choice of whether to buy a home with or without an HOA depends on you, sometimes based on both subjective and objective factors. What do you think? Feel free to text me. Thanks.

TRUC DOAN
Co-founder - President - Acquisition Director
VUI Group - Real Estate, Mortgage Loan, Escrow, Rental Management
9559 Bolsa Ave Ste B,
Westminster, CA 92683
Cellphone: +1 818-818-0989