Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Monday, Jul 14, 2025

How to determine if an HOA is worth the monthly cost

How to determine if an HOA is worth the monthly cost

Homeowner's associations can improve a neighborhood, but can come at a steep cost

If you live in a community setting, it’s common to be required to pay a monthly fee for amenities and maintenance of your community.

The collector of such fees and the overseer of the rules of your community is led by a homeowners association, or HOA, a community association that binds homeowners to certain rules and restrictions, says Stephanie Horan, a spokesperson at Today's Homeowner.

"They can consist of individual homes in a neighborhood, condos, townhouses, and co-ops, with rules and responsibilities varying based on property type and location," she explains.

New Homes in Northern California.


What are Some of the Things That a Fee From Your HOA Covers?


According to Horan, HOA fees typically cover the cost of maintenance for community amenities such as swimming pools, parks and green spaces. Some HOA fees also help cover the costs of utilities, she says.

"Ultimately, your HOA fees will go toward keeping your community a clean and safe place to live," Horan tells FOX Business.


What are Some of the Pros and Cons of an HOA?


As mentioned previously, some pros of HOAs are in place to ensure and help uphold high standards for the community you live in.

"They keep the community clean, safe, and fun," insists Horan.

However, the cons include the fact that HOA fees can be expensive.

"Additionally, the rules and regulations set forth by the HOA can sometimes be seen as strict or excessive by people," Horan adds.

Suburb housing development viewed from above, Texas, USA.


How Can You Determine if Your HOA is Worth its Cost?


Horan says it will ultimately be up to the wants and needs of the specific homeowner. If you have a high standard for the livability of your community and don't want to be responsible for maintenance, then an HOA may be worth it, she says.

"If you value more freedom with the choices you make regarding your home and don't mind completing regular maintenance yourself, it may be best to avoid communities with HOAs," Horan tells FOX Business.

Can HOA free increase year to year?


Judy Dutton, spokesperson with Realtor.com, says HOA fees can get higher year to year, or whenever expenses escalate due to major repairs or new projects.

"The best way to anticipate whether fees will rise is to check the Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions or CC&Rs’ history for fee hikes or ‘assessments,’ which are temporary fee hikes," she says. In addition, it’s a good idea to check the HOA reserve fund, Dutton says, which is dipped into to pay for unforeseen costs without needing to hike residents’ HOA fees.

"A healthy reserve fund is a good thing to see," Dutton tells FOX Business.


How Does an HOA Fee Provide Peace of Mind and Convenience for the Homeowner?


HOA fees provide peace of mind and convenience for homeowners by taking care of maintenance and repairs you might not want to deal with on your own, says Dutton. For example, not needing to clean a pool or repair the pump if it breaks.

HOA's can help pool costs of neighborhood beautification and negotiate better deals with landscaping companies.


Also, says Horan, your HOA can help provide peace of mind by ensuring the community is safe and well taken care of.

"For example, many HOAs arrange for snow removal during the winter," Horan continues. "Homeowners in these communities can enjoy the peace of mind of knowing that they will drive more safely and avoid slipping on sidewalks. HOAs can provide convenience by taking care of regular maintenance like pest control and community landscaping."

Comments

Oh ya 2 year ago
And you will soon learn who is the biggest buttwipe in the HOA is as somehow they always get elected to the board and off on their power trip they go.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Russia Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Mediators Edge Closer to Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement
Germany Seeks Taliban Deal to Deport Afghan Migrants
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
Qatar Airways Clears Backlog of Passengers Following Missile Threats
Iran's Parliament Votes to Suspend Cooperation with Nuclear Watchdog
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Oman Set to Introduce Personal Income Tax, First in Gulf
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Mass exodus in Tehran as millions try to flee following Trump’s evacuation order
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
Iran Conducts Ballistic Missile Launches Amid Heightened Tensions with Israel
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
×