Pros & Cons to HOA

Hello. This is Carla Bello with Signature Choice Realty in Valdosta, Georgia. And today we're going to discuss the pros and cons of homeowners associations. A homeowners association is a group of homeowners in a community that have a formal agreement to manage common areas and share the associated cost. Homeowners associations are also like governments in some instances. They set rules for the community, hire vendors, pave roads, make repairs to common areas and handle disputes. The HOA lays out all the regulations in a legal document called a declaration of covenants, conditions and restrictions. They set the rules on how members or homeowners must follow when doing such things as putting up a fence or utility shed, maintenance of lawns and landscaping, and even ownership of animals.

Failure to comply with these rules may subject you to written warnings or also can lead to financial penalties. It may sound rigid, but there are pros and cons why homeowners love living in a community with an HOA. Some of the pros are, you will enjoy access to HOA community amenities, such as a pool, a fitness center, parks, children's play areas and security gates. Your maintenance cost for common areas will be shared. And a portion of your HOA fees are designated for the maintenance of these shared spaces. You've got a built in mediator as well. If your neighbor decides to ignore the rules and places chickens and a chicken coop in his backyard, which in turn makes your backyard smell, you don't need to fight argue about this with your neighbor. Instead, you can contact the HOA and let them earn those monthly fees. They will reach out and resolve them issue on behalf of the entire community.

Now let's go over some of the cons. The first one is the fees. These fees are also called dues. HOA Fees are mandatory and they can be expensive depending on the community and what the fees include. The fees in the Valdosta area can range from as low as $100 a year up to maybe $150 a month, or even more. That money goes towards your associations regular expenses and savings for future expenses, or the reserve. The more you pay, the more the association likely does in the community. Another con is that your hands will be somewhat tied if you want to make exterior changes to your home. HOA's have meticulous guidelines. And so you are usually required to submit a request before you make any exterior improvements to your property.

For a freedom loving person who cares more about personal liberty than the community aesthetics, an HOA can be a deal breaker. Another con is you'll lose some of your freedom when you live in a community governed by an HOA, you'll have to follow rules, even when you think they're ridiculous. However, homeowners always have the option of petitioning the homeowner's association to change any of the rules a majority of the residents don't agree with. To summarize, I hope these pros and cons regarding homeowner associations will help you decide whether an HOA is right for you. If there's a home located in an HOA community that catches your eye, make sure that HOA's declaration of covenants, conditions and restrictions are a part of the seller's disclosures, and be sure to read them.

Lastly, sit back and think about your needs, lifestyle, personal preferences, and budget. Having a community pool and clean park in the neighborhood is always appealing, but do you really need it? In case you are searching for a home, feel free to reach out to me so that we can look at the pros and cons of homeowners associations together. Give me a call at (229) 379-7205 or (229) 249-5339. And we can discuss the right type of home for you. I would be honored to be your trusted Valdosta realtor.

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Janice MacMillan, Broker
Signature Choice Realty, LLC #H-65906
2700 N Oak Street
Valdosta, GA 31602
Phone: 229.249.5339
Email: janice@signaturechoicerealty.com

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