When you start
the process to purchase a condominium, townhouse or another type of
property in a planned development such as a gated community, often times you
are obligated to join that community's homeowners' association (HOA)
and pay monthly or annual HOA fees for the upkeep of common areas and the
building. At Century 21 Blue Marlin we have been in tune with these
organizations and have some light to shed on their influence on you as an
owner.
Living in
a home that is a part of an HOA means that the association gets to determine the
acceptable appearance for your home. The paint color, where you park your car,
how often you landscape or mow your lawn, and how you decorate your home’s
exterior for the holidays may all be scrutinized by the HOA. If all of these
rules seem reasonable to you and are in line with how you are likely to
maintain your home anyway, this community may be right for you. If not,
you may want to consider other housing options.
Love thy
neighbor? One advantage of an HOA is mediating disputes between neighbors. The
association will contact a neighbor about a noisy dog or loud party, alleviating
awkward neighborly interactions. And there may very well be a rule about noise
levels after hours that the association will be able to enforce.
You won’t
spend your Saturdays cleaning the pools with an HOA. HOA’s Homeowners handle
the upkeep of recreational areas so the pool and tennis courts in a
neighborhood are likely to be maintained in a good condition.
At the end
of the day, the decision to purchase a home with an HOA vs. one that does not
all comes down to personal preference. Many homeowners appreciate that HOA
rules often help maintain higher standards for a neighborhood's
appearance, but there's no question that you need to understand the regulations
and costs in every community where you're considering buying a home.
For more
information, give Century 21 Blue Marlin a call at (850) 837-7800 or browse our
inventory online at C21BlueMarlin.com.
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