Homeowner’s Associations (HOA) were first developed in the 1980s as a means to help retain order and visual appeal in new communities that were being developed. To this day, HOA rules and regulations determine things like the color you can paint the home’s exterior, restrictions on building additions, how front yards should be maintained, and even prevent owners from parking broken down cars in their front yards. These regulations give owners, as well as potential buyers, the assurance that homes in the community will retain their value over time.
Living in an HOA community requires that you adhere to the rules, and that you make financial contributions to the association in the form of fees. If residents violate rules, the association steps in by enforcing violations, penalties and fees, and even legal action if it becomes necessary.
Every owner is generally given HOA rules to read prior to the purchase transaction, and even in cases where they aren’t, they must oblige by the rules if they purchase a home in the community. Issues generally only tend to crop up for people who don’t read these rules and purchase a home in the community, only to break the rules in the future.
So if you decide to buy property in an HOA community, make sure you read all rules prior to signing the paperwork. If you don’t agree with or like the rules, you should probably consider purchasing a home elsewhere.
But for those of you who already live in an HOA community and don’t agree with how the board of directors enforces the rules, there’s hope! HOA communities are run like a democracy, so the homeowners can rule the board members in and out, allowing changes to be made when necessary.
Anyone who is a member-owner can run to be elected as a board member; the only requirement is to get sufficient votes from fellow homeowners. Unfortunately, a lot of homeowners in HOA communities don’t attend board meetings and simply complain about the board (most of whom are volunteers), the rules, the fees, and how the HOA is run.
So our best advice for those who live in an HOA community and don’t like the rules? Get involved! Run to be elected as a board member, get on board, and make positive changes and reinforcements in your community!
At Title Junction we care about helping you stay informed throughout your real estate transaction. Have questions? Give us a call at 239.415.6574.
In case you missed it, check out our last Title Junction post: Understanding Wills and Trusts