Home Owner Association Living TIPS!

I have lived in a Home Owner Association (HOA) for my entire adult life. I love living in a community and serving it. What I do not like is the GREAT MISUNDERSTANDING that comes along with living in a HOA community. People do not understand fully what their HOA Dues pay for, they do not understand the Rules and Regulations, or the CC&R's.  So my goal as a real estate professional is to teach those who I sell a home to in a HOA is to encourage them to study and learn all they can about their little community within a community.

So with this blog I am going to get you thinking about the HOA items you would want to look into and we will discuss HOA's over the next few posts. 

Before you even buy a home you have what is called a Due Diligence Period. During this time your Real Estate Agent and the Title Company should provide to you, Rules and Regulations, CC&R (Covenants Conditions and Restrictions), the Annual Budget and Finances, and Minutes to the Meetings. You should use this Due Diligence period to review all this information. That is your responsibility as a future homeowner. You want to know all you can about the place you are moving into. You want to know what you can, and cannot do. You want to know how big of a dog you can have, how many, what is restricted, what is expected of you as an owner. If you fail to do this, then it is not the HOA or the Boards fault for letting you know you are in violation of those rules. Because in all honesty when you bought your house and signed all those papers, one of them states, you agree to abide by the Rules and CC&R's set fourth in that community. You are not above anyone else in that regard. Be respectful and mindful of those you are living in close quarters with and follow those rules. And if they seem to restrictive for you... BACK OUT OF THE DEAL that is what Due Diligence is for.

What are your dues actually paying for? What insurance coverage does the HOA have? What kind of policy would you need to get? How much GAP coverage should you have?  What amenities and benefits are you receiving from those dues? Who is on your HOA Board? When are the meetings? How can you get involved in the community?

The above questions are things I actually ask for myself when I decide to move. I encourage all homeowners in a HOA community to SERVE on your HOA Board for one term or on a committee in some capacity. It is quite the eye opener. Yes you are sacrificing a little bit of time but it is for the good of the community. You are making the decisions to help not only your home value but your neighbors as well. And you will get to know your neighbors and become more involved in the community and that is always a good feeling. Service is great, when you serve others, you serve your soul.

When you choose not to involve yourself in the community in any other way except to COMPLAIN constantly about what is or is not being done it can be upsetting to those who are serving you. Because being on the HOA Board can sometimes be a thankless job. But your Board Members they are trying, but they need your help as an individual homeowner to get involved and help make things better. Being an arm chair quarterback is not getting things done.

So in my next blog post we will go over a Sample Budget of what HOA dues pay for and break that all down.

In the mean time if you have questions please ask. I am happy to get an answer out to you.

Emily Jones Real Estate Agent Keller Williams Utah Realtors!