Related reading: Buying a Townhouse Versus a House: The Pros and Cons for Each The cons Violating the HOA agreement can cost you You get to enjoy those benefits as a community member without having to worry about their upkeep. If your development has shared amenities such as a pool, tennis courts, barbecue grills, picnic tables, or other community spaces, the HOA will likely maintain those.

Homeowners who don’t want to upset neighbors, or who don’t know the offending neighbor well enough to have a conversation about it, can report violations to the HOA, which will then address the problem. Not everyone is comfortable confronting their neighbors over a messy lawn, unsightly cars, or a shed that’s been installed too close to the mutual property line. Maintaining property value is at the top of the list of most HOA pros and cons lists. That’s reassuring for homebuyers who are concerned about their home retaining its value over time. Homes in HOA communities are usually built to a similar style, and homeowners agree to maintain the property to a certain standard. HOA pros and cons explained The pros Uniformity It’s important to know all of the HOA pros and cons before you choose where you’re going to live for the next several years so that you know that the HOA contract is something you can live with.

The houses are uniform, and you can assume your neighbors value the same aesthetics and maintenance standards as you.īut you’re also agreeing to a strict set of rules for how you’ll use your house – and breaking those rules can get quite expensive. Buying a property in a community with a homeowners association (HOA) can be a mixed blessing.

Breaking hoa covenants