Look at the H.O.A. Rules Before You Buy

By Karen Bellas

Townhouse and condominium communities have Home Owners Associations (H.O.A.). These associations are responsible for the upkeep of the shared environments, pools and many times the external facade of the houses themselves. Fences are kept in repair, and hopefully free of graffiti, while parking lots are lighted and lawns mowed.

Condominiums have common rules for their owners. Family oriented complexes focus on the upkeep of shared recreation areas, prohibiting glass, alcohol and overly large and noisy groups. Those communities aimed for younger people look to keep noise under control, with recommended noise curfews.

Fees and Other Expectations of an H.O.A.

An HOA for a community does not operate for free. Fees are collected from the homeowners, usually by separate payment directly to the H.O.A.. The schedule of fees can be monthly when the fees are high, but more commonly when they are under $100 per month, they are paid every quarter or bi-annually in a similar time-line as taxes.

If you are living in a master-planned community, the value of the individual properties are closely tied to how well the townhouses are kept up and maintained. H.O.A.'s therefore have regulations on maintaining the homes in the community, as well as what colors or what types of ornaments are allowable.

When you choose to live in a townhouse community you really should be aware of what your rights are as provided by the H.O.A.. If the H.O.A. has assigned parking, there should be a company who is responsible for towing. What security does the H.O.A. provide? If you have a complaint about a neighbor (or they have one about you) how does the H.O.A. handle it?

When you look at the rules of an H.O.A., before buying make sure you can live with them. They may have rules for what kind of holiday decorations and how long they can be kept up. You may need to submit to the H.O.A. changes to your yard, landscaping and especially to your house.

Parking Rules in Your New H.O.A.

Does your H.O.A. allow an RV in your lot? Many communities restrict parking on the street, as well as how long a car or truck can be kept on blocks without moving it when it can be seen from the street. If you are moving into a newly built or unfinished community, does that boat you want conflict with rules from the H.O.A.? Many H.O.A.'s require you to lease a garage, or have a special driveway and gate.

If you drive a commercial vehicle (with a logo) make sure your H.O.A. doesn't have an issue with it. Many condos have rules against such trucks being parked in driveways and require special conditions to be met before they can be parked overnight.

Pool and general safety rules are always provided for in the rules of an H.O.A.. The Home Owners Association may also determine where one can park, skate or not skate, and when in public areas. Also what kind of pools and their size are regulated and to put a new one in almost always requires getting approval as does any change in the exterior of your property.

H.O.A.'s Collect Fees and Fines

Not only does the H.O.A. of your townhome collect fees for operating, the H.O.A. can also levy fines. Many use fines and other penalties for failure of a homeowner to live up the rules. These fines can be a lien on your house and prevent you from selling it until the fines are paid.

H.O.A.'s often have rules about pets. Many simply put limits on sizes (topping at 75 lbs) or breeds. Others put a limit on how many pets you may have, commonly this is three. H.O.A.'s also try to prohibit solicitation, newsletters, door to door sales people and missionaries. Some H.O.A.'s will even fine homeowners that put out neighborhood papers or go door to door.

One thing that people need to do is read the bylaws and rules of their H.O.A.. Simple things, like what plants are allowed, if they have contracts with anyone for extermination, landscaping, and more are all in the paperwork that the H.O.A. gives to each homeowner.

Make sure you find out what emergency numbers your H.O.A. provides besides the normal police, fire and emergency departments in your city. Does the H.O.A. provide other numbers for fumigating, or emergency pipe and plumbing repair? Also in their information packets are the contracts for exterior repair, emergency landscaping and sometimes appliance repair.

Is this the Right Community for You?

This sounds like a lot of things to look out for. Some people will find this too restrictive. Many others like the comfort of knowing that their concerns for the community are addressed by the H.O.A.. Which kind of person are you?

Real Estate in La Costa

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Simple Facts About H O A's

By Anita Koppens

Many home buyers like to purchase in some kind of subdivision. This can include any kind of gated community, a golf property, or a lake subdivision. The good thing about a subdivision is that they very often have amenities that you simply could not get at another type of community. Some subdivisions have their own shopping areas, jobs, schools, or even recreational areas. There are even community pools and parks in many of these communities. Walking trails and picnic areas are another popular amenity. There are also subdivisions that have tried to put together a neighborhood that would be inviting to a certain group of buyers, like an equestrian community or a community for retired people.

The one aspect that you will likely have to accept along with these bonuses is that most subdivisions have a set of rules that come with owning a property. These rules will be enforced by the home owners' association, or H O A. The authority given to the H O A varies from one community to another. One H O A may have very few rules, while others will tell you what colors you can paint your home or how many cars you can have on the street. If you are considering purchasing a home that is in a community with an H O A, take the time to find out what the rules are, and how vigorously they are imposed.

H O A rules vary from one neighborhood to the next. A subdivision will have different needs and wants depending on the location and the overall objective of the neighborhood. Some typical types of rules, which are known as covenants, include limitations on livestock, not allowing unregistered cars or even restrictions on holiday decorations. These rules are meant to give the subdivision a uniform look. That is why many of the restrictions include limitations on the color of the exterior of the house, or the size of new homes. This cohesive look helps to keep the value of homes in the subdivision from going down, because buyers like a uniform look. It also gives you security in knowing that your neighborhood will stay looking great. H O A's are meant to help protect your home as an investment.

While homeowners' associations are great for keeping up appearances, they can surely hinder your personal lifestyle if choose one which may have many rules and regulations which you don't concur with. If you dislike lawn care, then choosing a subdivision that requires lawns to be trimmed to a specific length may not be fit for you. The same is true if you have always wanted to own a horse. Many subdivisions and neighborhoods do not allow livestock. Therefore, it is important to understand the rules and regulations of any subdivision you are thinking of purchasing a property in. If you wait until after you have signed on the dotted line, you may find yourself resenting all of the rules imposed upon you and your home.

Locate a great golf course home in Arizona:Golf Community Scottsdale or in Texas: Willow Bend Golf Real Estate

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Buying Real Estate - Choosing the Best Neighborhood Can Mean Greater Appreciation in the Future

By Connie Ragen Green

Choosing a neighborhood to purchase a home is much like choosing a pair of shoes - it should be a good fit that will be comfortable for a long time - until you outgrow them or decide to have them resoled. This is an oversimplification, of course, but the idea is similar.

The neighborhood you decide on can make a huge difference in the experience you have with owning real estate. Choose wisely and can look forward to future appreciation in value. Choose poorly and you may be stuck with a home in an area where people are reluctant to purchase. Here are 5 questions to ask when choosing a neighborhood.

1. Is the neighborhood conforming? By this I mean are the home similar to each other in size, style, and age? Real estate property values tend to be more stable in areas where the homes have more similar than different amenities, rather than being a mixture of older and newer, one and two story, ranch style and colonial.
2. Is the neighborhood aesthetically pleasing? Are there tree-lined streets, underground utilities, and good setbacks (distance of the front of the houses from the street)? Is it enjoyable to look at when you are walking or driving down the streets?
3. Is the quality of construction above average or good? What types of roofs do the homes have? Is stucco or wood siding more common? Depending on the neighborhood, sometimes there are neighbors who know who the builder was if they are tract homes, or the architect if they are custom built homes. Try to find out if many of the residents in the neighborhood have an addition of any kind, like a sunroom or family room, or a pool.
4. What kinds of activities are there in the neighborhood? Is there a park or a school close by? Drive and walk around the neighborhood at various times and days. Are there people outside walking or playing with their children or dogs? What is the traffic like?
5. What types of facilities are close to the neighborhood? Is there any type of public transportation? Is it close to parks, shopping, employment centers, and other desirable venues? Is it close to the railroad tracks, an airport, or a factory?

By asking these questions and taking the time to check out the neighborhood, you can make a more informed decision as to whether this would be a desirable neighborhood for you to consider when purchasing a home. Remember that a wise, educated choice today will mean greater profits tomorrow.

Connie Ragen Green is a Real Estate Broker and State Certified Residential Appraiser in California and has bought and sold over 100 properties since 1983. Visit her at http://www.buyrealestateforprofit.com/ for more information about buying and selling real estate.

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