Homeowners associations (HOAs): The pros, disadvantages and what you need to know

By Bricksnwall | 2026-05-09

Sometimes the homeowners association (HOA) gets a bad rap. Perhaps you’ve heard of a meddling HOA giving out fines for having grass that was too tall. But what is a homeowners association and why do communities have one? Are they really trying to get you with all these rules?

What is a homeowners' association?

A homeowners association (HOA) is an organization that represents a group of owners of properties. These dwellings could be condominiums in a high-rise, a row of townhouses or a community of detached homes. If you buy a home in a community with a HOA, you will normally instantly become a member of that HOA.

An HOA collects dues from its members and utilizes the money to pay for shared services. The HOA will have a governing board of directors selected from among its members that decides how to spend the cash and enforces that its members abide by the HOA regulations. The HOA board may also sponsor social activities throughout the year.

What amenities does a typical HOA offer?

HOAs collect dues to give benefits back to the community. If your HOA doesn’t do much, then your dues will probably be modest, but the more services and upkeep that is offered, the higher that number is going to be.

Typical amenities can vary by style of residence and may include:

Keeping common areas clean and maintained, such as a lobby in a condo complex or street corners in a community. Maintenance of shared roadways and parking areas including snow removal. Trimming trees and cutting grass in neighborhood lawns and parks. Pool and/or exercise facility maintenance. Staffing a gym, pool, or condo building.

Does my HOA have regulations about my property?

HOAs are there to control a group of homeowners and that government usually has regulations.

Every homeowner appreciates different things:

Some individuals don’t mind noisy dogs, but don’t want to see an unpainted garage from their neighbor. You may prefer a privacy fence while your neighbor wants open properties.

It is hard to make everybody pleased with a common set of rules. If you’re the sort who balks at any kind of limitation, you might feel that having a HOA is excessively restrictive, especially because many HOAs levy fines if you disobey the regulations. However, if you like to live in a well-maintained area, you might find a HOA a beneficial thing, especially if the restrictions keep your property value higher.

Typical HOA limitations include:

Home maintenance and upkeep.

How many cars are in front of your house or even in your driveway.

Renting out your home as a short-term rental.

Height of grass on your lawn or weeds on your property.

Some things like washing lines or sheds that are not visible from the street.

Types of animals permitted on the premises.

The HOA may also ask you to get clearance before you change the color of your home or make modifications to your property, such as putting up a deck or fence.

Pros and Cons of HOA

There are advantages and disadvantages to HOA membership. Whether the positives exceed the cons is a matter of personal preference. Of course, if you have to live in a given region because it’s convenient to your job, or it’s what you can afford, you’ll have to learn to live with the cons.

PROS

An HOA is often the only option to have certain amenities like a common pool or a door person.

Some of the maintenance is covered by HOA dues that you don’t have to pay for on your own.

Shared regulations help to keep your area looking good.

CONS

You may not use the amenities you pay for.

Add in the dues to your other housing expenditures and they could be more than you can afford.

You may be prevented from doing things you want to do, such as erecting a tall fence orraisinghens.

Should You Get Involved With the HOA Board?

Your HOA will have a volunteer board of directors. Common board roles and committee

Chairs include:

President

Vice president

Secretary

Treasurer

Social committee chair

Architectural control chair

Pool, Gym, Landscaping or other seating

“Most likely, elections will be held for these board positions. The board should have meetings, perhaps monthly, that any HOA member can attend. The board will normally send you written correspondence, at least once a year. This letter should include a record of what your HOA dues have been spent for, and a budget for the coming year.

Your HOA may also have an independent management organization that may collect HOA dues, issue tickets for disobeying the HOA regulations, or manage the pool.

Come to meetings, think about running for a board spot if you want your opinions to be heard. Volunteering on a board may be hard work, but it may be satisfying to make a difference for all the residents of your community.

Can I continue to use HOA advantages if I rent?

Some HOAs don’t permit tenants, but even if the owner isn’t living in the home at the time, they still have to pay HOA dues. As a tenant of an HOA property, you are generally extended the privileges and duties of membership. You’ll be required to adhere by the HOA laws as part of your lease and will also have access to all HOA amenities and privileges. Be sure to receive the pool fob or gym access code from your property owner.

Bottom line
 

When purchasing a home, remember to factor in homeowners association fees into your monthly housing budget. Are you ever going to use something that HOA provides?

Your real estate agent can generally get the HOA regulations for you to look over before you make an offer on a property. Make sure you can live with whatever criteria before you buy.

Buy a property with a HOA and enjoy the perks that come with it. Welcome to your new neighborhood, and meet your neighbors. And if you want to modify the regulations or the way your HOA runs, get engaged on the board. But nobody appreciates a whiner who won't stand up and pitch in.