Just Who Are These HOAs

So who are these people that call themselves homeowner associations or HOA for short, who claim a portion of our paycheck once a month? In general, homeowners associations is the smallest form of government. It made its popular climb in the 1960s by a real estate developer for the purpose of developing and managing housing communities. It releases the developer from responsibility of the common areas in a development. Common areas include pools, tennis courts, entrance landscape, and other open areas. Condo homeowner associations include the roof and the outside structure of the buildings. Therefore, your money goes to the care and maintenance of these areas. But there is more to homeowner associations then taking your money for the purpose of a pretty neighborhood. Is there? Well, ok maybe not. But lets take a more in depth look inside homeowner associations.

Have you noticed that different homeowner associations charge different fees? This does not come from greed alone. There are other factors that go into a HOA fee. For instance, if your neighborhood comes with a community pool, well someone has to pay for the pool upkeep. Pools jack up homeowner associations fees. In short, the more amenities that comes with your community, the higher the fees.

Now lets get to know these folks who parade around the neighborhood with their homeowner associations title. Actually, that never happens. If you are new to a neighborhood you probably take for granted that they already exist. In fact, your only contact with them may be an annual letter in the mail briefly stating some of the unnoticeable changes in the neighborhood and an invoice with the amount you owe. But where do they come from? Well, that depends on your neighborhood ideology. Some homeowner associations are a dictatorship. It is controlled by one person who has the job until he or she gives it up. They get the job by simply volunteering and the job is theirs as long as no one objects. Others are more democratic. The community votes for a president and a panel. They have monthly meetings with the community where they vote on decisions regarding the maintenance of the neighborhood. This style is popular in communities with many amenities since there are more things to take care of, hence, more money transaction. In neighborhoods that just have a grassy common area there is not much to vote on so there it is nonsense to have a big government. Usually the fees pay for the taxes and upkeep on the land.

Besides financial decisions, homeowner associations make up the law of the community, but of course they cannot overstep the laws of the municipality. We are talking about minor laws, rules if you will. They do have the power to lobby the local government regarding neighborhood issues such as, speed limit, boat storage, and RV storage. Otherwise, they organize neighborhood watch teams, garage sales, and pool parties. Homeowner associations develop policies on animal waste clean up and the general hygiene of the neighborhood.

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Self Storage Property Management

Alaska