HOA vs Non-HOA Pros and Cons When Buying a Home In St. Louis
HOA vs Non-HOA Properties
The pros and cons debate of living in a housing development with a homeowner’s association (HOA) has been going on for decades. Ever since the first master-planned communities first started appearing in the 1960s, home buyers have had to decide if the advantages of a HOA outweighed some of the disadvantages. As with most aspects of home buying, the final answer is that it’s a personal preference, but there are some important considerations that should be discussed before buying a St Louis property with a HOA. Prospective buyers will be provided a document of CC & Rs (covenants, conditions and restrictions) which outline the specifics and they should be carefully reviewed.
HOA Benefits
There are many benefits to owning a home in St. Louis with a HOA. The same restrictions and rules that you might find limiting also limits your neighbors. Perhaps you can’t tell the difference between one beige house color and the approved beige house color, but that same rule prevents your neighbor from painting their house purple.
- Community appearance and standards
All aspects of the community will be monitored by the HOA. Not only house colors, but also landscaping, tree height and other design elements must be approved by the HOA review board. Often the community will include neighborhood parks and greenbelts which are maintained by the HOA as well as other amenities like swimming pools, sports courts and exercise facilities. - Low Maintenance Costs
Depending on the HOA, often the front yard landscaping and other maintenance tasks will be handled by the HOA. These can include services such as trash, snow removal, water and some even offer cable and internet. - Association Management
The HOA management control varies from one association to another, but all provide some level of authority over the community. Disputes might otherwise land in court are often revolved by a review board with the authority to make final decisions. - Higher Home Values
Home values are often higher in housing development with a HOA than those without. The HOA will have policies in place to prevent a property or area to become neglected or unattractive. This keeps the neighborhood looking better than those without and attracts home buyers.
Design restrictions
First and foremost, the HOA will have restrictions on how the exterior of a home and the lot appear. The goal is to create a sense of unity and harmony in the neighborhood appearance. This could include something simple like approved house colors, or the ability to fly a flag in the front yard.
HOA vs Non-HOA Pros and Cons When Buying a Home In St. Louis
