Homeowners Associations in Florida

Thinking of moving within the State of Florida, buying a home, consider buying into an HOA or not?

HOAs were established to protect the value of home ownership of property within a community subdivision. By setting rules, regulations, and by-laws. HOAs are established by the builder and turned over to the association to maintain the appearance and desirability of the neighborhood. The HOA is very useful in areas where zoning is not strictly enforced. And beneficial in many other ways aside from the obvious. Such as prohibiting owners from painting their home zebra stripped or digging war trenches in the front yard.  The HOA ensures a uniform front and all-around continuity of homes and landscaping keeping the property value up.

It also helps if difficulty arises from one or more owners effecting your right to quite enjoyment. Such as having loud parties or illegal parking or any other host of community violations.  Complaints are dealt with through the HOA and usually enforced through their management company leaving you without having to deal with this yourself. This is an asset to the community because there is no need for one owner to confront another owner. Hence a more peaceful environment.

There are different types of HOA we are exploring these two, fee maintenance structure mandatory and Civic voluntary fee. Fees depend largely on the amenities the neighborhood must maintain. Such as club house pool, tennis court, playground, or park that would be in line for fee structure.  Those amities is partly how the maintenance fee is arrived at. A voluntary HOA has a fee established but is not mandatory. It may be equated by percentage, paying homeowners against the cost usually to maintain the entrances. Most times this type of HOA will raise funds by holding events when for example they may need a new front sign.

Mandatory HOA include with the membership fee the cost of litigation. This litigation mostly is against its members who fall short of their association’s mandatory requirements. A management companies fees would also be added to the cost of association fees that we discussed in the amenities on a mandatory structured HOA.

Many HOAs schedule community fun days, fireworks, parades, garage sales, barbeques. The concept of playing together and socializing helps the bond between neighbors which hopefully leads to community involvement and cooperation in keeping the community attractive and congenial. Its like we all are in this together comradery. Of course, on fee structured with amenities playing a large role in the cost there will be homeowners who think the amenities are not worth the cost and a waste of money. That would represent a problem for that homeowner with either the cost or the psychological thought of paying upkeep on something they considered unwanted. Both those negatives can be done away with by investigating the homeownership requirements in the community before you buy into the situation.

On the same coin an HOA is run by an elected board. It could be an outstanding board of directors or the opposite. The opposite may start by hefty fines, favored policy enforcement. Issues such as these can quickly elevate and lead to disquiet among or against one’s neighbor. Unfortunately, this is not apparent or even may not be happening at the time of your purchase. A remedy is that the board is elected by the unit homeowners and can be voted out. What should be considered in that case is your involvement, if enough of the unit holders want change, they will need people to run for that board position which maybe time consuming and is without pay but is rewarding. Giving you the ability and a say in how things are handled. This process is also time consuming, but the homeowners can make change happen. And when that happens the community at large is better because of owner involvement. 

There are many pros and cons on this subject much more than what’s written here. It all boils down to what place, property, community gives you more of what you desire and still be tolerant with the not so good part of it, (if there is that part). Happy home hunting!e body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.