09/09/2026
Some great information if you are thinking of buying a new home anytime soon!
đ Itâs back-to-school time, so todayâs lesson: HOAs 101. đĄ
And this lesson comes from a real-life situation that unfolded VERY quickly.
A client of mine purchased their home in July 2025. After realizing it wasnât quite the right space, they reached out several months ago to talk about selling and possibly buying something different.
What we didnât know? Their HOA had already started discussions about replacing a 500+ foot retaining wall â a project that could mean a significant special assessment for homeowners.
The project had been briefly mentioned in HOA meeting minutes before they purchased, but letâs be realâŚmost people arenât reading their HOA meeting minutes for fun or fully grasping whatâs being noted in the minutes.
Fast forward to this summer: an informational meeting was held in late June, a vote happened in July, and assessment funds were due by the middle of August.
Thatâs a pretty quick turnaround for a potentially BIG expense.
đ So whatâs todayâs homework?
đĄ Read your HOA meeting minutes and emails.
đĄ Attend a meeting every once in a while.
đĄ Before buying, review the HOA documents, financials, reserves and any upcoming projects or assessments.
đĄ Work with a Realtor who knows what questions to ask when an HOA is involved.
HOAs arenât necessarily a bad thing â they can provide great benefits and help maintain a community.
But when you buy a home with an HOA, youâre not just buying the house. Youâre also buying into the financial health, rules and future obligations of that association.
And that deserves a little homework, too. đđ
