When a property is developed into a new subdivision or a condominium usually a Homeowners Association is formed to care for the common areas of the project as well to enforce the covenants, conditions and restrictions of the project (CC&R’s). Some of the times a management company is hired by the Home Owner’s Association to collect the dues and pay the bills to miscellaneous sub-contractors and utility companies.
The Home Owner’s Association will hold regular meetings and discuss the issues that come up in a community ranging from general maintenance that needs to be done to loud neighbors and barking dogs. Generally there are some rules or restrictions in a community to keep a certain continuity or maintenance level in a community and if an owner doesn’t follow the rules there are usually consequences. The most common consequence is a warning 1 to 3 times and then usually fines are levied against the offender and if the fines are ignored they are usually followed up with liens against the owner’s property.
It is important to carefully research the property you are looking at buying to see if there are any CC&R’s for the community and if there is an active Home Owner’s Association. This information can be obtained from your Real Estate Agent through a title report and copies from the public record. Some communities keep their associations very active and keep things maintained and looking good for a very long time; other communities let the association dis-band and do not enforce their CCR”S and sometimes in those communities it’s “anything goes”.
So remember to do your homework prior to buying so there won’t be any surprises once you move in and want to raise that livestock or even park that motor home in front of your house. A Home Owner’s Association and CC&R’s are not for everyone but they do work well for others.
John Wahl
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