Review The HOA Rules BEFORE You Purchase Your Warren County Home
We see it often on the subdivision Facebook groups, something to the effect of "I HATE these HOA rules!", and often followed by "If I'd have known what the rules were like I wouldn't have bought this house!". The reality is subdivisions have HOA rules and regs to keep things neat and orderly and to protect values. You might even find out some country homes also have covenants and restrictions for the same reasons.
Now if you're buying without a REALTOR(R) assisting you, the HOA rules might get overlooked. It's natural to be focused on the house, the pricing, what conveys and what doesn't, details like that during negotiations. However, there's a clause in the Cincinnati Area Board of Realtors(R) standard contract that allows for buyer review of the HOA rules & regs. Typically the seller has 3 days from time of accepted contract to provide the buyer a complete copy for review. The buyer then has the option to review the rules and find out if there are any deal killers in the deal:
- Can you have a shed? If so, where on the lot?
- Can you have a fence? What kind?
- Can you build a detached garage? What are the requirements?
- How long can you park what and where? Got a boat? Camper? RV?
- Is there only ONE authorized color for the mailbox? Sorry, but Cleveland Brown orange is NOT it!
HOA rules vary significantly from community to community, as does enforcement. A few suggestions for finding out which type of community you're considering:
- Talk to the residents.
- Take a look at the neighborhood. What do you see? Well-kept or obviously a bit "loosey goosey"?
- Facebook. Is there a community group on Facebook? If so, read the board. You'll quickly get a pulse of the pros and cons of the neighborhood straight from the horse's mouth.
Bottom line, AFTER you're in your home is the wrong time to find out that you can't do something you HAVE to do. Read the HOA rules and regs during your contract phase. Drink 3 cups of coffee if you have to, because most HOA documents will cure the worst case of insomnia, but reading and understanding what you're getting into will avoid those post purchase regrets! And if you have questions, ASK! Get clarification BEFORE you've lost the right to leave the deal.
Serving Warren County's residential real estate needs,
Liz and Bill aka BLiz
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