My First Time Buyer Said, "No Homes With An HOA"

I drove by the home at the right (there is one farther back) in early Spring and it jogged my memory about a situation I encountered last year.

I was showing homes to a first time buyer couple. They had told me they preferred homes where there was no homeowner's association with monthly fees

• Since they were moving from a small apartment they wanted that money to help furnish their first home
• He was a tradesman and brought his company pamel truck home each night
  
  

• I drove up to a little Cape Cod with dormers, picket fence with roses, fireplace and an American flag. The interior was quaint with lots of cute nooks and crannies plus a built-in corner hutch in the dining room.  I knew they had fallen in love with it - they were holding hands as they took the tour

They asked to tour the neighborhood to "get a feel" for it. Of course, they commented on the  "cosmetically and physically challenged" homes a few blocks away.

After all

• The lack of an HOA set up the conditions for derelict houses in the subdivision
• one of the neat houses within eyesight of the home they were interested in could go "rogue"

There are many reasons people may prefer  a home without an HOA.  However, these were first time buyers with no experience.  They were looking to me for direction in light of the fact they had what they perceived as  unchangeable limitations.

My husband and I have assisted many first time buyers during the 38 years we have been in the business.  We will counsel them thoroughly on the pros and cons of purchasing a home where there is no architectural or use control provided by a homeowner's association.  It is the type of counseling we would want a REALTOR® to give our first time buyer children if we were out of the area and unable to counsel them in the decision.

They finally decided a home in a subdivision would serve their investment better.  The decision is yours - we have a responsibility to delineate the pros and cons of each

Experience Isn’t Expensive – It’s PRICELESS

If you plan to buy or sell a Prince William County home or property contact Karen and Art by Email or call us at 703-499-9279. Put our record of customer service, real estate experience and state-of-the-art technology to work for you in Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Prince William County, Stafford County or the entire Northern Virginia Area.

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