Houston

[siamak_the_sain]

Hi , 

I have a question about HOA dues in Houston , Here in California there is no HOA for SIngle Family homes, only when you live in a community of town houses  or a condo u need to pay HOA , and it covers some insurance and part of  building and community ( like pool or BBQ;s , .... )  Maintenance , 

Can anyone tell me why  single family homes in Houston has HOA and what they cover ! 

[KNBrawner]

Hi, Homeowner Association's here charge yearly fees to cover neighborhood expenses such as; community pool and recreational facilities, entrance gates or esplanade upkeep, neighborhood security or patrol, parks or other community features shared by residents, monitoring deed restriction violations, and various community wide activities or necessities. Subdivisions with multiple features have larger HOA fees, verses subdivisions that offer little community benefits. I hope this helps! Feel free to contact me directly if you have additional questions, Kristen Brawner kbrawner@ZipRealty.com Mobile: 713-540-3038

[Lisa-Marie Lindberg]

Hi Siamak-

Kristen is absolutely right.

Just about all communities here have Homeowner's Associations and typically collect their dues annually.  These dues (unless collected monthly) are not a part of your mortgage payment, if financing, but are usually a separate bill sent at the end or beginning of the year.

Fees from what I've seen range from about $200-$1,100/year on average depending on the community and usually relative to the price range.

You can avoid the homeowner's dues by purchasing unrestricted properties (usually a bit more out of town) but as with any purchase should way the benefits and challenges.  Typically homes in restricted communities retain value better than unrestricted.

Hope this helps and let us know if you have any more questions!  

[SherryH]

The dues also cover things like gates (if the subdivision has them), street lights, and administrative costs for the Board of Directors.

[kiekie1]

I understand what the HOA fees are for, but why should a HOA have the right to foreclose on a person's home for paying the fees. I can understand maybe a judgement, but not a foreclosure. Do these fees hold any position on the mortgage at all? I'm trying to understand the right that it has to place a foreclosure. Thanks

[Dana805]

So if a home on this ziprealty website states Hoa Dues: 375 ....this is annually or monthly?

[KNBrawner]

It will be a yearly amount for a single-family home and a monthly amount fo a townhome or condo.

[Roy Ion]

Yes, in Texas, first of all, the dues quoted are "annual", whereas in many states, the price quoted is "monthly".

The fees for the Home Owners Association normally cover upkeep of the neighborhoord including landscaping.

Also normally includes garbage pick up and perhaps cable connection& swimming pool maintenance.

Annual dues can range from $250 to $900 per year, depending on the facilities and quality of the area. For

specifics on a home of interest, best to ask your Zip agent to check on it for you.

[homeseeker]

I can relate to what your saying also because, I came from a city that doesn't have dues like this soooo wide spread close to the city!  What i don't like is some poeple saying that the houses, condos, or duplexes hold value better then the unrestricted single family homes outside the city limits!  How is that so when you find urself next to a few neighbors that don"t care how they live or their yard looks and dares you to tell them something about it!  Safety, what safety!  The gates don't mean nothing if someone wants to just evade the whole neighborhood!  I'll just stick to the basic property taxes at the end of the yard and no risk paying for something that you can"t always rely on. Hope you find what works for you because, HOA doesn't work for me!

[BStelma]

What I'm confused with is that Texas is a foreclosure explosion...and there are HOA's everywhere yet the homes appear to be in disrepair. So what does the HOA really do but set up regulations, restrictions and alienation. I suppose the ultimate purpose is to take money and impose their will while really doing nothing. I'm continually reminded of Bentley Little's book, "The Association" which is a wonderful Horror novel