Property Owners Associations - Good or Evil?

I suppose the answer to the title question depends upon your view. Will you give up some personal freedom to protect your properties value? If you want to have the old Chevy sitting in the front yard on cement blocks and thirteen hounds under the porch guarding it, a POA is not for you.

One of the benefits of a POA is collective bargaining. In one subdivision that I sell the POA does all of the mowing and edging. The cost is about 40% of having a lawn service do it. Of course if you want to maintain your own equipment and provide your own labor you can do it cheaper.

Another benefit is the enforcement of restrictive covenants to help protect your interest. Covenants control the appearance and use of adjoining properties.

What happens if you live in a subdivision with a POA and a neighbor violates the covenants? Once notified the board of directors of the POA will pursue the matter for your benefit. If it becomes necessary they will spend POA funds to hire an attorney to seek relief from the courts.

Suppose you live in a subdivision with restrictive covenants but without a property owner’s association. Enforcement will fall to an owner who decides the violation damages his interest sufficiently to require action. You will experience the stress of confronting your neighbor. Should you need to go to court the attorney will ask you to write a big check. Most won’t do that. Once restrictions are allowed to be violated without challenge they become almost impossible to enforce later. An active Property Owners Association can help continued enforcement of covenants.

Before purchasing check to see if the subdivision has a POA and the fees it charges. You need to determine if the Association’s goals and values line up with yours. If there isn’t association you need to weigh the risk and cost of enforcing covenants on your own. What freedoms will you sacrifice to protect the very large investment your home represents?

Property Owners Associations - Good or Evil? Only you can decide.

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