The Homeowners Association or HOA is an agreement among the homeowners in a community or a development. This agreement implies paying a fee to take care of the common areas. These areas usually cover the pool, spa, the common area for events, walking paths and gardens, among others.
When moving or buying a new home in Mexico, it is important to be familiar with the HOA and understand the regulations. Keep in mind that it’s not just about paying your fees, but it also implies some participation in the management of your community. And although the rules may vary from one community to another, there are basic terms that apply to every HOA.
The HOA Cost
Each development sets a fee depending on the services and amenities they provide, and this fee goes on as long as you live in the community. The amount can vary, and it is typically a monthly payment, but some communities ask for a single installment at the beginning of the year. Make sure to find out the payment conditions of your community and consider this expense in your budget. Usually, there is some sort of penalization for those homeowners who don’t cover their fees or who get behind in their payments.
What is covered by the HOA fee
It is important to know where your money is going. When you purchase a property directly from the developer, you will probably be informed about what is covered by your fee; in a resale, ask the seller for this info so you know what you can expect. Usually the common areas are covered, this includes general maintenance, landscaping and grass cutting. If there’s a pool in your community, the maintenance is also included. You can ask for a monthly report which explains what was covered by the HOA fee during that period of time. Once you know what is covered, you can evaluate if the HOA fee has a reasonable price.
The Rules
The members of the Homeowners Association usually develops a guidebook, which includes all the regulations for the community. These regulations imply schedules, such as the time when you can use specific facilities such as the pool, or how late you can have a party in the common areas. It also includes rules for using the facilities, like cleaning up after your dog, not using glass around the pool area, not hanging clothes in the terraces, etc. Moreover, rules that also apply regarding guests, parking spaces, pets and hours to place the trash out. Again, each community sets different rules. You can freely consult the guidebook and have a clear idea of what to expect as a resident.
Building Standards
Even when it is common to think of a HOA in a context of a condomonium, it involves more. It also applies in private residential developments and gated communities with single homes. In these cases, some HOA dictate building standards that ensure that the community keeps the original style or design. For instance, some communities demand to have the same color schemes in the front building. As a result, every house looks like a part of the community.
These standards may include allowed color schemes, designs, amount of square meters of construction, minimal depth of the front yard; among other regulations that every homeowner should take in consideration.
Join the HOA
Everything can be improved and new decisions can be made based on the requests of the homeowners. If any request or complaint show up, you can suggest some changes. Commonly, the HOA sets up monthly meetings, but it’s also usual to have only two meetings per year. In these meetings the members of the board inform the residents about the management of the community and clear up any disagreements. You can request to be a part of the committee!
These are 5 basic facts you need to know about the HOA. We suggest you to get familiar with the regulations of your community in order to avoid any infringement. Also, having full knowledge of the rules will allow you to have a good relation with all your neighbors!
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