70% of Homeowners Dislike HOAs

Approximately 85% of Americans are currently part of a homeowners association, but 70% would prefer to live without one, according to a recent Frontdoor survey. 

Of those who are part of an HOA, many reported having both good and bad experiences. Sixty percent said they have had positive experiences with their HOAs, and 54% said they have had negative ones. 

However, for the large majority, it seems the positives of HOAs don’t outweigh the negatives, as 1 in 3 said they have had an HOA experience that made them want to leave their community, and 63% would not recommend joining a neighborhood with one.  

The top negative HOA experiences included: 

1. Excessive or unreasonable HOA fees (63%) 
2. Inconsistent rule enforcement (53%) 
3. Poor communication or unresponsive board (40%) 

American homeowners pay an average of $150 in monthly HOA fees ($1,800 annually), and 35% of those surveyed felt their fees were not reasonable, while 39% did not believe they were used effectively and efficiently. Moreover, 51% reported their HOA fees increasing, and 65% said their fees change very or somewhat frequently. 

When it comes to HOA enforcement, over 1 in 6 reported being fined by their HOA, and 14% said their fine was unfair or excessive. Additionally: 

• 55% said they have HOAs that enforced rules they disagreed with  
• 22% said the communication between their HOA and homeowners was poor or terrible  
• 34% didn’t believe their HOA was fair in its enforcement of rules and regulations  
• 31% of respondents said their HOAs were imposing new rules or regulations very or somewhat frequently 

Homeowners found the most annoying HOA rules to be:  

1. Landscaping requirements (33%) 
2. What types of pets you can keep (23%) 
3. Construction or additions to your home’s exterior (22%) 
4. The type of fencing you can install (22%) 
5. How you must maintain your home’s exterior (22%) 

Still, HOAs provide some benefits. Respondents listed the top pros of HOAs as: 

1. Neighborhood appearance (66%) 
2. Property value/higher resale values (47%) 
3. Security and safety (41%)