CHAPTER 11 BUYING A HOME IN A COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION While managing Homeowner Associations (HOA’s) for 10 years, I saw so many instances of people buying into a situation that they didn’t understand. That’s why I wanted to add this section to my book. Association living is great for many reasons and for many people, but it isn’t for everyone! Florida is second only to California when it comes to the number of Community Associations in our state. Over 9 million Florida residents live in Community Associations. This means that if you are looking for a home to purchase, chances are many of the showings you attend will be part of one. I can’t stress how incredibly important it is for a buyer to understand what it means to be part of an Association before purchasing a home in one! The purpose of a Homeowners Association (HOA) or Condominium Owners Association (COA) is to enforce the very detailed Governing Documents that are established by the Developer/Builder prior to the construction of the community and any Community Rules that get established once the Developer/Builder turns the Association over to the homeowners upon completion. These rules are enforced by a Board of Directors that is made up of homeowners (typically 3, 5 or 7) that have been elected by the other members of the Association at an Annual Meeting of the Membership. The main objective in enforcing the rules, is to maintain a neighborhood where common areas are well maintained, and home values are stable due to good home maintenance throughout the community. If you are someone who mows, trims, edges, paints, and makes regular repairs as needed, you may really appreciate Association life. If not, be careful!
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