activities in which members can participate.  In a more practical sense, some communities offer community water and sewage disposal. This is a huge relief for those not wanting a well or septic system for which they will have to maintain or replace if there is a problem.  Road maintenance is yet another responsibility of the community. As a private enterprise, road maintenance and plowing are not done by the town, county or state, but rather by community.  A large part of community dues goes toward this.

This brings us to one of the things many dislike about communities…dues! Yes, all of the amenities and benefits are at a cost and this cost is shared by the members of the HOA.  Typically, the more amenities and the larger the community, the higher the dues.  Dues can run from a few hundred to a few thousand each year with the possibility of increases.  Dues, added to taxes, insurance and mortgage payments are sometimes enough to deter certain buyers from buying a home in a community.

Another deterrent are rules and regulations that are set by the HOA. In an effort to maintain certain standards, HOAs tend to restrict things which may be allowed outside of the community.  Cutting down trees on your property,  letting your dog go unleashed, permanent parking of commercial vehicles and RVs, renting, using your home as an airbnb or even things like hanging a clothes lines or putting up a  For Sale signs may not be allowed in many communities. It is important to know the rules and regulations and make sure you are a good fit.  For this reason, the seller is obligated to provide you with a resale packet, which included these rules and regulations after you have a signed contract.  

Remember that no two communities are alike. It is import to drive through different communities with your realtor to see them first hand. Remember that while some communities have lots of amenities and ongoing activities, others are  simply small developments where road maintenance is the only thing they share.