Understand HOA Limitations Before Buying Your First Townhome

Purchasing your first townhome can come with some questions about what will be involved in home ownership. If you're worried about the steps involved with buying a townhome and being a part of a homeowner association (HOA), you need to see what to expect from an HOA after moving in.

Before committing to any townhome and the HOA it belongs to, consider the following questions you can ask and how involved the homeowner association will be.

Ask About Maintenance Included

When you're eager to buy a home for the first time, it can feel confusing to determine what kind of maintenance is expected to be done by the homeowner. Since some maintenance involved in homeownership is still the owner's responsibility, others are the responsibility of the HOA. You want to be clear about what you need to do as the owner of a townhome compared to a single-family home.

Consider Pet Limits

If you're somebody that enjoys having pets, you need to consider that there can be rules over whether there's a limit to the number of pets you can have. You could also run into restrictions over what kind of breed your dog is or the size of an aquarium you can have. Since being part of a homeowner association can come with regulations to follow about pets, you need to understand this all fully before you go ahead with signing a lease.

Check Any Remodeling Rules

While the exterior of a townhome can look fairly similar to a house, as well as the interior matching your typical home, there can be strict rules over whether expensive remodeling is allowed or not. Before you buy a home with the intention to remodel it to make it your own, you need to check for any restrictions.

Some townhomes could be in a fixer-upper condition, making them appealing to remodel and make it your own. With this in mind, you'll need to understand whether there are some rules that you'll need to follow. At the very least, you'll likely need to get permission and a permit from the homeowner association before any major remodeling work is done

As you prepare to purchase a townhome, it's important that you're aware of all the expenses involved and what makes the most sense for your needs. Since townhomes can be less maintenance but have more rules, it's best to be selective and see what to expect from the homeowner association. 

Contact a local real estate agent to learn more about townhomes for sale.


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