Approximately 370,000 homeowners’ associations (HOAs) exist in the United States, overseeing 53% of owner-occupied homes and representing roughly 75.5 million residents, as of 2024.
While the intention of HOAs is designed to maintain property values and ensure well-managed communities for the benefit of their residents, they can also become expensive and cause frustration.
Recent data suggests that 70% of homeowners say if they were to buy a new home in the future, they would prefer a community without an HOA.
The findings come from an analysis of 2,500 Reddit submissions and over 200,000 comments about HOAs.
Many from Florida who commented on the Reddit site listed their top headaches they have with their own HOA.
The Most Complained Issues:
The majority of complaints (36%) focused on HOA actions and policies, such as restrictive rules, lack of transparency, overreach, and biased decision-making. These policies were the most frequently cited grievances in online forums.
Neighbor conflicts and financial concerns each accounted for approximately 14% of the complaints. Neighbor disputes included issues with noise, parking, pets, and trash management. Financial complaints centered on high fees and mismanagement of funds.
Condo/Apartment Concerns: Shared walls, guest parking, and rental regulations made up over 11% of grievances.
Freedom/Personal Rights: Complaints about restrictions on signs, outdoor activities, and surveillance made up 10%.
Aesthetic Disputes: Rules around fences, paint colors, and yard maintenance were a factor in 8% of complaints.
Maintenance Issues: Concerns about neglected repairs, landscaping, and security systems rounded out the list at 7%. Also, neighbor conflicts made up 13.9% of complaints, with common issues including noise, parking, shared spaces, and trash. However, HOAs are rarely held responsible for these disputes.
Real estate expert Cynthia Seifert, founder of lead generation tool KeyLeads, advises clients about HOA’s when buying a home or considering an investment
Seifert says to avoid fines from your HOA it’s important to review their bylaws whenever making a change to your property. Double check your HOA bylaws to prevent having to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars in fines.
“Before committing to a property, buyers should consider which state and what type of property they want to purchase to reduce their chances of running into issues with a HOA. Buyers should also carefully review HOA policies. It’s important to inquire about fees, common complaints, and rule enforcement,” said Seifert.
