Buying a House, But Don’t Want to Join the HOA? Here’s What You Can Do

One thing you knew when you began shopping for houses was this: You did not want any part of an HOA. But now you’ve found what you think is the home of your dreams, and it’s in a neighborhood with — you guessed it — an HOA. Can you refuse to join a homeowners association? Is that an option?

Glenda Gerbstadt and her teammate, Howard Watts, often work with buyers purchasing homes or condos subject to an HOA. Gerbstadt believes that the positives of an HOA, like having access to amenities that a homeowner couldn’t otherwise afford, outweigh the negatives. After all, “They’re going to be sharing the costs over a wide group of people; It makes it more affordable for their children to have a neighborhood pool or playground.”

Watts, however, understands that some buyers may not want to live with the restrictions of any HOA. If you’re a homebuyer on the fence about buying a home with an HOA, let’s investigate whether you can refuse to join it.