If someone told you that your home was going to be taken away from you if you didn't mow your grass to a certain height, weed your planter and pay them money every month, would you be upset? What if they offered insurance on the outside of your home, home warranty plans and a free community pool if you did it? If the thought of someone telling you what to do with your home and asking for monthly dues makes your skin crawl, living within a home in a homeowner's association may be a bad idea. However, if you looked at the perks and thought, "What a great deal!" then moving into a home that is under a homeowner's association may be the perfect opportunity for you! Read on while Landmark (the best company for home warranty plans) explains homeowner's associations.

If someone told you that your home was going to be taken away from you if you didn't mow your grass to a certain height, weed your planter and pay them money every month, would you be upset? What if they offered insurance on the outside of your home, home warranty plans and a free community pool if you did it? If the thought of someone telling you what to do with your home and asking for monthly dues makes your skin crawl, living within a home in a homeowner's association may be a bad idea. However, if you looked at the perks and thought, "What a great deal!" then moving into a home that is under a homeowner's association may be the perfect opportunity for you! Read on while Landmark (the best company for home warranty plans) explains homeowner's associations.

What is a Homeowner's Association?

Quite simply, if you purchase a home that is governed by a homeowner's association, you pay certain fees each month and follow certain rules. In return, the association provides certain amenities, like trash removal, community pools, or insurance on the home's structure and home warranty plans.  Some associations are strict, asking for specific grass heights, setting limits on when Christmas lights can be hung. Others are more lenient and only concerned about property values and want to make sure homes aren't painted a strange color.

If a homeowner purchases a home in a homeowner's association, and they don't subscribe to these rules or fall behind in their monthly dues, the association can take legal action against the homeowner.

What are CC&Rs?

CC&Rs or Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions are the documents that govern a homeowner's association. There is generally a governing board of directors who change and follow these CC&Rs. Some associations allow homeowners to amend these rules.

Some homeowner's association rules can be extreme and the governing body may determine seemingly personal things like, what window coverings a home can have in the neighborhood. Others just focus on providing yard maintenance, amenities, or public utilities to its association members.

All CC&Rs are different, and not all homeowner's associations will provide the same amenities. Some may provide home warranty plans for their homeowners and promise walking trails.  Others may require homeowners to purchase their own home warranty plans and provide insurance on the outside of the home. These rules and regulations are all a part of the CC&Rs. Homeowners should read these rules carefully before purchasing their home.

Legal Repercussions of Homeowner's Associations

If a homeowner does not pay his or her dues to the homeowner association, or doesn't follow the CC&Rs, the association can place a lien on the property, meaning that they own the property until the fees are paid or the rules are followed. They have full legal rights to do this.

Homeowner's Association Fees

On average, HOA fees are around $200 to $400 a month. These fees cover different things depending on the neighborhood. However, some of them cover landscaping, upkeep of pools, tennis courts or walking trails, blanket insurance, utilities, newsletters, legal counsel, security, home warranty plans or an association manager's salary.

Should you buy in an HOA?

So should you buy a home in an HOA? That is entirely up to you! Many individuals have no problem adhering to rules set forth on what their houses should look like, and enjoy the benefits of living within a HOA "“ whether it's for the pool, trash pickup, home warranty plans or landscaping. Other homeowners may decide that they want to do what they want with their homes, and have a hard time having a board of directors tell them what to do with their property.  (deleted that last sentence because it felt repetitive)

Although not every homeowner's association provides (or requires) home warranty plans on their homes, many homeowners purchase one anyway. Home warranty plans provide coverage for a home's failed systems and appliances, as long as they failed from normal wear and tear. These failed systems and appliances can be repaired or replaced with a service call fee with these home warranty plans.

For more information about home warranty plans, go to www.landmarkhw.com.