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HOA Guides

Start with the question you actually have. Each guide explains the usual path, the papers to read, and where state law changes the answer.

Fees & money

Dues, budgets, and special assessments

HOA Basics

What Are HOA Fees?

Learn what HOA fees are, what they cover, and how they're set.

3 min read

Fees & Money

Special Assessments

What a special assessment is, when a board can charge one, and what to ask before you pay.

2 min read

Rules & governing documents

CC&Rs, bylaws, and house rules

HOA Rules

Understanding HOA Rules

Find out what kinds of rules HOAs can make and your rights as a homeowner.

3 min read

HOA Rules

CC&Rs, Bylaws, and Rules

The stack of papers that actually govern your HOA, and which one wins when they disagree.

2 min read

Violations, fines & liens

Notices, hearings, and what comes next

Conflict Resolution

Dealing with HOA Fines

Learn when fines are legal, how to challenge them, and what to do next.

3 min read

Enforcement

HOA Liens and Foreclosure

How an association puts a lien on a home, when a fine can become one, and why assessment debt is the dangerous kind.

2 min read

Boards, meetings & records

How the association is supposed to run

Records

Requesting HOA Records

How to ask for budgets, contracts, and minutes, and what state law usually requires the association to produce.

2 min read

Governance

HOA Meetings and Elections

Board meetings, annual meetings, notice, owner comment, and what a fair election looks like on paper.

2 min read

Buying, selling & rentals

Before you sign, lease, or close

Buying

Buying a Home in an HOA

What to read before you waive a contingency, and which resale papers actually tell you the cost.

2 min read

Rentals

Renting in an HOA

Rental caps, minimum lease terms, and why your tenant's violation is still your problem.

2 min read

Disputes & attorneys

When a letter is enough, and when it is not

Legal Support

Finding an HOA Attorney

Get tips on when you need a lawyer, how to find the right one, and what to expect.

3 min read

Disputes

Responding to a Violation Notice

What to do in the first few days after an HOA violation letter, before a fine hardens into a ledger entry.

2 min read