Jane,

Unless you are a total rebel and hate rules, you should be glad to be in a subdivision with an association. It protects the value in setting strick rules on the maintenance of all the properties and what can be done to the homes. An example would be if the owner next door decided to paint his house purple with red shutters and hang the wash in the front yard, the association has the power to stop such behavior through enforcing the rules. HOA's are a good thing.

Sally W. Hamby
The Sally Team
Mortgages
404 644 7696

Hi Jane,

I have seen them starting around $450 all the way up to $1800 (Peachtree Manor in Sandy Springs has one listed right now stating $1800 HOA). It will depend on what that association fee covers (swim/tennis/clubhouse,etc.). Seems like most of them were in the $1000-$1500 range. They are typically mandatory, but each subdivision has it's own guidelines when it comes to HOA's. Does it have a negative affect on the market value of the house? I think that depends on the buyer. If the buyer isn't going to be one that uses the pool, tennis courts or clubhouse, then yes, he/she might find the HOA to be a negative. But being that most people want to have those amenities in their neighborhood, it is typically a plus!!!

I'd be glad to email you homes for sale in your price range in those areas.

Jodi Smith
Atlanta Real Estate Agent
Keller Williams Realty Consultants – Roswell, Georgia
678-763-6025
jodismith@kw.com
Tweet Me: http://twitter.com/JodiRSmith
http://positiverealestateprofessionals.com/jodismith/

Hi Jane,
HOA dues in a swim/tennis community are typically mandatory. Everyone in the neighborhood has access to the amenities and therefore shares in the cost of upkeep. A swim/tennis community has, on average, higher home values because the community features are seen as an upgrade. In the Roswell and Dunwoody area for HOA dues in swim/tennis communities start around $500 per year and go up from there depending, with an average cost of $700 per year.

Please let me know if I can help you with your home search :)

Jolie

Jolie Abreu, Realtor®
Keller Williams Realty Consultants
(678) 894-4409 Direct
(404) 704-0284 Fax
jolie@helpinghomes.net http://www.helpinghomes.net

Jane -
Welcome to Trulia! Thanks for posting here.

I don't think it's safe to say there is a common dollar figure for HOA fees - as the fees are generally representative of the number of homes paying in and the facilities they are maintaining. If there's an Olympic Size pool, 6 lighted tennis courts and 3 entrances to the subdivision, the cost to maintain is of course greater. I think it's also important to consider your lifestyle and if the Amenities are large enough to handle the number of residents wanting to use them at any one given time.

Most of these are mandatory - especially for a swim/tennis.

I would have to say that they HOA fees - generally speaking - should help to preserve or improve your home's value rather than be a hindrance to resale. The fees SHOULD be used to maintain the common areas and an active HOA makes sure that residents are keeping up their properties and not parking 4 cars in the yard and letting the weeds get knee deep. As with anything, this is great in theory but not always perfect in practice...

Your best bet is to talk to residents int he neighborhood about the HOA and how they like living there - not usually too hard to find people out in the community on a Saturday or Sunday - especially now that the kids are back in school.

Best of luck to you guys. Please feel free to reach out to me directly if you have specific questions about specific neighborhoods.

Lee
lee@leeadkins.net
404 966 3247
RE/MAX Greater Atlanta