There are all kinds of communities to choose from. Some are gated, some have ponds and beautiful entryways, some have a clubhouse or pool access, some even take on yardwork or snow plowing responsibilities too! But someone must maintain those things. Generally, the more amenities that a community has, the more you will pay to live there. And usually the money to maintain those communities is paid by the people living there through Home Owners’ Association dues, commonly referred to as the “HOA”.
HOAs can set requirements for size and style of homes, material on the home as well as landscaping requirements. Some communities require specific types of siding or roofing material, they may have monotony codes or even have an architectural review committee. Any requirements may be different than what your builder offers as “standards features” and you don’t want to be surprised later on when more brick or stone (for example) is required. It would be important to know these facts before buying property there because a “picky” HOA could require things in and around your home that you aren’t prepared for.
You will oftentimes find that the HOA can also dictate what is or isn’t allowed in the community. You’ll want to know if you can have swing sets, clothes lines or sheds on your property. The types and heights of fences that are allowed is commonly restricted. Some even dictate how many pets and the types of animals that are allowed in each home. If you plan to put in a swimming pool or hot tub, you’ll want to know that they are allowed and if there are restrictions on them as well. These are things that could affect your “perfect” lifestyle. Research is key!
For those looking for wide open spaces, you may not have community HOAs to set your limits, but you might not have readily accessible sewer and water, which will mean well and/or septic. Talk to us about how determine what your property requires. 10-acres of land is a beautiful thing, but you may need to invest in a riding lawn mower and a truck with a snow plow if you have a long driveway… just some things to think about!
Walk out and look out homesites are nice to have as well! Generally, those homesites are fewer and farther between, so they are referred to as “premium sites”. Same goes for homesites backing to ponds, forest preserves, cul-de-sac properties and even golf course properties.
Many of the factors above can impact budget and availability, but with our help you'll find the perfect property for your family!
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