What Would it Be Like If HOA Boards Didn’t Exist?

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What Would it Be Like If HOA Boards Didn’t Exist?

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Iconic folk singer Joni Mitchell’s 1970 hit “Big Yellow Taxi” reminds us that sometimes “you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.” Sure, Mitchell was begging people to preserve nature, but the principle – that there is often great value in everyday things we don’t stop to consider or appreciate – applies to many areas of life. Yes, even your HOA board!

According to the Community Associations Institute (CAI), as of 2020, more than 74.1 million Americans resided in planned communities. All of these communities—more than 355,000 nationally—share a few essential goals—preserving the nature and character of the community, providing services and amenities to residents, protecting property values and meeting the established expectations of owners.

And a March 2020 survey by Zogby Analytics for Foundation for Community Association Research, affirms that “by large majorities, most residents rate their overall community experience as positive or, at worst, neutral.” Residents believe that “their association board members serve the best interests of their communities.”

If those numbers – and the impressive growth of homeowners groups across the nation through the last several decades – aren’t enough to convince you, take a hint from Ms. Mitchell and think about what life might be like without an HOA board to advocate for you and your property.

  • Security and Services: HOA Boards often contract services like trash pickup and private security for homeowners. Without that arrangement, your services may depend on the thinly stretched budgets of city and county government groups.
  • Advocacy: In most cases, your HOA board members are neighbors with common interests, elected by you and other community members. Residents outside of HOAs do not enjoy the same type of common-interest advocacy.
  • Disaster preparedness: Emergencies can leave residents alone and vulnerable. In the case of disasters – natural or otherwise – there can be strength in numbers. HOAs can provide a plan of action that allows community residents to pull together and pool resources.

Active community building: Any neighborhood can pull together a BBQ or volunteer project, but how often does it happen? HOA boards often provide a hub of organized, intentional activities, from holiday parties to service opportunities, all focused on building a long-term sense of community.