|
Article Courtesy of YAHOO
NEWS
By Adrian Volenik
Published December 31, 2025
|
A
recent Reddit thread drew hundreds of comments from homeowners reacting to a
simple but pointed question about homeowners’ associations: “Anyone ever wonder
why 99% of people hate HOA’s, yet they continue to grow in number across the
nation?”
The replies revealed how deeply Americans are divided over HOAs.
|
More HOAs, Less
Choice
One of the top comments answered the question directly:
“It's not that people choose to be in a HOA, some are forced
into it due to no other available housing.” Another added,
“If you sort by ‘no HOA’ on Zillow, the results are cut
significantly. It sucks.”
According to HOA-USA, the U.S. has more than 370,000
homeowner associations, covering over 40 million households.
That amounts to more than 53% of all owner-occupied homes
nationwide.
Much of the discussion centered around how new housing is
being developed. Cities and counties increasingly require
developers to include HOAs in new subdivisions so they don't
have to cover the cost of roads, parks, or drainage. “Cities
like HOAs because then they don't have to be responsible for
road and services upkeep,” one commenter wrote. Another
said, “Municipalities are requiring HOAs for new
developments. It's pretty straightforward.”
According to the thread, developers also benefit. By
installing HOAs, they keep control over the community until
enough homes are sold and protect property values during the
early sales period. Some called it a financial win for all
involved, except the homeowners, who are stuck paying dues
and following rules they didn't set. |
|
A Homeowner Asks, If '99% Of People' Hate HOAs, Why
Do They 'Continue To Grow In Number Across The Nation?'
|
According to the thread, developers also benefit. By installing HOAs, they
keep control over the community until enough homes are sold and protect
property values during the early sales period. Some called it a financial
win for all involved, except the homeowners, who are stuck paying dues and
following rules they didn't set.
Love The Results, Hate The Rules
Some Redditors admitted HOAs aren't all bad. “Everybody hates HOAs when they
stop you from doing what you want," one person said. "Everybody loves HOAs
when they stop someone else from doing what you don't want.”
Others agreed. “99% of people don’t hate HOAs. 99% of Reddit hates HOAs.
Redditors, thankfully, are not an accurate representation of the US,” one
homeowner wrote. Another shared, “You ever have a neighbor park a rusty
trailer on the street, or blast your bedroom with Christmas lights all night
long?”
Several commenters pointed out that, like it or not, HOAs aren't going
anywhere. “Almost all new construction are planned single family
developments or high density housing, that by definition also have an HOA,”
one wrote. “HOA numbers will only go up over time as a result. Never down.”
And despite the horror stories, many homeowners are content. “I love my HOA,”
one person said. “Neighbors can’t park on their lawns. Landscaping is uniform
and performed. Homeowners’ insurance is 10x less... Noise, feces, pets,
lights... all managed and enforceable.”
|
