Here's What I Love and Hate a Year After Moving Into an HOA Neighborhood

A little over a year ago, I bought a property and moved into a neighborhood that had a homeowners association. I'm not usually a fan of HOAs, but we didn't plan to stay in the house long term and the neighborhood had a lot of features we were interested in.

Now, after having lived there for more than 12 months, here are the things I've loved -- and hated -- about being in an HOA. 

Love: The neighborhood upkeep

The HOA in our neighborhood plays a very active role in making sure that properties are maintained. The monthly dues that we pay include lawn cutting, as well as assistance with mulching and landscaping. The association has kept our lawn at the perfect level and has mulched several times already, so our yard always looks great with no effort on my part.

The HOA also enforces standards on all of the homes in the neighborhood. This means everyone power washes their driveway pavers, maintains their paint job, installs pretty fences if they need a fenced yard, and generally keeps their home in nice condition.

It's very pleasant to drive through a neighborhood where all the houses look nice and well-maintained, and that is definitely not always the case outside of an HOA neighborhood. 

Love: The amenities

Our neighborhood also comes with tons of amenities, which the HOA takes care of. We have several community pools, for example, including one with a lazy river and a waterslide. There is a restaurant in the neighborhood that has pretty decent food as well, and there are multiple playgrounds for my kids and even a full soccer field where they can go play.

We use these amenities all the time and they make living in our neighborhood a lot more enjoyable than living in a community that doesn't offer these added features outside our door. 

Hate: The fee increases

One of the biggest downsides of our HOA neighborhood is that the fees are substantial. And, they became even more of a burden since we moved in because the association voted to raise the fees last year.

We don't have a mortgage loan on this house and our housing costs are well below what we can afford. As a result, it wasn't impossible for us to absorb the fee increase -- although we weren't very happy we'd be paying more without getting added services.

For some people, though, the HOA fees have really become a financial burden and some of our neighbors are even considering moving because the costs keep going up. This is a big downside, both because of the impact on my wallet and because of losing good neighbors. 

Hate: The silly rules 

Finally, the last thing I dislike about the neighborhood HOA are the silly rules it imposes. 

For example, you have to get permission to do something as simple as set out a bird feeder or a small flag on your own property. You can't keep your garage doors open and you must bring your trash cans in and out within a certain timeframe. You're also required to spend $75 a month at the neighborhood restaurant.

While I theoretically see the value in some of these rules -- like the restrictions on outdoor decor -- many of them are nothing more than a pain and don't really have a positive impact on property values. 

If you're considering moving into an HOA neighborhood, it's important to consider what it will offer to you and whether you're OK with the rules in exchange for the amenities and perks. Not everyone will decide it's right for them, so don't rush into the choice.