Nearly one-third of Washington homes are part of a homeowner association, one of the highest percentages among all U.S states.
Today’s Homeowner analyzed data from the Foundation for Community Association Research to determine which states have the highest and lowest percentage of homes in HOAs.
Nationally, about 22% of homes are part of an HOA. In Washington, 944,000 of the state’s 3 million homes, 31.2%, are in a homeowner association. That ranks fourth among U.S. states. The average monthly HOA fee in Washington is $388.
The study noted that residents often have a love-hate relationship with HOAs. Homes in an HOA are, on average, worth about 4% more. But the monthly fees, which generally can increase at any time, may cause potential buyers to pause before making a purchase. And some HOAs have a reputation for crossing the line between what’s good for the community and homeowner autonomy.
HOAs have grown in number by about 13% over the last decade, the study found. The states with the highest percentage of HOA homes are: Florida (45%), Colorado (38.6%), California (36.8%), Washington (31.2%) and Arizona (31.1%).
Missouri has the highest average HOA monthly fee, at $469, followed by Arizona’s $448. The national average is $390.
Please be clear that you’re talking about single-family homes in this article and discussion. I was initially surprised by the headline, since townhomes and condos are also homes for those who live in them, and they have HOAs. So the total number of “homes” with an HOA is actually much higher.