Can A Homeowners Association Take Your House ?
Definition of "Can a homeowners association take your house ?"
Falling behind on your payments is a significant issue for many homeowners. Not every unpaid bill leads to foreclosure, especially if there is no lien on your house. If you have a mortgage on your home, that is usually your first lien, but did you know that a Homeowners association (HOA) can put a lien on your house too? So what happens if you don’t pay your fees to the HOA? Can they take your home? Let’s find out!
The short answer is, yes. The Homeowners association can take your house if you miss your payments and there is a lien on your home. An HOA can foreclose its lien if the conditions, covenants, and restrictions (CC&Rs) allow it to do so, and they typically do. The fees owed to the HOA usually cover several services such as insurance, lawn care, pest control, amenities, maintenance, and many others. If you check the HOA’s rules and regulations, you can become familiar with HOA fees and know what kind of services to expect your monthly dues to cover.
Typically, if you miss one payment, you will be notified by the HOA that you have an outstanding debt. It is most likely that they will make you aware of missed payment consequences, such as being charged interest until you pay or incur a late fee. If you remain delinquent or fail to make payments regularly, they might warn you of legal actions that will be taken against you. But how much power does an HOA have? Can they go as far as to foreclose and take your home?
They definitely can process a foreclose and take your home. When can they take your house, or how far can you go without paying your bills? That depends on the state regulations. Some states have more restrictions as to when an HOA can initiate a foreclosure. In contrast, others don’t have any restrictions, and the homeowners association can foreclose on a home for as much as a few hundred dollars. Do check with your local real estate agents if you want to learn more about HOA’s near you.
Popular Real Estate Questions
Popular Real Estate Glossary Terms
Term used in the real estate industry describing the price requested by a property owner vs. the price a buyer is willing to pay. Bid is the highest price a purchaser is willing to pay ...
Buying more house than a buyer can afford based on his or her income. ...
The term “a priori” can be pretty puzzling in real estate. Originating from Latin, “a priori” translates to "from the earlier" or "from the former." This concept, ...
Note having more than one maker, if one or more of the makers default on the note, all makers are sued jointly, rather than just one or all, to make restitution ...
A legally transferable debt instrument by which the issuer agrees to pay the payee within a certain time period. Note usually pay a specified rate of interest tied to the market rate of ...
Oral defamation of the character or reputation of another. It is the basis for a lawsuit. ...
Null or void something; Revoke or destroy; rescind or set aside; abandon; abolish; repeal; surrender; waive; terminate. In real estate, to void a buy or sell order, price, or quantity. The ...
A correlation defines how two variables relate to one another. We can confirm a correlation if an alteration in one variable can change the other’s behavior. Using quantifiable data ...
Pipe or conduit for electrical wiring. Enclosed conduit made of metal or other appropriate materials for transferring low pressure hot or cold air throughout a structure. ...
Have a question or comment?
We're here to help.