“New builds often come with HOA fees, and sometimes those can sneak up on you.”
That’s a big one for me. I’ve seen HOA fees start out reasonable and then jump after a couple years, especially if the community is still being developed. It’s easy to overlook how much that can add to your monthly costs, and it’s not always clear what you’re actually getting for the money.
The other thing I keep coming back to is location. A lot of these new developments are just far enough out that you end up driving everywhere. When I ran the numbers, the extra gas and time in traffic really started to add up. It’s not just about the commute either—grocery runs, doctor visits, all of it takes longer.
I do like the idea of everything being under warranty, though. Not having to worry about a surprise $8k roof repair is huge peace of mind. But I’ve also heard stories about “builder grade” appliances and finishes wearing out faster than expected. It’s a trade-off, for sure. For me, predictability is key, but I’m always wary of hidden costs that can creep in over time.
Those HOA fees can be sneaky, right? I’ve seen folks get lured in by the “low” monthly, only to get hit with a special assessment later for landscaping or a new pool nobody asked for. And yeah, builder grade can mean “looks nice until you actually use it.” Curious—has anyone here actually had an HOA fee go down, or is that just a unicorn?
Curious—has anyone here actually had an HOA fee go down, or is that just a unicorn?
Unicorn for sure. In my experience, HOA fees only trend upward, especially once the builder hands things off. I refinanced last year hoping to offset rising costs, but those “low” fees didn’t stay low for long. Special assessments seem to pop up out of nowhere—one year it was a new gate system, next year it was repaving the parking lot. Feels like you’re always paying for something you didn’t vote for.
Never seen an HOA fee drop, not once. Even when they promise “no increases for X years,” something always comes up—insurance, landscaping, repairs, whatever. I get that costs rise, but it’s frustrating when you don’t have much say in where the money goes. Has anyone actually tried to negotiate with their HOA or push back on a special assessment? Curious if that ever works or if it’s just wishful thinking...
Has anyone actually tried to negotiate with their HOA or push back on a special assessment? Curious if that ever works or if it’s just wishful thinking...
Tried once when my old condo hit us with a big assessment for roof repairs. We got a few folks together, asked for bids from other contractors, and presented them at the next meeting. Didn’t stop the fee, but we did get the board to pick a cheaper option. Not exactly a win, but at least it wasn’t as painful as it could’ve been. Honestly, “negotiating” feels like a stretch most of the time.
