High HOA fees--covers utilities (including A/C)--worth it in Phoenix?

[Minntoaz]

That'd be about on par if it's a nice area. It is also important to know if the HOA has a healthy reserve fund for major repairs like the roof and siding etc; We wound up paying an extra $50ish a month for the next ten years on our first place because they had no reserve fund and the roofs needed to be redone.

[Minntoaz]

Originally Posted by Bird Street

The air conditioning sounds like a central chiller system. All users have to wait until the cooling is turned on and systems are sometimes undersized because some users won't have it on. Very unreliable.

Oh yeah that doesn't sound fun. Meaning you're at the mercy of the maintenance to switch the system over to AC? No thank you.

[Minntoaz]

Originally Posted by Zippyman

I'd expect a summer bill of $300+ for a tight house & new a/c @ 1400 sq/ft.

I just got a $400 bill for an 1100 sq/ft house with an old a/c (new windows & heat-pump water heater) r19 in the attic / freshly cleaned indoor coil - set-point of 72 degrees 24/7. With extra insulation in the attic & a new heat-pump I'm hoping to muzzle it to a peak bill of $300.. My set-point is probably lower than most, but if I can't afford 72 degrees, I can't afford to live in Phoenix..

Winter bill is a hundred even with led's everywhere & just basic appliances..

On a condo, I'd expect single-pane windows, whatever the builder left for insulation, cheapest a/c unit available, electric water heater & other owners to crank the schnizzle out of their "free" a/c..

So yea.. $300+ average from May through October & $100 /mo nov-April Averages out to ~$200 Ish, and that's probably optimistic..

$300 a month? We pay 1/3 of that and keep it at 67 at night and 75 daytime.

[Prickly Pear]

Originally Posted by Minntoaz

That'd be about on par if it's a nice area. It is also important to know if the HOA has a healthy reserve fund for major repairs like the roof and siding etc; We wound up paying an extra $50ish a month for the next ten years on our first place because they had no reserve fund and the roofs needed to be redone.

It's next to the Biltmore in some older condos, in a safe area.

[Hal Roach]

There were some over there selling under 50k during the Crisis. The one I am thinking of was no re tale, which made it hard for a friend to sell his uncle's unit. It is kind of high now, but consider the future? You would be lucky to only have a 50% increase over ten years.

[Bummer]

Call me a little crazy but . . .

I prefer to have more control over my own utilities and pay for what I am actually responsible for, NOT the wasteful habits of my neighbors.

Blatant waste is a huge contributor to high utility charges and, unfortunately, there are far too many who feel . . . "If prepaid they are FREE" with little or no incentive to perform the basic steps to economize.

My 1400 sq ft Slump Block Home with a relatively new Heat Pump is all electric (no gas) and my Summer bill runs between $80 to $100 a month. During the "non a/c" months it hovers around $60. That's after performing the basic, painless saving steps including switching to LED bulbs and Energy Star appliances.

Common Sense goes a long way . . .