What's a fair price for HOA fees in the bay area? (Mountain View: insurance, condo)

[soyu]

If you don't mind, please share how much you pay/paid for HOA and what the fees cover/covered?

Thank you

[roadwarrior101]

Really, really varies. We live in a large housing development in the tri-valley, where it was is just over $100. Previously, we lived in a townhouse community in Mountain View, where it was $250. Before that, we rented in a high rise in SF. While we didn't pay a HOA there, the HOA fees were often in the $700-800/month range.

[soyu]

Originally Posted by roadwarrior101

Really, really varies. We live in a large housing development in the tri-valley, where it was is just over $100. Previously, we lived in a townhouse community in Mountain View, where it was $250. Before that, we rented in a high rise in SF. While we didn't pay a HOA there, the HOA fees were often in the $700-800/month range.

Wow...did you find those amounts justified for what they covered? Are these fees mostly dependent on the location and amenities?

[roadwarrior101]

Originally Posted by soyu

Wow...did you find those amounts justified for what they covered? Are these fees mostly dependent on the location and amenities?

Well, I think HOA's in general are a waste. However, I'll say the following:

1. Current housing development - HOA is reasonable. It includes maintaining nice park areas and a gym/clubhouse/pool. Not a big deal.
2. Townhouse development - HOA was a little high. It included a park area and a pool/hot tub. However, it was in line with what other community developments include.
3. Highrises in SF - HOA's are overpriced. They typically include a doorman, small gym and maybe an indoor pool. However, I think that was more of a mechanism to keep people out who were on the cusp of affording the place, as opposed to funding required services.

[bmw335xi]

Originally Posted by soyu

If you don't mind, please share how much you pay/paid for HOA and what the fees cover/covered?

Thank you

The condo I had was pretty cheap for SF @ $350/month which included water, garbage, gas, gym, security guard.

[ccm123]

I owned a townhome previously and the HOA was $200 a month. It included exterior maintenance, gardening, insurance and pest control. Water, garbage and utilities were paid by each individual unit.

Each HOA is run differently and each HOA will provide different services.

[shooting4life]

Be very careful when moving to someplace with an HOA. If the wrong people get elected it can become hell. It can turn into different rules for friends, money grabs via fines and a desire to control the lives of everyone in the neigborhood. The best thing you can do is try to get a seat on the board so you can reign in the silliness, that is as long as you are not the type of person that wants to control others.

[justinbro2002]

I have lived in a couple of Hoa communities over the years and found them to be a a pain. Too many rules limited value for what the fees were. If you don't like mowing you own lawn and want to live in a cookie cutter neighborhood then it might be for you. I would rather have the choice about what color I paint my house or what o
foliage I decide to plant. I don't want to pay someone $200 a month to tell me what I can and can't do with my own home.

[bmw335xi]

Originally Posted by justinbro2002

I have lived in a couple of Hoa communities over the years and found them to be a a pain. Too many rules limited value for what the fees were. If you don't like mowing you own lawn and want to live in a cookie cutter neighborhood then it might be for you. I would rather have the choice about what color I paint my house or what o
foliage I decide to plant. I don't want to pay someone $200 a month to tell me what I can and can't do with my own home.

The only problem is you pretty much don't have a choice in SF unless you can afford a SFR.

[Ultrarunner]

I pay a $1000 per year and it went up from $200 a year the previous owner had paid for a decade.

The HOA owns the roads and needs a road reserve so this is the justification.