This aerial photo shows a Houston-area neighborhood from the sky.
Homeowners associations can either be a blessing or a lesson in Houston.
As soaring appraised home values continue to shock Texas homeowners, we wanted to vet our readers' opinions on another caveat of owning a home: being part of an HOA.
Not everyone who owns a home has one, but for those that do, we asked for opinions in a recent poll. We asked readers to share information about the worth of their HOAs, any strict rules they've encountered, any fees associated with their HOAs and more.
If you haven't weighed in yet, it's not too late. Click here to take our poll about HOAs in Houston.
Of the nearly 100 responses, some homeowners said HOAs are pointless and not worth the price.
They expressed frustration and confusion about certain rules, like one that prohibits pets on the front porch or another that prevents any television screens from being seen through windows or glass doors. Others took issue with rules forbidding homeowners from making exterior changes to their home without the HOA's prior approval.
"They do nothing except impose fines for petty things," one reader wrote. "Years ago, I was told to power wash my house. and others have been cited for flower beds."
That reader said there were no perks in their HOA that cost $285 a year, adding they wish they could completely dissolve their policy.
But overall, the majority of respondents ruled that their HOAs were worthwhile.
"Our neighborhood's character and quality have been maintained as well as home values," wrote one reader, who added they wouldn't change a thing about their HOA.
"Yards are neat and trimmed even if devoid of landscaping. We have pools, tennis courts, playgrounds, and a community building available to rent. Our neighborhood does not look it's age - developed in the mid-70's. Our HOA is composed of residents elected to (a) two-year term, except for the property manager who also lives here, our accountant and a lawyer on retainer."
Below, you can see the notable responses to our poll questions from Houston-area homeowners.
Readers reported their HOA fees ranging from as low as $285 to $5,280 a year.
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Monique Welch is a digital reporter for the Houston Chronicle.
Monique reports on the trendiest news within the greater Houston region and across Texas, and occasionally contributes to the Chronicle's race and identity newsletter, HouWeAre. A native Baltimorean and previous Tampa resident, Monique joined the Chronicle in the summer of 2021 after nearly four years at the Tampa Bay Times where she worked on all things digital, launched the newspaper's first race and identity newsletter, Regarding Race, and covered local news. Monique holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications Media Studies from Goucher College.
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