Buckeye, Arizona has been one of the fastest-growing cities in the entire U.S. in recent years. (It was No. 1 nationally in 2017 and 2018.) Buckeye, about 30 miles west of downtown Phoenix in Maricopa County, AZ, ballooned to a population of 91,500 in the 2020 census from just 6,500 in 2000. That’s an increase of more than 1,400 percent in 20 years!
For people searching for a home in Buckeye, AZ, one of the key questions is whether to choose a home in a community managed by a homeowners association (HOA) or a place without any HOA restrictions.
An HOA can impose restrictions on what owners can do with their property, from capital improvements such as additions or painting to landscaping, yard decorations and parking. HOAs also charge fees for general maintenance and can even impose fines – or worse. Prospective homeowners in the Phoenix area who would rather have greater autonomy over their property should consider homes for sale in Buckeye, Arizona with no HOA.
Why consider homes without an HOA? Let’s look at some of the pros and cons of non-HOA properties as they apply to important considerations of homeownership:
Table of Contents
Fees, fees and more fees
Pros: There are no HOA fees for homeowners who live in non-HOA communities. Higher and higher fees (and how they are spent) are the biggest gripe among property owners who reside in HOA communities – HOA fees average $2,800 annually – depending on the community (subdivision, condominium, townhouse.
Cons: Outside an HOA community, most of the items covered by fees and assessments are the homeowner’s responsibility. That means extra effort for property upkeep, but (most often) at less expense than HOA fees.
Lawn Maintenance and Landscaping
Pros: A homeowner in a non-HOA community usually is responsible for lawn maintenance and landscaping, while the fees (see above) pay for that in HOA communities. Deciding whether to pay monthly HOA fees or do-it-yourself is at the crux of the HOA vs. non-HOA dilemma. Non-HOA property owners also have greater autonomy about how and when to do their maintenance on their own schedule.
Cons: That grass isn’t going to mow itself. But people who are finicky about their property’s appearance may be disappointed with the work crews performing lawn maintenance in an HOA community or dislike the landscaping and would need to voice their concerns to the HOA governing board. Response time to HOA maintenance and repair orders may not be as quick as when one handles these matters personally.
Conforming with Rules and Guidelines
Pros: Want to build an addition? Outside an HOA community, there is no HOA board to stop you, as long as you have the proper city construction permits. Also, in a non-HOA community, homeowners don’t have to worry about a governing board (HOA) with the authority to assess fines, property liens or even go into foreclosure proceedings against them because of their choice of the color of their house paint.
Cons: In a non-HOA community when the next-door neighbors paint their house purple with chartreuse trim or park a rusty old truck that doesn’t run in the front yard, there is no HOA board to complain to.
Homes for Sale in Buckeye, AZ with No HOA are in High Demand
The warm Arizona sun is calling people to live the good life and homes for sale in Buckeye, AZ with no HOA are in high demand because they give the owners more options and flexibility to use their property in any way they desire.
