Homeowners Associations. Some homeowners love them while others loathe them. If you’re getting ready to purchase a home in Dallas, you may end up selecting a property that falls within an HOA or an NA, neighborhood association. Here is everything you need to know and consider when it comes to these associations.

What is a homeowner’s association?

Simply put, an HOA is a governing body nominated by those in the neighborhood to help ensure that the community looks its best and functions well. According to a report released by Realtor.com, 25% of American’s who own homes live within an HOA community.

HOA Fees

As a Dallas homeowner, it’s important to understand that each HOA varies and you will be required to pay monthly, quarterly, or yearly fees. The fees are structured based on the property size, number of residents, amenities, and more. I encourage you also to find out ahead of time if you could potentially pay additional fees throughout the year to cover unexpected expenses when the reserve fund is not enough. For many homeowner associations, the fees help to maintain common areas such as the entrance to the community, pools, fitness rooms, parks, and other amenities.

HOA Rules

Each Dallas homeowner’s association is going to have its own set of rules called Common Restrictive Covenants, CC&Rs. These government-imposed requirements let you know how the land can be used to help maintain the attractiveness and value of the property. When you find a home in Dallas that you love and you want to make an offer on, you will need to review the CC&Rs during your option period to decide if you’d like to move forward with the purchase. While each community varies slightly, here are a few things to expect.

• What color you can paint your home
• Landscaping standards
• Fencing
• Security lights
• Vehicle storage and parking
• Use of residence

HOA Rule Violations & Missed Dues

When you’re touring Dallas homes within an HOA community, your mortgage company will consider the fees when you’re applying for the loan. This will help you and the mortgage company know if the house fits appropriately within your finances, ensuring the fees won’t put you in a bind.

When it comes to rule violations, the consequence will vary, but it’s important to know that you could potentially face eviction from the property. If something happens and you violate a rule, work with your HOA board to fix the issue as quickly as possible.

Benefits of an HOA

For many, when it comes to an HOA, all they can think about are the rules and restrictions put on them. However, there are actually many benefits to living in a Dallas community governed by an HOA. These benefits include maintaining all the common areas, helping to mediate neighbor complaints, and the houses retain their value since the community is always maintained.

Neighborhood Association

A neighborhood association is a group of residents in a neighborhood who advocate for activities within the community. Many neighborhood associations still have elected leaders to help run the group and some even have voluntary dues. The biggest difference between a neighborhood association and a homeowner’s association is an NA is voluntary while an HOA is not.

Buying a new home can be stressful enough. Now, throw in moving to an entirely new city or state, it can be downright scary. The details that go into a major move can be challenging, but with the right help and information, it can be a little easier. To help you get started on how to handle your long-distance move, here are some tips on where to focus your attention.

Use a Local Real Estate Agent

While you should never house-hunt on your own, it’s even more important to use a local real estate agent when you’re house hunting long-distance. Real estate agents will be able to give you the ins and outs of the community, allowing you to make an informed decision.

When it comes to selecting the right real estate agent, you’ll want to choose someone who understands your unique needs with a long-distance move and is very knowledgeable about the local housing market.  Take your time researching local agents. Read through client reviews, take a look at their website, and review their social media platforms.

As a Dallas real estate agent, I understand when it comes to long-distance house hunting, time is of the essence. I’ll be happy to tour any houses that come on the market ahead of time to determine if it meets your needs. If you are moving out of the Dallas area, I can connect you with an agent in your new city.

Researching the Community

Moving to a new community is scary; that’s why it’s so important to do lots of research before deciding on the right area.

If you’re moving for a new job, research the city and the surrounding communities to figure out where the best location may be for your new home. Things to consider include commute time to work, school district rankings, and the crime rate.

Depending on what your lifestyle needs are, you’re also going to want to research the local amenities. How close will you be to dining, shopping and entertainment, does the area have great local transit if you don’t have a car, are there churches in the area that match your needs?

As you research the community and arm yourself with as much knowledge as possible, your house hunting experience will be made simple.

Know Your Budget

Through your research, you’ll get a good idea of what the cost of living will be in your new city. By knowing your budget, that research can be cut down more because you’ll be able to weed out the areas that you cannot afford. Before you start house hunting, it’s always a good idea to get pre-approved through a mortgage lender.

When you’re making a long-distance move, it can be hard to know what you can and cannot afford in a house when you’re unfamiliar with what the average home for sale cost. Don’t let yourself fall in love with a community that is out of your budget.

Plan a Visit to the Community

While researching will give you an idea of what it’s like to live in your new community, it can only be so revealing. To get a much better idea of what it will be like in your new home, I strongly recommend planning 1-2 visits. The first visit should be to meet with your chosen local real estate agent to tour various neighborhoods and houses. The second, to really familiarize yourself with the community and everything it has to offer.

If you’re moving with children, depending on their ages, it may be better to wait until the second trip to bring them, allowing yourself to get familiar and excited about the new area first. For older kids, it may be hard to leave their friends behind. By finding areas that also match their interest, it’ll help them get excited about this life change.

In addition to house hunting, make sure you take time to dine out at local restaurants, explore transportation options, and check out local retail stores. By planning a couple of trips, you’ll get peace of mind knowing you made the right selection.

Hire a Moving Company

You have enough details to worry about, why not let a moving company take some of the stress off your plate. Not only will they be able to help with heavy lifting, but they’ll be able to transport your items for you easily. If hiring a moving company is not in your budget, consider using a portable moving container such as PODS. There are pros and cons to using either a moving company or a moving container. Whichever route you decide meets your needs, I can connect you with my network of vendors to help you get a great rate.

A lot has changed in just a few months, and for many that includes the idea of what a ‘dream home’ looks like. Not long ago, buyers were showing preference toward smaller homes and open concept spaces conducive to gathering. After a few months cooped up inside, those features don’t seem so appealing – and developers have taken note.

“While the coronavirus still rages on, it’s hard to predict what post-pandemic abodes might look like,” according to Barrons. “Yet, developers around the U.S. are already rethinking projects, anticipating residents’ needs and preferences that Covid-19 would spur. In doing so, they are re-evaluating current in-unit aesthetics and in-demand amenities.”

Here are just a few areas of home design where trends may shift in the coming years:

Home size
Homes had been trending smaller, but that may be over. With so many families spending (way) more time around the home lately, there’s never been more need for personal space. Expect homes to grow in size accordingly.

Prioritizing the home office
As more and more businesses relax work-from-home policies, or shift to full-time remote work entirely, the home office will become a near-essential for many buyers. A space that was once an after-thought now will need to offer privacy, good lighting and be pre-wired for telecommuting.

Return to the closed-floor plan
For some buyers, the appeal of the open-floor plan was already trending down prior to 2020, and the past few months have only made the reasons why more evident. Sharing more time and space at home demands privacy for school work, hobbies, and entertainment. With more meals being cooked at home, an open concept kitchen becomes noisy epicenter practically all day long. Builders expect a rise in demand for closed floor plans, where rooms are partitioned for purpose.

Smart technology
This is already one of the fastest growing trends in home design, but smart home technology will soon move from a ‘plus’ to a ‘must’. Temperature and lighting control can now be voice or motion-activated. Touchless faucets, once thought superfluous, are now an inexpensive and health-conscious upgrade. Systems that filter air and monitor air quality will become more common and affordable.

The Hot Trend of the Summer: Stock Tank Pools

For many of us, summer means pool time. But if you usually visit a community pool or recreation center, that might not be an option right now. Building a traditional pool at your home is a big and expensive project. That’s where the stock tank pool comes in.

“These inexpensive farm staples were originally designed as water troughs for livestock,” said Country Living “but that’s part of their country-chic appeal. Nowadays, stock tank swimming pools have been popping up in backyards across the country.”

Here’s how to make a splash with a stock tank pool in your own backyard.

Pick your size
Round stock tanks come in 10ft, 8ft, and 6ft diameters. As popularity has grown, the larger sizes have become more challenging to secure. There are also oval options, but they don’t necessarily provide the same kind of swimming experience.

Pick your spot
Where you’re going to put your stock tank pool is just as important as the pool itself. Without a level foundation, you’ll have leaks. “Job one is obviously selecting the site for your stock tank pool. You’ll need to prepare the area by creating a solid, level base,” said Tractor Supply. “You could use compacted sand, or even crushed granite. But, it’s very important to ensure that it’s a smooth surface, free of any rocks or sharp edges.”

Add your accessories
And by accessories, we mean design and function.

Function first. A stock tank pool isn’t as easy to set up as a kiddie pool. You could just fill it with water and call it a day, but you’ll end up swimming in gunk. Take a cue (and detailed instructions) from the Hey Wanderer blog, and keep your pool clean all summer long with proper pumps and chlorine.

Once you’ve got your stock tank set up, it’s time to make it fancy. While the tank alone has its own distinct vibe, it can be dressed up in any number of ways. Paint the metal, build deck seating around it, hang lights, and incorporate tikis to create a tropical getaway feel—the sky’s the limit!