Buying with an HOA: What buyers and their agents need to know about the transaction

HOA transactions come with a whole extra layer of paperwork, rules, and timing that can catch both buyers and agents off guard…especially if you don't work them often.

I've coordinated enough HOA closings to know exactly where they go sideways. Here's what you need to know before you're already in the middle of one.

What HOA documents you need and when to request them:

• HOA dues verification and transfer fees — who pays what

• Review timelines: how long buyers legally have to review HOA docs

• Rules and restrictions buyers need to understand before they close

• Resale certificates — what they are and why they matter

What the TC handles so you don't have to:

• Making sure the title company and lender have HOA contact person to order status letters ASAP

• If HOA pays any utilities

• That your buyer gets the restrictions so they aren’t asking you about fencing, sheds, and pets

• That we are marking the correct monthly fee to new buyers

HOA transactions are one of my specialties — I know what to request, when to request it, and how to keep the timeline on track even when HOA management offices are slow to respond.

If you've got an HOA transaction in the pipeline, let's talk.