When purchasing a new home we are often inundated with a myriad of acronyms: FDIC, HOA, ARM, TILA. All the different abbreviations and terms can get jumbled up and while most of them have to do with the buying and lending process, there is one that is important to you as both a home buyer and a homeowner: HOA.

What is an HOA?

Also known as a Homeowner’s Association, HOAs are often created by the developer to maintain the quality of the neighborhood. Once a certain number of homes have been sold, the developer often turns the HOA over to the community to run. Depending on the community, HOAs function in different capacities. In the Atlanta golf community of Heron Bay Golf & Country Club, the Homeowner’s Association is run by the developer, Minerva Properties. In addition to developer input, the Heron Bay HOA also has the input of four formal committees: Safety and Pool, Positive Standards, Social Activities and Community Liaisons. Each consists of volunteers who are elected by the Community Association. By having these four committees, Heron Bay residents are able to enjoy a positive growth throughout the year without worry. Whether creating new policies designed to keep the neighborhood safe, or planning a swanky soiree for all the adults, the Heron Bay HOA committees always have a pulse on what is happening in the community.

HOAs all have different agendas and operating procedures. Most are fueled by what issues and concerns are important to the community. Therefore it’s very important to research the community HOA before purchasing a new home. Some important questions to ask include:

• What are the HOA fees?
• Are the fees monthly? Annual?
• Have fees gone up or down over the past 10 years?
• What do your fees pay for?
• What are the covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs) of the HOA?

Asking these questions can help you determine if your HOA is over-managed, under-managed, or just right. The Heron Bay HOA is known for being just the right mix, the various committees and enthusiasm put forth by all the members makes it just one more reason why so many choose to call this Henry County master-planned community home. For more information about the Heron Bay HOA, or the community in general, call 770.957.5633. The information center is also open Monday – Saturday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and on Sundays from 1 – 5 p.m.

Tags: Atlanta Golf community, canongate golf course, Heron Bay Golf & Country Club, master-planned community, Minerva Properties

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 28th, 2010 at 4:30 pm and is filed under Amenities. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.