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12 March
Home buyers beware: HOA fees are topping $500 a month in these hot spots

Homeowners association fees aren’t just for condos; they’re becoming more common for single-family homes and new construction

Illustration of several houses with "HOA FEES" tags on their roofs.
HOA fees have surged since 2019, driven by rising labor costs, insurance premiums and tariffs — and experts say homeowners can feel blindsided by the bills. Photo: MarketWatch photo illustration/iStockphoto

In many neighborhoods with homeowners associations, the rising cost of something as simple as mowing the lawn is showing up in residents’ monthly bills.

Rising labor costs for landscapers and other maintenance workers are just one factor being passed on to homeowners through HOA fees that cover the upkeep of shared greenspaces, pools and clubhouses in housing developments where residents are required to be part of a homeowners association.