AI-assisted summaryCommon complaints include unreasonable fees, strict landscaping requirements, and inconsistent rule enforcement.HOAs have the power to foreclose on homes for unpaid dues or violations.Arizona law does not require HOAs for new communities, but it does offer a dispute resolution process for a fee.One in three Americans living in communities with homeowners associations have had such bad experiences they wanted to leave their neighborhood, according to a nationwide survey shared in January 2025 with The Arizona Republic.It’s not surprising since HOAs can be controversial and pit neighbor against neighbor.The main reasons homeowners were unhappy include fees, landscaping requirements and inconsistent rule enforcement, according to Frontdoor.com, a provider of home services, home warranties and repair solutions. Frontdoor surveyed more than 1,000 American homeowners about their HOAs. About 35% of them said HOA fees aren’t reasonable, and 51% said the fees have climbed.More than half of metro Phoenix residents live in communities with HOAs. Fights over displaying election signs and flags are some of the most common for HOAs in the Valley.HOAs can foreclose for late fees, require certain outside paint colors and fine homeowners for leaving garbage cans out too long.If the amount owed is more than $1,200 or a homeowner hasn’t paid an assessment in more than 12 months, the association can seek foreclosure and sell the home at auction to get its money.Real estate attorney Patrick MacQueen of Medalist Legal advised homeowners to always pay dues, even if they dispute an HOA’s actions or how it maintains the community.But he said homeowners can document their payment and dispute it. Later, they can potentially take legal action.Over one in six homeowners with an HOA have been fined, typically for landscaping or vehicle regulations, according to the survey.In January 2024, Arizona legislation was introduced that would have allowed developers to opt out of creating HOAs for new communities so homes would be more affordable, but it wasn’t passed.No state agency regulates HOAs, but the Arizona Department of Real Estate does handle a dispute process between homeowners and their associations. It costs $500 to file each complaint with the state agency.Reach the reporter at catherine.reagor@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8040. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @CatherineReagor. …
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