The true value of anything is what a buyer is willing to pay and what a seller is willing to accept in exchange for that item. If demand is high on something, and supply is low, the value tends to go up. On the other hand if there is a glut on the market of an item, the value goes down because it is said to be a buyers market. That’s pretty much the way it works when it comes to determining value. And that includes housing. So I am a little perplexed by the claim that a house that is subject to a mandatory membership housing association increases the value of the property. It makes no sense and flies in the face of the traditional understanding of how values are arrived at and understood. It is especially perplexing given that so many housing consumers specifically request non HOA housing but are told they do not exist. “There is nothing on the market.” On the off chance that a non HOA house becomes available it is advertised as “Non HOA” and that’s a valuable marketing tool. It sets it apart from other houses on the market. It is true that non HOA housing is rare, often old and sometimes require a complete overhaul and update, making them expensive. But they are still highly sought after.
Bill Davis joins me On The Commons. Bill, a frequent guest, friend and attorney lives in Texas and is one of only a few attorneys who represents homeowners against their HOAs. He is well versed and experienced on what routinely goes on . Bill and I talk about property values, what needs to be included when calculating the monetary value as well as other values and costs that we seldom think about. One thing we both agree on is that housing consumers need to have all the facts and all the information they can get in order to make an educated decision on what they are buying, or not buying. It is also important to know what questions to ask. Join us as we dive into all the ins and outs of determining the true value of that jewel with the beautiful view that you just fell in love with.
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