They do take the hoa into account when qualifying for a loan, just like insurance and taxes.
I’ve had pools and the energy and maintenance costs can exceed $300 a month, not to mention replacement and repair of equipment so I’d pay $100 a month for a nice community pool. They are like boats and motorhomes, everyone wants one except those who have had them and know thier true cost and the amount of time you use them. I’m not fond of gates and that is where the high hoa costs come in, most gated communities cost $100 a month just for the gate. It isn’t the gate that costs money it’s the fact that the municipality won’t repave or maintain the streets, sweep them or pay for the street lights if a community is gated because the public doesn’t have access. I’ve seen gated communities cost over $100 with no ammenities and ungated ones with a pool and a gym cost $60. With attached homes it’s different because it usually includes more such as water, fire insurance, trash, gardener, and a fund to replace fences, paint and replace roofs, etc. so when you add it up it’s almost a wash.
Marion, the tax rate/mello roos is probably more important for resale than HOA. When looking at two or three competing houses and one has $50 more per month in hoa but the other has $2000 more per year in taxes, most buyers will pay the hoa and get the pool, you get nothing for the extra taxes. Up here 1.5 tax rate is about average but some of the tax items on the bill are of a fixed value so the rate can fluxuate based on the selling price so with two equally priced homes, check the actual tax bill difference, add in the hoa and make an informed decision.
And along the theme of Alex’s comment, it is worth a great deal of money to me to not live next door to the guy with year round Christmas lights.
