HOA fees climbing, growing housing market effect

TL;DR

HOA fees are climbing and affecting more homes for sale, changing the housing market.
Share of homes for sale with HOA fees hit 43.6% last year, up from prior years.
Buyers face higher total costs that cut affordability and alter buying decisions.[[1]](https://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/news/2026/04/02/hoa-fees-growing-housing-cost.html)[[2]](https://mediaroom.realtor.com/2026-01-27-Nearly-44-of-U-S-Homes-for-Sale-Now-Carry-HOA-Fees-as-Dues-Continue-to-Climb,-Realtor-com-R-Finds)

The story at a glance

Homeowners association fees are rising and now cover 43.6% of homes for sale, up from previous years, as reported by Washington Business Journal senior reporter Andy Medici. The article highlights how these fees add to homeowner expenses in a tight market. This comes amid a January 2026 Realtor.com report showing the trend continuing into 2025.[[3]](https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2026/04/02/hoa-fees-growing-housing-cost.html?j=45261720&senddate=2026-04-17&empos=p5)[[2]](https://mediaroom.realtor.com/2026-01-27-Nearly-44-of-U-S-Homes-for-Sale-Now-Carry-HOA-Fees-as-Dues-Continue-to-Climb,-Realtor-com-R-Finds)

Key points

82% of HOA residents saw fee increases over the past three years.[[1]](https://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/news/2026/04/02/hoa-fees-growing-housing-cost.html)
Median HOA fee reached $135 per month in 2025, up from $125 in 2024 and $108 in 2019, per Realtor.com data.[[4]](https://www.realtor.com/research/homeowners-associations-2025)
HOAs now cover 33.4% of single-family homes for sale, with 84.8% of condos and townhomes affected.[[2]](https://mediaroom.realtor.com/2026-01-27-Nearly-44-of-U-S-Homes-for-Sale-Now-Carry-HOA-Fees-as-Dues-Continue-to-Climb,-Realtor-com-R-Finds)
About 17.5 million homeowners, or one in three, pay at least $500 monthly in some markets.[[5]](https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/hoa-rising-fees-homeowners-maintenance)

Details and context

The article draws on recent Realtor.com analysis showing HOA prevalence rising from 34.3% of listings in 2019 to 43.6% in 2025, driven by more new construction in HOA communities. Fees are climbing due to higher insurance, maintenance, and reserve needs amid inflation and aging infrastructure.

HOA-governed homes often provide shared amenities but add ongoing costs not fixed like mortgages, including potential special assessments for big repairs. Lenders factor these into debt-to-income ratios, which can limit how much house buyers qualify for.

This trend worsens affordability as home prices stay high; buyers must review HOA financials like reserve studies during due diligence to spot future hikes.

Key quotes

None reliably sourced from the article.

Why it matters

Rising HOA fees and coverage strain the full cost of homeownership beyond just mortgage and taxes. Homebuyers see reduced purchasing power, while sellers of HOA properties may face longer market times or price cuts. Watch local HOA financial disclosures and insurance trends for signs of more increases.[[6]](https://www.facebook.com/bizjournals/posts/the-hoa-effect-on-the-housing-market-is-growing-see-the-full-article-below-%EF%B8%8F/1560532839410602)