Few Las Vegas homes have no HOA

Q: I don't want to live in a homeowners association. I'm finding it hard to locate homes in Las Vegas that do not have an HOA. Are these homes only in older neighborhoods? Are most Las Vegas homes in an HOA? Can you tell me the pros and cons of not living in one? — Don't want anyone telling me what to do -- email

A: The majority of the homes in Las Vegas (even those older than 20 years) have a homeowners association and or are a part of one of the valley's master-planned communities. There are a limited amount of homes on the market (less than 250) across the valley that do not have an HOA or are not in a master-planned community. Although these homes are typically older homes in established neighborhoods, there are a few available that were built in the 2000s.

Just like with anything, there are pros and cons.

Pros:

• Larger lot size. These homes tend to have more land surrounding them. If you have a recreational vehicle, you'll have more than enough space to store it and still have a backyard large enough for the children and the dog.

• Customize your home's exterior. If you want to paint your home green with the fence to match, go for it! Some of the homeowners in these neighborhoods have gone as far as converting their single-story homes into two-story homes. The possibilities are endless.

• Freedom. In an HOA, homeowners are fined for various reasons, including not pulling in your trash cans from the curb in a timely manner and parking on the wrong side of the street. You can feel confident knowing that you won't receive a notice in the mail for forgetting to get your trash cans off the curb that day you were running late to work.

Cons:

• No amenities. Communities with associations, as well as master-planned communities, have quite a few things to offer. Many have clubhouses, hiking and biking trails and community parks and pools. If a pool is important to you, it may be worth it to walk a couple hundred feet to the pool on a scorching summer day rather than spending 20 minutes or more in the car driving to one.

• Resale value. Although it's great to show your pride of ownership on the exterior of your home, the choices you make can come back to haunt you. Homes that are painted "non-traditional colors" can more than likely affect the resale value of your home.

• A non-HOA home is probably a fixer-upper. Multiple homes in these neighborhoods are considered "fixers" because of the work that needs to be done to bring the home up to date. The repairs range from simply updating fixtures and appliances to insulation, plumbing and roof repair. If you've never undergone a home renovation project, you may be in over your head.

When purchasing a home, whether it be in a homeowners association or not, it is completely dependent upon what's most important to you. Find out what those things are and do your research. Then get a Realtor to help you find it.

— Ashley Bowman, Urban Nest Reality