HOA fees climb as more homes list with dues
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More U.S. and Georgia homes for sale in 2025 came with homeowners association fees, and those dues climbed from a year earlier, Realtor.com data shows.
Why it matters: Rising HOA fees add to the already high cost of homeownership.
- In Georgia, HOAs allegedly behaving badly — think accusations of excessive fines and lack of transparency — have spurred state lawmakers to seek reforms.
By the numbers: Nationwide, roughly 44% of homes listed for sale on Realtor.com last year had HOA dues, up from 42% in 2024 and 34% in 2019.
- Roughly 46% of homes listed for sale in Georgia had HOA dues, which fund maintenance and amenities.
- In metro Atlanta, 53% of homes on the market included fees.
The median monthly fee rose to $135 from $125 in 2024 and $108 in 2019 — and dues can even stretch beyond $500.
- In Georgia, the median monthly fee is $75. Dues can vary widely based on a community's age and upkeep.
Between the lines: In addition to monthly fees, associations often enforce strict rules on everything from holiday decor to lawn care, with fines for residents who fail to comply.
The big picture: HOA fees are more common in the West and South, where condos, townhouses and newly built homes represent a larger share of listings, according to the real estate site.
- Nevada (68%), Arizona (65%) and Florida (65%) — home to many retirees living in planned communities — saw the biggest share of listings subject to HOA fees last year.
The bottom line: "The condo's traditional affordability advantage over single-family homes is eroding — and in many markets, it has reversed entirely," housing economist Aziz Sunderji writes in his newsletter, Home Economics.