For people looking to buy a condo or a house that’s part of a homeowners association, the promise of swanky amenities they provide can seem like a total score.
Seriously, who wouldn’t want select access to a pool, spa, or private playroom for the kids? At least that’s the logic that tends to lure people when such “bonus” luxuries are offered.
But the irony is that, while these extras give the impression you’ll be living the good life if you move in, it’s useful to remember that you’re actually paying for them with your HOA dues. And the sad truth is that certain amenities end up sitting empty most of the time. Why squander money on that?
Real estate is expensive enough these days without wasting money on perks you won’t plunder, so make sure to take a step back when salivating over these common HOA conveniences. As nice as they might seem initially, experts say you might end up rarely (or never) using them.
1. Clubhouses
While the idea of a central gathering space might seem alluring, unless you’re planning a birthday party or family reunion, clubhouses are more often than not a wasted amenity.
“Clubhouses are notorious for not being used—most of the time they sit empty,” says Isaiah Henry, the CEO of Seabreeze, a company that manages over 90,000 commercial and residential properties. “There are some communities who host gatherings on a monthly or quarterly basis in their clubhouse, but they’re few and far between.”
Henry says that, in his experience, instead of a clubhouse residents prefer a community swimming pool or even a dog park.
2. Tennis courts
Do you even know how to play tennis? For a lot of people, the answer is no and as a result, this is an amenity that is rarely if ever frequented.
Professional tennis player and property manager Mario Musa says many people get excited when they find out about tennis courts being included in the condo he manages. Some even see it as an opportunity to try tennis for the first time. But in reality, he reports that only about 10% of residents ever use them.
“Even though there is access to all the essential equipment, people don’t frequent the courts,” says Musa, who admits that might be because tennis is not a beginner-friendly sport. “It sounds exciting at first, but I can tell from the footprints left on the clay courts that after a few minutes of trying to hit balls, most people end up taking photos for social media instead of playing a real game.”
Unless you’re a serious tennis player, chances are this won’t score as an amenity love match for you.
3. Screening rooms
Access to a private movie theater may seem Hollywood glamorous, but it’s rarely worth the price of admission (or your HOA fees).
“The idea may fascinate individuals when they are making a buying decision, but once you start living in the condo, trust me, I can tell you from personal experience this amenity has little or no use for residents,” says Kamyar K.S., CEO of World Consulting Group. “Sure, they are good for streaming the Super Bowl or watching the Academy Awards once a year, but because residents rarely hold screenings, most of the time the room is dark and gloomy and looks more like a haunted house.”
And really, Netflix and chill works better when you’re on your own couch, right?
4. Roof decks
While most people find roof decks to be a very visually appealing amenity, they don’t spend as much time up there as they imagine they will.
Though the COVID-19 pandemic might have changed this trend a bit because people were desperate for outdoor space wherever they could find it, in general, property managers report that almost always roof lounges are underused.
“In my last condo that I lived in, I found that the roof deck was rarely used,” says Mathias Ahlgren, CEO and founder of Website Rating. “In fact, after working long hours at the office, I, myself, would often prefer to go out to spend time with friends rather than go home to the roof deck.”
The good news with this one is that if you are a roof deck kind of person, you probably won’t be fighting your neighbors for a chaise lounge.
5. Recreation centers
n addition to on-site gyms (which are actually one of the most used amenities), some HOAs include admittance to nearby recreation centers as part of the package. And unless they’re convenient or you have kids to entertain, it’s likely an added luxury that will languish.
“As part of my HOA for my condo, I am required to pay a fee for admittance to four recreation centers that actually offer some pretty great amenities like a rock-climbing wall and an outdoor pool, but I find that since I work full time, I just don’t use them at all,” says Colorado high school teacher and condo owner Doreen Smith. “If my own kids were still at home, maybe I would use them more, but at this point, I actually pay for a separate gym precisely because I don’t want to be around a bunch of screaming children now.”
In other words, being honest about where you are in your life will help you determine your amenity priorities.
6. All of them—if they have limited hours
If you’re thinking of moving into an HOA community where you’ll be paying fees to use the amenities, make sure to check when they’re open.
“Being a condo owner in a building that offers a multitude of amenities such as a pool, gym, and theater, it gets very frustrating that, due to the amenity hours of operation, I can’t use the amenities as much as I’d like because I’m working,” says Krisztian Riez, a digital consultant for the property management software company Condo Control Central.
“Because I am unable to use the amenities during the week, I try to take full advantage of the amenities on the weekend. However, using amenities I pay for only two days a week doesn’t really suffice for the extra monthly cost.”
For more info like this, go to Realtor.com
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