Florida leads the nation in homeowners associations, and the numbers come first.
Nearly half of Florida residents live in communities overseen by HOAs, the largest share of any state. Across the U.S., 80% of new single-family homes in subdivisions and 60% of new single-family homes overall are governed by HOAs. There are about 373,000 HOAs in the U.S., affecting the housing of more than 78 million Americans.
The dues can add a meaningful layer to the cost of homeownership. In Florida, HOA fees have a median of $230 monthly, with some homeowners paying over $500 monthly. The piece says those charges are typically tied to extra amenities, but they also make entry into the housing market more expensive.
HOAs are private governments led by elected boards of volunteer directors. They often oversee residents’ aesthetic choices, but their authority can go much further. HOA boards can pass and enforce community restrictions, fines and sanctions. In some cases, they even have the legal authority to foreclose on homes if a homeowner fails to pay HOA fees or assessments.
The article points to one Florida HOA that told a veteran to remove her Puerto Rican flag in 2019. It also says HOA control can reach cultural celebrations and community services, including home decor and public gatherings such as parades, festivals and holiday parties.
The research cited in the piece argues that HOAs can act as what sociologists call racialized organizations, meaning institutions that may appear neutral but can create and maintain inequality. The author says HOAs can diminish the agency of racialized groups and legitimize unequal access to resources. The article also says research has shown HOAs can maintain residential segregation and favor higher socioeconomic status.
A 2024 survey found that fewer than half of Americans living under an HOA believe their neighborhood is better off with one, and 1 in 10 had considered selling their home for HOA-related reasons.
For a free-enterprise reader, the warning is simple: private property is not truly private when a board can fine, regulate and even threaten foreclosure over an ever-expanding list of rules. Capital rewards clear rules, not petty bureaucracy with the power to police the front yard.
The deeper problem is that housing keeps getting wrapped in more layers of control and cost. When the market is forced to carry both mortgage payments and a permanent HOA levy, the taxpayer is not the only one squeezed. Homeowners are, too.
