Local Delivery of Services
Community associations directly deliver services that were once the exclusive province of local government, including trash pickup, street paving, lighting and snow removal. This transfer, or privatization, of services has become commonplace as the demand for housing has outpaced the ability of many local governments to provide services. Not only has privatization relieved local municipal budgets, but it has proven economically efficient for homeowners. This win-win proposition has led to the rapid growth of association-governed communities—from just 10,000 in 1970 to more than 300,000 today.
Homeowner Benefits and Control
Community associations also have become popular because many Americans not only want the services and amenities provided by associations, but they like the responsibility that comes with homeowner control. Many of today’s homebuyers are second- and third-time buyers in community associations—people who understand and value the benefits and services provided in planned communities.
- Associations plow the snow, pickup the garbage, operate the pool and maintain the common areas. Reserve funds are maintained for future repairs and replacement of common property.
- Many communities maintain swimming pools, tennis courts, playgrounds and other amenities that most Americans cannot afford on their own. Many community associations also provide security, social activities, clubhouses and walking trails.
- In the best communities, associations offer a real sense of community, an important contribution in an increasingly transient society.
Land Use and Affordability
Community associations provide one answer to the growing issue of sprawl, which is no longer confined to cities and the inner suburbs. By definition, planned communities offer a more efficient use of land than unplanned areas in which developments leapfrog over each other into any available space. In addition, these land-use efficiencies can make homes more affordable, a benefit for first-time homebuyers, retirees and low- and moderate-income families.
Providing Value and Protecting Property Values
By delivering services at the direction of their members, community associations meet the expectations of residents by working to provide a safe, well-maintained living environment, preserving the character of the community and protecting property values. Cooperation and compliance are accomplished through governing documents that typically address architectural guidelines (dealing with items such as additions, decks and paint colors) and rules pertaining to issues such as noise, pets and parking. Enforced fairly and equitably by the members themselves, these documents guide the management and governance of the association and are generally consistent with zoning and other provisions of the larger civil community in which the association is located.