So how much is your Condo/Townhome monthly fee? Is this normal?

[Vette73]

So my SiL is looking for a place. Just something basic that has to have 2 bedrooms and be in a certain area (North VA). So I have been looking as their realtor sucks. So I find the “perfect” place yesterday until I see the monthly fee is over $600 a month. The mortgage on the place would only be in the $800 a month range yet the fee is $600? The places she is looking are at or less then 1000sq.ft. Then another one wanted $700 a month.

Yea some include the gas/electricity but its less then 1000sq/ft. Unless you are running a weed farm there is no way I can see you making up the $600+ a month. Of course it may be why the $600 fee place has been on the market for 2 years but they keep relisting it every several months.

So where do you live and how much is your monthly fee?

 

[Gibson486]

is it a luxury place? if so, then i can see why. Those HOA fees vary place to place. If it includes gas and electricity, then the fee does not surprise me at all. In Boston, small complexes go as low as $100, but the bigger luxury ones go as high $700 and that does not even include electricity and gas.

 

[bobdole369]

Fairly typical. Some folks down here pay over a thousand per month in a high-rise with a lot of amenities. Some other folks I know pay less than $200. It all depends on the association.

 

[whitedragon2203]

You are talking HOA's I assume right? Your results will vary vastly like any real estate market. However, I tend to always make sure that my HOA's are not extremely low or high comparable to the local market, as it is those fee's that ensure that your common area's, common utilities, and overall financial stability of the propietor stay intact.

To answer your question though, I live in downtown Minneapolis, value of the condo's in the unit I live in start at 235k and go over 1mil+, the average HOA fee for a tenant here is $615 per month.

 

[Vette73]

is it a luxury place? if so, then i can see why. Those HOA fees vary place to place. If it includes gas and electricity, then the fee does not surprise me at all. In Boston, small complexes go as low as $100, but the bigger luxury ones go as high $700 and that does not even include electricity and gas.

NO!!! These are very cheap less then $150k type places in Falls Church VA. Think less then 1000sq/ft 2 bedroom/1 bath place that is over 50 years old.

The last one we looked at was $380 a month and did not cover electricty or have washer/dryer hook ups. There was also no water heater. There was 1 large water heater to service 8 condos. That and they even admitted that the hispancis party on the weekend and that is why there were beer bottle near the front door.

 

[Cal166]

That's a bit high for a condo, I would expect it for a co-op fee. Even if it includes electricity/gas and water, trash it's still a few hundred $ over.

 

[Gibson486]

Wow....reading this thread makes it seem that Boston undercharges the HOA fee.

 

[Crusty]

My condo fees are $200/month but I don't live in a high rise either.

 

[Aharami]

is this a joke? people pay $600 a month in HoA fees for a 1000 sq ft condo?!? In the suburbs?! If it was a luxury apartment in a big city, then I'd understand. but fuck, I wouldnt pay anything more than $250 a month for the suburbs. Right now I'm paying $165 a month for my townhouse which includes all maintenance and repair of common grounds and outside structures. Even then I think HoA is charging me a bit too much

 

[MrChad]

This isn't uncommon for condos in Fairfax/Loudoun county. You can find better deals if you move further away from DC, but your commute will suffer. It's one of the reasons we went with a townhome with an inexpensive HOA fee over a condo.

 

[Vette73]

This isn't uncommon for condos in Fairfax/Loudoun county. You can find better deals if you move further away from DC, but your commute will suffer. It's one of the reasons we went with a townhome with an inexpensive HOA fee over a condo.

Yea we are trying to get them to move a little farther. But she does not drive on the highway much and he speaks very little english and... well hes an idiot.
So we are helping more for her, SiL.

 

[Gibson486]

is this a joke? people pay $600 a month in HoA fees for a 100 sq ft condo?!? In the suburbs?! If it was a luxury apartment in a big city, then I'd understand. but fuck, I wouldnt pay anything more than $250 a month for the suburbs. Right now I'm paying $165 a month for my townhouse which includes all maintenance and repair of common grounds and outside structures. Even then I think HoA is charging me a bit too much

I know. $600 in Boston is for a luxury condo.

 

[mshan]

If you don't commute into D. C. (say work in Falls Church or Alexandria), where are the good areas to live (initially rent, but ultimately own a condo or single family house) and don't have excessively high condo fees?

 

[amdskip]

I pay $130 for a townhome. This includes the pool/tennis courts/mowing out front/snow removal/water/sewer.

 

[Vette73]

I pay $130 for a townhome. This includes the pool/tennis courts/mowing out front/snow removal/water/sewer.

Thats what I was adding up. Around $100 for the yard/pool etc.. and maybe another $200 if that cover gas/electricity. I could see that and say thats ok. But one place as above was close to $400 and did not include electricity and the only gas was the stove.

I don't know if someone running the place is making out like a thief or they have just run the place into the ground.

 

[MrChad]

Our townhome HOA fee is a little over $80 and includes pool access, tennis courts, maintenance of common grounds, snow removal and trash/recycling service. We pay for water and utilities separately Compared to other HOA fees it's pretty reasonable, and other than some billing screw ups on their part we've had no run-ins with them.

 

[ViviTheMage]

We pay $200 per month in association, which does cover electrical, garbage, snow removal, mowing, etc, etc. We live in a 11 unit complex.

$600 seems way too much, even if you have pool, elevator, etc. Unless it's a really popular/expensive area to live??

 

[IceBergSLiM]

what Amenities does the HOA fee cover?

 

[Vette73]

Heres one...

http://www.google.com/url?q=http://...E&cd=5&usg=AFQjCNHllFbTnsB4keD3nCXhsr_oFncE8whttp://www.redfin.com/VA/Falls-Church/6001-Arlington-Blvd-22044/unit-717/home/9569030
$613 a month


http://www.redfin.com/VA/Falls-Church/6143-Leesburg-Pike-22041/unit-205/home/9646655
Over $700 a month

 

[D1gger]

We have a 900 ft2 condo in Vancouver and our strata fees (Canadian version of HOA) are ~$425 per month, which includes electricity and hot/cold water. It is a nice reasonably new 10 story highrise, but not what I would consider a really high end building.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

that's normal for a high CoL area like NYC but pretty high for a cheap crummy region like NoVA.

 

[lstratos]

Friend just bought a condo, 1800sq ft in nyc, they pay 1000 maintenance, includes pretty much everything, gas, electricial, gym, pool, garbage disposal, snow shovel (winter)..

 

[Russwinters]

Enjoy your state!


I live in Socal (Orange County)


$1450 for 1200sq 2 bedroom 1 bath.

and thats a good deal, in a good area.


you can get a 2 bed 1 bath for like $900, but you are liable to hear gunshots from time to time.

 

[Capt Caveman]

The HOA/COA should be able to provide you financials that document how the HOA/COA fees are used.

Fees will vary based on age and amenities covered.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

i live in nova too.

vastly different fees depending on condo or house.

our townhouse fees are ~90/month and include landscaping, garbage, snow, and commonity areas (pool, tennis etc.).

600 does not seem outrageous for a CONDO fee structure + utilities