Buyer guide
HOA and PUD communities in Lake Havasu: what to ask before you buy
In Lake Havasu, the HOA rule that matters most is rarely about paint colors. It is about where your boat can sit.
Short answer
Before buying in a Lake Havasu HOA or PUD, get written answers to five things: where boats, RVs and trailers may be parked and for how long; whether rentals are allowed; what the dues are and what they cover; what one-time fees are due at closing; and whether any special assessment is planned. Ask for the parking and rental rules before you make an offer, not after.
HOA, PUD or neither
You will see three situations in Lake Havasu listings.
- No HOA. Common across the original city. City code applies, and nothing else.
- PUD. You own your home and lot. An association owns shared areas, often private streets and a gate. Common in smaller enclaves.
- Master-planned HOA. A larger association with amenities, design review and sometimes a second layer of rules for each neighborhood inside it.
The neighborhoods guide shows which communities fall where.
Parking: ask these first
For a boat, RV or trailer owner, these questions decide whether the home works at all.
- May a boat, RV or trailer be parked in the driveway? For how long?
- May one be kept in a side yard? Does it have to be behind a gate or below the wall?
- Is there a time limit for loading and unloading?
- May guests park a truck and trailer overnight? On the street or only in the driveway?
- Are there limits on vehicle height, length or type?
- Are detached garages, RV garages or shade structures allowed, and how tall?
- How are the rules enforced, and what are the fines?
Rentals
- Are rentals allowed at all?
- Is there a minimum stay, such as 30 days?
- Is there a cap on how many homes may be rented?
- Do renters have to register with the association?
The city has its own vacation rental permit. An HOA can be stricter than the city. See the rental section of the second-home guide.
Money
- What are the dues, and how often are they billed?
- What do they cover? Gate, streets, landscaping, amenities, anything inside the lot?
- When did they last go up, and by how much?
- Is a special assessment planned or being discussed?
- How healthy are the reserves? Is there a recent reserve study?
- What one-time fees are due at closing? Ask about transfer fees, working capital contributions and disclosure fees.
- Is there a second association, such as a master and a neighborhood association, each with dues?
- Are club, golf or marina fees separate from the HOA?
Design and use
- What needs approval? Paint, landscaping, solar, a pool, a patio cover, a garage addition.
- How long does approval take?
- Are there height limits that protect, or threaten, a view?
- Are there rules on pets, such as number or size?
- Is the community age-restricted under federal housing law?
- Who maintains the streets, and are they private?
How to read the documents
An HOA packet can run to hundreds of pages. Read in this order.
- The rules and regulations. The shortest and most practical. Parking and rental rules usually live here.
- The CC&Rs. The recorded covenants. Search for "vehicle," "recreational," "trailer," "lease" and "rent."
- The design guidelines. If you plan to build or change anything.
- The budget and reserve study. To see whether dues are likely to rise.
- Recent meeting minutes. They show what owners are arguing about and what the board is planning.
- The resale statement. It lists the dues, any amounts the seller owes, and fees due at closing.
When you get them, and what Paige does first
In Arizona, the association or the seller provides these documents during escrow, and you have a review period to cancel if they do not work for you. The timeline is in what happens after your offer is accepted.
Waiting for that packet is the slow way. For a home you are serious about, Paige asks the listing agent or the management company for the parking and rental rules before you make an offer. If the rules do not fit your boat, you find out before you spend money on inspections.
No HOA does not mean no rules
Homes outside an association still follow Lake Havasu City code. The city has rules for where vehicles may be parked, for vacation rentals, for noise and for property upkeep. It also means your neighbors are held to city code and nothing more. For some buyers that is the whole appeal. For others it is the reason to choose a gated community. Neither is wrong.
Questions buyers ask
What is the difference between an HOA and a PUD?
A planned unit development, or PUD, is a type of community where you own your home and lot and an association owns and maintains shared areas such as private streets or a gate. An HOA is the association itself. In everyday use in Lake Havasu, both words mean there are recorded rules and dues.
Do I have to join the HOA?
Yes, if the property is inside one. Membership comes with the lot. The rules are recorded against the property and bind every owner.
Can an HOA stop me from parking my boat at home?
It can limit or prohibit parking a boat, RV or trailer where it can be seen, if the recorded rules say so. Many gated communities here require them to be garaged. Homes outside an HOA follow city code only.
When do I get the HOA documents?
During escrow, the association or the seller must provide the governing documents and a statement of dues and fees within a period set by Arizona law. You then have a short review period. You can also ask for the key rules before you ever write an offer.