# HOA dues

> HOA dues are fees a homeowners association charges to maintain shared property. They’re paid separately but count when you qualify. Example and checks.

URL: https://mail.mortgage-math-us.com/glossary/hoa-dues/  
Last reviewed: 2026-10-29 · By the MortgageMath US Editorial team

## Quick answer

**HOA dues** are regular fees that a homeowners association — or a condo or co-op association — charges owners to maintain shared property and services. They are usually paid directly to the association, not included in the payment you make to your mortgage servicer.

## How dues affect what you can borrow

Lenders add HOA dues to your housing payment when they figure your [housing ratio](https://mail.mortgage-math-us.com/glossary/housing-ratio/) and [debt-to-income ratio](https://mail.mortgage-math-us.com/glossary/debt-to-income-ratio/), even though the dues don’t pass through the servicer. Say your budget for total housing costs is $2,500 a month, with 10% down and a 30-year loan at 7.24%. With no HOA, that supports a home of about $323,000. With $300 a month in dues, the same budget supports about $284,000 — $39,000 less. The [affordability calculator](https://mail.mortgage-math-us.com/tools/affordability-calculator/) has an HOA field to test your own numbers.

## What to check before you buy

- **The amount and history.** Dues range from a few hundred dollars a month to more than a thousand, and they can rise.
- **Reserves and special assessments.** A thin reserve fund can mean one-time charges for big repairs.
- **The rules.** Covenants can limit rentals, pets, parking and exterior changes.
- **Collection rights.** Unpaid dues can become a [lien](https://mail.mortgage-math-us.com/glossary/lien/) on the home, and in some states the association can foreclose.

Unlike [PITI](https://mail.mortgage-math-us.com/glossary/piti/), dues aren’t usually in escrow, so budget for them as a separate bill.

## Sources

- [Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey](https://www.freddiemac.com/pmms) — 30-year fixed rate, national weekly average (Week of Oct 29, 2026)
- [US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year](https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDT1Y2024.B25103?g=010XX00US) — Effective property tax rate (median taxes ÷ median home value) (2024 ACS 1-year)
- [Freddie Mac Research](https://www.freddiemac.com/research/insight/homeowners-insurance-costs) — Average homeowners insurance premium per $1,000 of home value (2023 data)
- [Freddie Mac My Home](https://myhome.freddiemac.com/buying/breaking-down-pmi) — Typical PMI cost, low end; Typical PMI cost, high end (Oct 28, 2026)
- [CFPB: Are condo/co-op fees or homeowners’ association dues included in my monthly mortgage payment?](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/are-condoco-op-fees-or-homeowners-association-dues-included-in-my-monthly-mortgage-payment-en-1945/)

_General information, not financial advice._