The Condo HOA Playbook
The association is half of what you buy with a condo. This free 8-page playbook explains how Central Ohio condo and HOA associations work, what fees usually cover, how to read a budget and the condo documents, the red flags to watch for and the questions to ask the board or management company.
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How Central Ohio condo associations work: what fees cover, budgets and reserves, the documents to read, red flags and the questions to ask. Enter your name and email and the PDF is ready right away.
What’s inside
- Condo vs. planned community (HOA) under Ohio law
- Typical Columbus HOA fees by building type
- What fees usually cover, and what stays your cost
- How to read the budget, reserves and reserve study
- The document package and the red flags in it
- The management companies most often named in listings
- A one-page due-diligence checklist
More free resources: the 2027 Columbus Condo Community Guide, the Condo HOA Directory and all free condo guides.
FAQ
What questions should I ask a condo HOA before buying?
Ask what the fee covers, how much fees have gone up, the reserve balance and date of the last reserve study, any planned projects or special assessments, pending litigation, the master insurance deductible, the owner-occupancy rate, and the pet, leasing and parking rules.
What do Columbus condo HOA fees cover?
Most suburban associations cover lawn care, snow removal, exterior building maintenance, trash and the master insurance policy, and many cover water and sewer. High-rise fees also fund staff, elevators and building systems.
What are red flags in condo association documents?
Low reserves with older roofs or siding, pending litigation, repeated large fee increases, a special assessment under discussion, high delinquencies or a high share of rented units.