Stephen Burright and Harley Too

Stephen Burright and Harley Too Backed by experience, integrity, and proven results—plus my sidekick Harley Too 🐾

Award-Winning • Trusted • Results-Driven
Helping buyers and sellers make confident real estate decisions with expert guidance, strong negotiation, and personalized service.

09/01/2026

Keep enjoying 90's week on HGTV with this throwback episode of Hous...

# 🐾 Harley’s Home Tips #28 # Love the House? Better Check the HOA Before You Buy!Hey friends, Harley here. 🐶🐾Beautiful...
08/31/2026

# 🐾 Harley’s Home Tips #28

# Love the House? Better Check the HOA Before You Buy!

Hey friends, Harley here. 🐶🐾

Beautiful house.

Perfect kitchen.

Great backyard.

Plenty of room for my treats.

You’re ready to write the offer.

But then Stephen asks:

**“Have you looked at the HOA?”**

If the home belongs to a homeowners association, you’re not only buying the property.

You may also be agreeing to **rules, fees, restrictions, and financial obligations** that can affect how you use your new home.

Here’s what smart buyers should investigate.

# # 💰 1. Know What the HOA Actually Costs

Start with the regular HOA dues.

Ask:

• How much are they?

• How often are they paid?

• What do they cover?

• When were they last increased?

• Are increases expected?

A $400 monthly HOA payment adds **$4,800 per year** to your housing expenses.

That needs to be part of your budget before you buy.

# # ⚠️ 2. Ask About Special Assessments

This one can surprise buyers.

If an HOA needs money for a major expense and doesn’t have enough reserves, owners may face a **special assessment**.

That could involve expenses such as:

• Roof replacement

• Road repairs

• Exterior work

• Community plumbing

• Clubhouse or pool repairs

• Major landscaping projects

A beautiful community doesn’t automatically mean the association is financially healthy.

# # 📊 3. Look at the HOA’s Financial Health

Don't just look at the monthly dues.

Look deeper.

Depending on what's available, buyers may want to review:

✔ Budget information

✔ Reserve information

✔ Upcoming projects

✔ Delinquencies

✔ Pending assessments

✔ Recent financial statements

If expensive repairs are coming and the reserves are thin, that deserves attention.

# # 📚 4. READ THE RULES

Yes, actually read them.

An HOA may have restrictions involving:

• RVs

• Boats

• Motorcycles

• Commercial vehicles

• Exterior paint colors

• Fences

• Landscaping

• Pets

• Parking

• Rentals

• Home businesses

You don't want to discover AFTER closing that something important to your lifestyle isn't allowed.

# # 🏘️ 5. Planning to Rent the Property Someday?

Pay close attention.

Some associations restrict:

• Short-term rentals

• Long-term rentals

• The percentage of homes that may be rented

• Minimum lease periods

• Tenant requirements

Even if you're buying the property as your primary residence today, those restrictions could affect your options later.

# # 📝 6. Review the HOA Documents Before You Commit

Don't assume:

**“Everybody else lives there, so it must be fine.”**

Read the documents available to you.

Ask questions.

Understand the costs.

Understand the restrictions.

And pay attention to the deadlines in your purchase agreement for reviewing HOA information.

# # 🐾 Harley’s Bottom Line

**Don't fall in love with the house and forget about the HOA.**

You're buying both.

The right HOA can help maintain a community and protect shared amenities.

The wrong fit can leave you frustrated with rules you never expected or expenses you didn't budget for.

Know what you're agreeing to **before you get the keys.**

Thinking about buying?

Stephen will help you ask the right questions, understand the documents you're receiving, and make a more informed decision before you commit.

📞 **360-261-2062**

🌐 **stephenburright.com**

Paws up,

**Harley 🐾**

Stephen Burright and Harley Too

08/30/2026

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08/26/2026

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# 🐾 Harley’s Home Tips #27 # That Fence Might NOT Be Your Property LineHey friends, Harley here. 🐶🐾You found a house w...
08/24/2026

# 🐾 Harley’s Home Tips #27

# That Fence Might NOT Be Your Property Line

Hey friends, Harley here. 🐶🐾

You found a house with a great backyard.

Nice fence.

Big shed.

Maybe even enough room for me to patrol the whole place.

So everything inside that fence belongs to you... right?

**Not necessarily.**

One mistake buyers can make is assuming a fence, hedge, driveway, or row of trees automatically marks the legal property boundary.

Sometimes it does.

Sometimes it doesn't.

And that's something you want to understand **before you buy.**

# # 📍 A Fence Is Not a Survey

A fence shows you where someone decided to put a fence.

It doesn't necessarily show you where the legal property line is.

Fences can be:

• Inside the property line

• Over the property line

• Shared with a neighbor

• Installed years ago without confirming the boundary

Never assume the fence tells the whole story.

# # 🏡 Why Property Lines Matter

Imagine buying a home because you love the huge backyard.

Then discovering part of what you thought was your yard actually belongs to the neighbor.

Or finding out that:

• A shed crosses a boundary

• A driveway partially sits on another property

• A neighbor's fence is on your property

• Landscaping extends beyond the legal lot

• A structure doesn't have the setback you expected

Suddenly, a little line on a map becomes a pretty big deal.

# # 🗺️ Look at the Property Information

Depending on the property and situation, useful information may include:

✔ Legal description

✔ Plat map

✔ County records

✔ Recorded surveys

✔ Easements

✔ Title documents

These documents can provide important information, but don't assume every online map shows an exact legal boundary.

# # 🚩 Pay Attention to Easements

You may own the land and still have someone else with legal rights to use part of it.

An easement could involve:

• Utilities

• Shared driveways

• Access roads

• Drainage

• Neighbor access

That's why easements deserve attention before you purchase.

# # 📏 When Should You Consider a Survey?

A professional survey may be worth considering when:

✔ Property lines aren't obvious

✔ You're buying acreage

✔ A structure appears close to a boundary

✔ There is a shared driveway

✔ You plan to build a fence, shop, garage, or addition

✔ The seller and neighbor disagree about a boundary

✔ Something simply doesn't look right

A survey can cost money.

A property-line dispute can cost a whole lot more.

# # 🌲 Acreage Buyers, Pay Extra Attention

This becomes even more important with larger parcels.

Don't assume:

**"The property goes from that tree to that fence."**

Verify what you're actually buying.

Ten acres on paper doesn't help much if you don't understand where those ten acres actually are.

# # 🐾 Harley’s Bottom Line

**Don't buy the fence line.**

**Buy the property line.**

Know where your property begins, where it ends, and what rights other people may have to use it.

Because after closing is a terrible time to discover that your new shop, driveway, fence, or favorite part of the backyard isn't where you thought it was.

Thinking about buying?

Stephen will help you ask the right questions and know when additional due diligence may be worth considering before you commit.

📞 **360-261-2062**

🌐 **stephenburright.com**

Paws up,

**Harley 🐾**
Stephen Burright and Harley Too

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