Any tips on finding out HOA info on REO listings, other than asking the neighbors?

Could call another agent with listings in the sub, but wondering what everyone else does.

Check MLS for prior listings in that neighborhood and pull the information from MLS (if yours contains that info, mine does but idiot agents sometimes populate it with junk).

Google.

Call the major HOA management companies in your area to see if they handle it. I've found many neighborhoods bounce from company to company and if they don't currently handle that subdivision, they know who does. If you don't know who these companies are in your area, learn them and keep a contact list. It could prove a huge time savings in the future.

We usually check online as most in our area have web sites.

Also, check with the county/state as they all have to be registered (at least in FL) as they are a legal entity.

Nighbors are quickest, Our MLS has a place to put who the HOA is so we sometimes find it there. We at times have gone to county lien data as many REOs have HOA liens on them.

Good Luck.

I've found this to be the best way. I usually search as follows:

neighborhood name (in quotes) + HOA + city name

I find them that way about 90% of the time.

Our mls does not have that info and it's not in the public records. I just call/email agents who have any listed, pending, or sold in the last 6 months in the same complex. What makes matters worse is some complexes have 6+ hoas. That can be a pain.

We have the same issues as BPO Bill does. Usually call a listing agent from a prior listing to see if they can point in the right direction.

What works well here is a call to a local and well established escrow company. They generally have all the HOA's on file for the area.

I got a fax (yes a fax), I guess they forgot my e-mail address, this morning from a large, not respected, title company that is handling one of my REO sales this morning. They were asking me to help find the HOA information. It took her longer to type that, fax me, then it would have to do just as northtxbroker said to do. So even escrow/title companies don't know it all.

Thanks for the many responses, I ended up calling the previous agent who listed the home--worked out good.

Just a heads up - make sure you always ask if there is a transfer fee for when a property sells - these HOAs are charging and it is pretty high sometimes - I had one that was $250 - now that is a lot to "transfer" a property to a new owner.

You're right Edge... HOA fees have gotten steep. In my area, the avg HOA Transfer/Doc fees are now upwards of $500. And of course they want it paid upfront before they will prepare or release the HOA docs! Buyers don't like to pay upfront until they've completed all inspections which can create time delays for contingency removal. Sellers don't want to pay upfront, even if they agreed to pay all HOA Transfer/Doc fees which puts another out-of-pocket expense for the L.A.

Yeah, I was one of those angry reo agents who deal with HOA Management Companies every day. To get even I created a free forum for anybody, agents, homeowners, prospective buyers, etc. to post their rating, add/edit hoa information and give feedback on HOA's!!!

Got a client with an HOA Complaint? Does your buyer want to know more about a neighborhood HOA? Want to know the dues and amenities of an HOA? I have found the source for us Realtor's for just this!

Wouldn’t it be nice to know everything about a Homeowners Association so you can relay this information to a buyer when out touring a neighborhood? HOA Radar is a free place to add, research and review HOA’s nationwide! The website is a combination of a Forum/Blog/Rating website dedicated to Free Nationwide HOA content.

This revolutionary homeowners association website is in its Beta version, but like Active Rain, Zillow and Trulia, it helps to get there first! They currently have HOA Moderators imputing data in Texas, Illinois, Colorado, California and Nevada and if you can’t find your HOA feel free to add it.

Each HOA includes their rating, information on amenities, fees, management company/contact information and feedback from homeowners. In addition, HOA Radar has a section for each state dedicated to HOA Management Companies, where homeowners and HOA Board members can rate their management company and provide feedback.

HOA Radar even has a private chat forum for HOA Managers to communicate privately nationwide as well as an exclusive HOA Board members forum dedicated to active Board Members Nationwide to collaborate and share great HOA practices.

If you haven’t checked out the website yet, remember it’s in beta right now and if you want to get your name out there, apply to moderate your state! Like any community run website, we all need to ban together and add some content.

http://www.hoaradar.com

Great Idea! We've been needing something like this. I just joined.

Now that doesn't look suspicious at all.

??? Are you saying its supicious that I think an
HOA list is a good idea?