If you’ve been scrolling listings around Columbus, Powell, Dublin, Westerville or Lewis Center, you’ve seen it:

“HOA: $275/month” or “Condo fee: $350/month.”

Most buyers either shrug and ignore it… or panic and skip the place entirely. Both reactions are wrong. Let’s break down what you’re actually paying for in Central Ohio communities—from Evans Farm to Upper Arlington, New Albany, and Delaware—so you can decide if those fees are a waste of money or a built-in sanity saver.

1. HOA vs. Condo Association: Same Idea, Different Scope

Quick definitions:

• HOA (Homeowners Association) – Usually for single-family neighborhoods, planned communities, or places like Evans Farm, parts of Powell, Dublin, Lewis Center, and Delaware. You own your home and lot; HOA oversees shared spaces and rules.

• Condo association – You own your unit’s interior; the association owns/maintains the building exterior and common areas. Big factor in many Columbus, Westerville, and Upper Arlington condo/townhome developments.

Same core idea: everyone pays in so shared things don’t fall apart and the neighborhood doesn’t turn into the Wild West.

2. What Those Monthly Fees Usually Cover (The Good Stuff)

You’re not just lighting money on fire each month (or at least you shouldn’t be).

Typical line items your fees might cover:

• Exterior maintenance (roof, siding, gutters on condos/townhomes)

• Lawn care, snow removal, landscaping in common areas

• Community amenities: pool, clubhouse, fitness room, walking paths, playgrounds

• Master insurance policy (you still carry your own, but this handles the bigger shared pieces)

• Trash, sometimes water/sewer (varies by community)

• Reserve fund for big projects: roofs, paving, exterior paint, etc.

So that $250–$400/month in a Westerville or New Albany condo community might sound steep… until you realize you’re not paying separately for mowing, mulching, plowing, exterior painting, or the roof.

3. What Fees Don’t Cover (Where Buyers Get Surprised)

Here’s where people over-assume:

Your HOA/condo dues usually do not cover:

• Inside your unit: HVAC, appliances, flooring, plumbing/electric inside the walls

• Property taxes

• Your personal homeowners/condo insurance policy

• Utilities (unless specifically listed)

Also: an HOA fee in a single-family neighborhood in Powell, Dublin, or Lewis Center that’s $350/year is very different from a condo fee in an Upper Arlington or Downtown Columbus building that’s $400/month. One is “we mow the entrance and maintain the pond,” the other is “we maintain the building that keeps your home standing.”

4. When High Fees Are Actually a Red Flag

Not all fees are created equal. Things I’m watching when we look at properties in Columbus, Powell, Dublin, Westerville, Evans Farm, New Albany, Upper Arlington, Lewis Center, or Delaware:

• Are fees high and reserves low?

  That can mean a special assessment is coming (translation: a surprise bill to each owner for a big project).

• Is the place falling apart anyway?

  High fees but bad landscaping, tired amenities, or obvious deferred maintenance = someone’s not managing the money well.

• Are amenities “nice on paper” but ones you’ll never use?

  Paying a premium for tennis courts and a giant pool you’ll never touch can feel great in the brochure and annoying in your budget.

Fees shouldn’t just be “how much”—they should be “how much, for what, and how well is it managed?”

5. How We Decide If a Fee Is Worth It for You

This is where we zoom out and look at your actual life:

• Hate mowing, shoveling, and exterior projects? A higher condo/HOA fee in Westerville, New Albany, or Lewis Center might buy you time and sanity.

• Love projects, don’t mind maintenance, and want control? A low-fee or no-fee home in parts of Columbus, Powell, Dublin, or Delaware might be a better fit.

• Want amenities—pool, clubhouse, walking paths—but don’t want to build them yourself? Evans Farm-style or planned communities can make those fees feel like a deal.

When we tour, I’m not just looking at bedrooms and countertops—I’m looking at the whole monthly picture: mortgage + taxes + insurance + HOA/condo dues, and what you’re getting for each dollar.

If you’re confused by HOA and condo fees and want to know which Columbus-area communities give you the most bang for your monthly buck (and which ones to avoid), that’s exactly the kind of strategy conversation I’m built for.

[Contact Patrick Murphy, REALTOR® — Columbus, Powell & Dublin Expert]