Before you fall for the porch swing and the kitchen island, read the HOA fine print. In Central Ohio—Columbus, Powell, Dublin, plus Westerville, Upper Arlington, New Albany, Lewis Center, and Delaware—the association can make your life smooth… or sideways. Here’s the no-fluff playbook I use with clients.

1) Decode the Docs (Don’t Guess the Rules)

Ask for: Declaration/CC&Rs, Bylaws, Rules & Regs, Budget, Reserve Study, Insurance certificate, and last 12 months of meeting minutes. I scan for rental caps, pet limits, parking rules, short-term rental bans, and architectural review procedures—especially for fences, sheds, paint colors, and porches. Evans Farm? Expect design review and specific fence styles. UA condo? Different animal—often tighter rules and common-area constraints.

2) Fees Today vs. Fees Tomorrow

Monthly/quarterly dues are just the cover charge. What matters: reserve strength and upcoming projects. Roofs, roads, pools, and ponds = real money. In New Albany, amenity packages can be robust; in Westerville’s Highland Lakes or Lewis Center pockets, master + sub-association dues sometimes stack. I’ll model the true annual cost and flag any fee drift hiding in the budget notes.

3) Use & Lifestyle (Fences, EV Chargers, Pets, and Toys)

Fences: material, height, and placement are rarely “do what you want.” Corner lots and lake lots are the most restricted. Want an EV charger, hot tub, or playset? Some HOAs require architectural approval and licensed installs. Pet counts, breed/weight limits, and leash rules vary—Delaware and Powell communities can differ street to street. We get approvals in writing before you spend a dollar.

4) Finance & Resale Ripples

Condo? Lenders care about owner-occupancy ratios, litigation, insurance coverage, and delinquency rates. Weak reserves or ongoing lawsuits can kill FHA/VA and spook conventional underwriters. Even in Dublin and Westerville, rental caps change your resale buyer pool. I’ll pressure-test financing up front so you don’t learn the hard way at underwriting.

5) Offer Strategy That Protects You

Build a clean “document review” contingency with a tight clock (typically 3 business days after full delivery). Specify who pays transfer/estoppel fees. If fencing or exterior changes are a must, request architectural pre-approval as part of the deal—or escrow a holdback until approval lands. I’ll calendar the deadlines, chase missing docs, and keep your earnest money safe if the HOA doesn’t fit your life.

CTA:

Want me to pull the HOA docs, translate the legalese, and tell you—plainly—what you can and can’t do in Columbus, Powell, Dublin, Westerville, Upper Arlington, New Albany, Lewis Center, or Delaware? I’ll run the play and keep you out of surprises.

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