Homeowners and Neighborhood Associations

Homeowners and Neighborhood Associations

Written by Candace Birkelbach Friday, 22 August 2008

When looking for a home, it can be beneficial to know the difference between a homeowners association and a neighborhood association. Some neighborhoods have both. But one may be more beneficial for a particular situation.

A homeowners association is a legal entity that has been created by the developer of a specific subdivision. The HOA manages the planning and marketing of the project, provides for the maintenance of common areas and enforces the conditions, covenants and restrictions of the subdivision.

Once a certain number of properties have been sold, the developer turns the management of the subdivision over to an HOA board. Board members are volunteers who own property in the subdivision and have been elected to serve as officers or committee members.

HOAs have bylaws, collect and manage dues, arrange for maintenance of common areas and private roads, and enforce conditions set forth in the covenants, conditions and restrictions. These conditions are what preserve the property values and the stability of the subdivision. The collected fees are typically used for maintenance for areas of common interest to the homeowners. Many HOAs enforce codes and standards of upkeep for properties and sometimes incorporate the HOA with the state.

While an HOA is primarily concerned with the internal business of the subdivision, a neighborhood association is concerned with a specific area or district of the city or suburb.

Neighborhood associations are groups of subdivisions and businesses united by a common geographic area. Concern about issues in the neighborhood, such as crime watch, is another reason why neighborhood associations may form.

They typically do not collect dues but serve as a resource for people with common interests to work together. Whereas an HOA is usually made up of just a few hundred homes in a single subdivision, a neighborhood association may consist of many hundreds of homes and businesses in different subdivisions.

Homeowners may be members of both a homeowners and neighborhood association. Homeowners can start their own neighborhood association by registering with the city of Austin.

Sources: Austin Neighborhoods Council and the city of Austin

How to start a neighborhood association

1. Join the city of Austin’s Community Registry.
2. Fill out an application at: www.ci.austin.tx.us/neighbor/defaultnew.cfm.
3. Keep contact information current. The city uses the community registry to send out hearing notices, zoning changes, amber alerts and other geographical information.
4. Keep an updated website with meeting times and current events.
5. Join the Austin Neighborhoods Council to collaborate with other neighborhoods at www.ancweb.org/join_anc.htm.

Area Neighborhood and Homeowners Associations

78727

• Angus Valley Area Neighborhood Association, John D. Baylor • 258-2511, Jbaylor1@austin.rr.com • www.main.org/avana
• Champions Forest Homeowners Association, Jayme Foley • 342-0391, president@championsforest.org • www.championsforest.org
• Lamplight Village Area Neighborhood Association, Kim Johnson • 339-9722, moocherie@juno.com • www.main.org/lvana
• McNeil Drive Neighborhood Association, Bob Schluter • 255-2071, rschluter@sbcglobal.net
• McNeil Estates Neighborhood Association, Craig Shempert • 244-2016, shempert@iname.com
• North Shields Neighborhood Association, Robert Barker • 218-9375, rbarker@austin.rr.com
• Northwood Neighborhood Association, Cheryl Vanek • 244-4368, NorthwoodPresident@gmail.com, www.main.org/northwood/index.htm,
• Preston Oaks Owners Association, Denise Harris • 833-6928, mharris1@austin.rr.com • poh.goodwintx.com
• The Ridge at Scofield Homeowners Association, Debra Johnson • 502-7043, Debra.Johnson@goodwintx.com • www.goodwintx.com
• River Place Residential Community Association, Inc., Wick Tobias • 349-9759, www.riverplacehoa.org
• Scofield Farms Residents Association, Scott Peterson • 832-9218, webmaster@scofieldridge.org • scofieldridge.org
• Summit Oaks Neighborhood Association, Marie Moore • 258-5633, mooremd10@aol.com
• Valley Oaks and More Neighborhood Association, groups.yahoo.com/group/ourneighbors_group
• The Woods of Century Park Homeowners Association, Mike Raney • 218-0604, mraney@austin.rr.com • www.centurypark.org

78729

• Indian Oaks Neighborhood Association, John P. Shanks • 258-8839, johnprestonshanks@gmail.com
• Rattan Creek Neighborhood Association, Brian Kerman • 921-4490, president@rattancreek.org • rattancreek.org

78750

• Acres West Homeowners Association, Cindy Barron • 258-2142 • biotx69@hotmail.com
• Anderson Mill Neighborhood Association, Phillip R Denney • 331-5783, andersonmillna@yahoo.com • www.main.org/amna
• Balcones Village-Spicewood Homeowners Association, Cathy Brocato • 250-3604, www.bvshoa.com
• Bull Creek Homeowners Association, Mark Clardy • 345-9613, mclardy@austin.rr.com
• Canyon Creek Homeowners Association, John Connors • 294-2551, board@canyoncreek.net • www.canyoncreeknews.com
• Jester Homeowners Association Development, Patricia R. Seeger • 372-8702, prseeger@austin.rr.com
• Jester Homeowners Association, Inc., Phillip J. Kolman • 346-1619, pkolman@sbcglobal.net • www.jesterneighbors.com
• Lake Pointe Homeowners Association, Pat Sinnott • 263-1860, psinnott@austin.rr.com • lakepointehoa.org
• Neighborhood Association of Southwestern Williamson County, Scott Smidt • 740-2656, pres@naswc.org • www.naswc.org
• Scofield Residential Homeowners Association, Craig Isley • 219-1927
• Spicewood Estates Homeowners Association, Fern Westhead • 219-0611, www.seha.us
• Spicewood on Bull Creek Homeowners Association, Dave Van De Moortel • 335-7550
• Tanglewood Estates Neighborhood Association, Jeff French • 219-9024

78758

• Gracywoods Neighborhood Association, Mary Rudig • 406-5553, info@gracywoods.org • www.gracywoods.com
• North Austin Civic Association, Anthony Williams • 1-866-531-4620, williams762@earthlink.net • www.main.org/naca
• North Park Estates Neighborhood Association, www.main.org/northpark
• Park at Quail Creek Homeowners Association, Holly Skeen • 836-1383, www.pqchoa.com
• Quail Run Homeowners Association, Inc., Betty Merritt • 832-1618, betty.merritt@twcable.com
• River Oaks Lakes Estates Neighborhood, Jon Luden • 836-2167, jon.dico@gmail.com • www.main.org/rona

78759

• Balcones Woods Homeowners, Grant Hennig • 346-6465, president@balconeswoods.org • www.balconeswoods.org
• Bull Creek Foundation, Skip Cameron • 794-0531, scameron@austin.rr.com • www.bullcreek.net
• Courtyard Homeowner Association, Marilyn Childress • 502-7509, president@courtyardhoa.org • courtyardhoa.org
• Davenport Ranch Master Neighborhood Association, Earline Wakefield • 502-7548, www.davenportranch.org
• Great Hills Reserve, Mitchell Zoll • 301-0309, President@greathillsreserve.com • www.greathillsreserve.com
• Great Hills Sections IX and X Homeowners Association, Adrienne Seiler • 351-7596, president@ghhassociation.org • www.ghhassociation.org
• Laurel Oaks Neighborhood Association, Tanya Normand • 974-5556, www.Laurel-Oaks.org
• North Oaks Neighborhood Association, Don Fletcher • 250-9288, don@lockwood-eng.com
• Old Spicewood Springs Road Neighborhood Association, David Gabriel Mandy • 343-2095
• Overland Park Homeowners Association, Earline J. Wakefield • 502-7526
• Pioneer Crossing West Homeowners Association & Pioneer East Homeowners Association, Inc., Randy Vogel • 970-5269 or 502-7506, Randy.Vogel@GoodwinTX.com, pcw.goodwintx.com, peh.goodwintx.com
• Ridge at Balcones Neighborhood Association, Penny Taylor • 507-8530, pennytaylor@swbell.net
• Summerwood II Homeowners Association of Austin Inc., Ann Ward • 338-1623, www.summerwood2hoa.com
• Walnut Crossing Neighborhood Association, Javier J. Bonafont • 490-6616, bonafont@sbcglobal.net • www.main.org./wxna
• Yaupon Bluffs Community Association, Martha Morgan • 502-7028