buylive from the mlscondos and townhomesboyenga team at compass
The HOA Lab
For a condo or townhome, the price is only part of the monthly cost. The HOA Lab reads every condo and townhome for sale in a city, live from the MLS, and shows the HOA dues, dues per square foot and the all-in monthly cost at your down payment and rate.
- for sale now…condos and townhomes
- median HOA dues…as listed
- median dues per sq ft…per month
- median all-in cost…at your assumptions below
the dues
HOA dues for condos and townhomes in San Jose
How the monthly HOA dues of condos and townhomes for sale are spread out, and how they change with price. Dues are as listed in the MLS.
By price range
| list price | for sale | median HOA | HOA per sq ft | all-in monthly | HOA share |
|---|
All-in monthly = principal and interest on a 30-year fixed loan at your down payment and rate, plus property tax, your unit insurance estimate and the listed HOA dues. HOA share is the median of each listing’s dues divided by its all-in cost.
This city has more listings than the page reads at once, so the figures use the 1,200 highest-priced condos and townhomes.
your numbers
What a typical condo costs each month
Change the assumptions and every figure on the page updates, including the cards below.
Defaults match our real estate calculators and are assumptions, not quotes: use your lender’s rate and an insurance quote. Mello-Roos and other special taxes, utilities and repairs aren’t included.
for sale now
Condos and townhomes for sale in San Jose
Condos and townhomes for sale with an HOA amount listed, live from the MLS. Each card shows the dues and the all-in monthly cost at your assumptions.
Listings are for sale and reported to the MLS through our IDX feeds. Each listing is provided by the brokerage named on it. Information is shown as reported and not guaranteed; prices and status can change at any time.
the nerd check
Read the HOA before you fall for the unit
The HOA packet
- The HOA document packetCalifornia sellers in an HOA must provide the governing documents, the latest annual disclosures, a statement of current regular and special assessments and any unpaid amounts, and any rental or leasing limits (Civil Code 4525).
- Coming assessments and fee changesThe packet also lists board-approved assessments and fee changes that aren’t due yet. Ask whether any large projects are being discussed.
- ReservesAsk for the reserve study summary and see how much is set aside for future repairs compared with what the study recommends.
- Inspections and defectsThe packet includes the latest inspection report under Civil Code 5551 and any construction-defect notices the association has sent members.
- Board minutesIf you ask, the seller provides approved board minutes from the past 12 months. They often show what’s coming before it’s in the budget.
Insurance and financing
- Know what the master policy coversFannie Mae requires a walls-in unit policy when the association’s master policy doesn’t cover the unit’s interior or has a per-unit deductible. Read the master policy summary, then price your own policy.
- Earthquake and assessmentsCondo policies don’t cover earthquake damage. A California Earthquake Authority condo policy can provide up to $100,000 toward your share of certain association assessments for covered earthquake damage.
- Ask your lender about the complexSome loan programs review the whole association, not just the unit. Give your lender the HOA name early so a complex issue doesn’t surprise you late.
- Count the dues in your budgetLenders count HOA dues in your monthly debt, so higher dues lower the price you qualify for. The Mortgage Lab shows how.
HOA dues pay for real things: the building’s insurance, upkeep and reserves for future repairs. Low dues aren’t always a bargain if the reserves are thin. We read the HOA packet with you before you remove contingencies.
questions
Questions we hear
How is the monthly cost figured?
Principal and interest on a 30-year fixed loan at your down payment and rate, plus property tax at your rate, your unit insurance estimate and the listed HOA dues. It leaves out Mello-Roos and other special taxes, utilities and repairs.
Why don’t some condos show up?
Listings without an HOA amount, or without a full address, are left out of the HOA figures and cards. The page says how many listings show an HOA amount.
What do HOA dues pay for?
It depends on the association: common-area upkeep, the master insurance policy, reserves for future repairs and sometimes some utilities. The association’s annual disclosures show the budget, and the seller provides them.
What documents should I get before I buy?
The Civil Code 4525 packet: governing documents, the latest annual disclosures, a statement of assessments and fees, any rental limits, construction-defect notices, the latest Civil Code 5551 inspection report and, if you ask, 12 months of board minutes.
How often does it update?
Each time the page loads, from the MLS through our IDX feeds. Your browser keeps a copy for 15 minutes so switching cities is quick.
more to learn
Keep going
- Mortgage LabLoan limits, rates, points and what you qualify for.
- Insurance LabPolicies, deductibles, wildfire steps and the FAIR Plan.
- Disclosure DecoderWhat each California disclosure form covers.
- Budget LabWhat your budget bought in up to three cities.
- Real Estate CalculatorsPayment, transfer tax, property tax and seller net.
- Feature FinderSearch homes for sale by feature, such as a pool or an EV charger.
Based on condos and townhomes for sale reported to the MLS through our IDX feeds, read live each time the page loads. HOA amounts are as listed and not verified; confirm them in the HOA documents. Shown as reported and not guaranteed; repeat records are removed.
talk to a property nerd
Looking at condos or townhomes?
We’ll read the HOA packet with you, from reserves to rental limits, and compare the all-in cost of the homes on your list. Commissions are negotiable, and we offer bundled services, so ask us what’s included.
