HOA Costs Guide
HOA Costs in Texas (2026): What Buyers Need to Know Before They Close
HOA dues are a monthly cost on top of your mortgage, and in Texas they can decide what you qualify to borrow — lenders count them toward your debt-to-income ratio (DTI), the share of your monthly income that goes to debt payments. The calculator below starts from the Census Bureau's median HOA or condo fee paid by Texas owners, which you can replace with a community's actual dues. What follows is what dues cover, what drives them up, and exactly what to demand from an association before you close.
Does this home have hidden monthly costs?
HOA dues are charged monthly, on top of the mortgage payment you're budgeting for — and unlike the mortgage, they rise on the association's schedule, not yours.
Calculate What HOA Dues Cost You in Texas
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey puts the median monthly HOA or condo fee paid by Texas homeowners at $76 (margin of error ±$2). Held flat, that is $9,120 over 10 years, and at 6.4% on a 30-year loan with 20% down it trims about $15,188 off the price you qualify for at a 43% debt-to-income benchmark. Replace the median with the community's actual dues below. It runs in your browser, with no signup.
HOA Fee Impact Calculator
Pre-filled with the Texas median fee paid by owners in the Census ACS (B25143), ±$2. It covers HOA and condo fees together. Replace it with the actual dues.
The Texas state page's $290/month is a different statistic from a different survey: an average for homes reporting an HOA, from the Census American Housing Survey 2023, while this $76 is the 2024 American Community Survey median among owners who pay a fee, so the two are not expected to match.
Pre-filled with 6.4% from Freddie Mac PMMS, May 2026. The dues increase starts at none because no published series tracks it. Use the figure in the association's budget.
10-year dues cost
$9,120
At the Texas ACS median fee.
43% is a benchmark, not a lender rule. It was the General QM debt-to-income limit until the CFPB replaced it with price-based thresholds (final rule published December 29, 2020), and lenders may allow more: Fannie Mae's Desktop Underwriter accepts up to 50% (Selling Guide B3-6-02, April 2, 2025). CFPB rule, Fannie Mae guide. The price figure assumes that benchmark is what limits your loan, so each dollar of dues is a dollar less of principal and interest you can take on. It counts principal and interest only. Fee source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 American Community Survey 1-year estimates, table B25143 (median monthly homeowners association and/or condominium fee (dollars)), checked 2026-09-16.
Dues are one debt among several. Add your car, card and student loan payments to see where your whole ratio lands.
Check your full DTI →Pricing a home with the dues included? Mortgage affordability calculator.
New to this? Quick definitions
- HOA —
- homeowners association. A group that manages a shared community (landscaping, pools, roads, buildings) and charges fees to cover the cost.
- CC&Rs —
- covenants, conditions & restrictions. The HOA's rulebook — governs what you can do with your property, from rentals to paint colors.
- Special assessment —
- a one-time extra charge (on top of regular fees) the HOA bills owners when it needs cash fast, often for a large repair it didn't save for.
- Reserve fund / reserve study —
- the HOA's savings account for big future repairs (roofs, elevators, pools), and the report that estimates how well-funded it is. Underfunded reserves usually mean special assessments are coming.
- DTI (debt-to-income ratio) —
- your monthly debt payments divided by your gross monthly income. Lenders use this to decide how much they'll let you borrow — and HOA fees count toward it.
Mistakes first-time buyers make
- Not reading the CC&Rs before closing — you're agreeing to those rules whether you read them or not.
- Skipping the reserve study — a poorly funded reserve fund means a special assessment is likely coming, and it could cost thousands.
- Not factoring HOA fees into mortgage qualification — lenders count them in your DTI, so a high fee can shrink the home price you qualify for.
- Assuming the current HOA fee is the future fee — 3–5% annual increases are common, and special assessments aren't included in that number at all.
Pro tips
- Request the last 12 months of HOA meeting minutes — they surface brewing disputes, deferred repairs, or fee hikes before they're official.
- Ask directly whether any special assessments are pending or were levied in the past 3 years.
- Get a copy of the HOA's current budget and most recent reserve study before you close — check the percent funded, not just the total dollar figure.
- Confirm what the HOA's master insurance policy actually covers so you buy the right amount of your own coverage.
How Texas HOA Fees Affect Your Mortgage Qualification
HOA fees are included in your monthly debt obligations for DTI calculation
How a lender treats HOA dues in Texas
Underwriters add the association's monthly dues to your housing payment before they test your debt-to-income ratio. At a 43% DTI benchmark (the former General QM limit; lenders may allow more), every $100/month in dues consumes roughly $2,800/year of gross income — income that can then support no other debt.
The practical effect is on price, not on the payment you were quoted: dues you did not budget for come out of the loan you qualify for. Get the actual dues for the specific community in writing and hand them to your lender before you make an offer — a statewide average would not price your community anyway.
What Drives HOA Costs in Texas
Primary factors that push Texas HOA fees higher than national averages
master-planned community prevalence
amenity maintenance (pools, parks)
new construction growth
private road maintenance
Why this matters for buyers
Dues are set by what the association has to maintain and insure — shared roofs, elevators, pools, private roads, landscaping, and the master insurance policy — plus what it is putting aside for the next big repair. Those are structural costs: they don't disappear when you negotiate a lower purchase price, and communities with aging systems or high insurance exposure tend to see dues rise over time. Budget for annual increases, and read the budget to see which of these your dues are actually funding.
Texas HOA Law: Your Rights as a Homeowner
Governing statute and reserve fund requirements
Governing law
Texas Property Code Chapter 202 and 209 (Residential Property Owners Associations)
Read the full statute →Texas does not mandate HOA reserve funds
Unlike some states, Texas does not mandate minimum HOA reserve fund levels, meaning associations can operate without dedicated funds for major repairs. This increases the risk of large special assessments when roofs, elevators, pools, or other infrastructure need replacement. Request the HOA's reserve study before closing and ask what percent-funded the reserves are.
Recent Texas HOA Law Changes
Texas SB 1588 (2021) expanded homeowner rights including online access to HOA documents, board meeting transparency, and limits on certain fines.
HOA Due Diligence Checklist for Texas Buyers
What to request and review before you close on an HOA property
Request 12 months of meeting minutes
Look for deferred maintenance, pending litigation, board disputes, or discussion of fee increases. Under the Texas Property Code Chapter 202 and 209 (Residential Property Owners Associations), you have the right to inspect these records.
Review the reserve study
Texas doesn't require reserve studies, but reputable HOAs maintain them. If none exists, treat it as a red flag. An underfunded HOA means future special assessments are likely.
Audit the current budget vs. actuals
Compare budget to actual spending over 12 months. Consistent overage in maintenance or insurance categories signals upcoming fee increases.
Check for special assessments
Ask whether any special assessments have been levied in the past 3 years or are being discussed. Special assessments can run from hundreds to tens of thousands per unit.
Read the CC&Rs for restrictions
Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions govern what you can do with your property — rentals, short-term rentals (Airbnb), pets, exterior modifications. Some HOAs prohibit all rentals.
Verify insurance coverage
HOA master insurance may cover structure only, structure plus interiors, or neither. Know what your HOA covers so you can size your own homeowners policy (HO-6 for condos, HO-3 for single-family homes) correctly.
How HOA Fees Affect Your Buying Power in Texas
HOA dues reduce the home price you qualify for, dollar for dollar against your DTI. Put the community's actual dues into the affordability calculator to see the full picture.
Mortgage Affordability Calculator
See what home price you can actually afford after factoring in HOA dues and the $305,000 Texas median home price.
Open Calculator →Frequently Asked Questions
- Do HOA fees affect mortgage qualification in Texas?
- Yes. Lenders include HOA dues in your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio calculation, the same way they include a car payment or a student loan. Every dollar of monthly dues is a dollar of borrowing capacity spent, so a high-dues community reduces the purchase price you qualify for at the same income. Ask your lender to run your numbers with the actual dues for the specific community, not a statewide average.
- What law governs HOAs in Texas?
- HOAs in Texas are governed by the Texas Property Code Chapter 202 and 209 (Residential Property Owners Associations). This law sets homeowner rights for document access, meeting notice, fine procedures, and dispute resolution. Texas does not mandate minimum HOA reserve fund levels, meaning associations can operate without dedicated funds for major repairs — increasing special assessment risk. Always review the HOA's reserve study before purchase.
- What should I review in an HOA before buying in Texas?
- Request and review: (1) 12 months of meeting minutes — look for deferred repairs, disputes, or pending litigation; (2) the most recent reserve study — the report estimating how well-funded the HOA's savings are for big future repairs; underfunded reserves signal future special assessments (one-time extra bills to cover a shortfall); (3) the current budget vs. actual financials; (4) the master deed and CC&Rs (the HOA's governing rulebook) for rental restrictions, pet rules, and renovation approval requirements; (5) any pending or recent special assessments. In Texas, you have the right to request these documents under the Texas Property Code Chapter 202 and 209 (Residential Property Owners Associations).
- Can HOA fees increase in Texas?
- Yes. HOA boards can typically raise fees annually up to a cap specified in the CC&Rs (commonly 10–20% per year without a membership vote). Larger increases or special assessments require a membership vote. Note recent law changes in Texas: Texas SB 1588 (2021) expanded homeowner rights including online access to HOA documents, board meeting transparency, and limits on certain fines.
HOA Costs in Other States
Compare Texas HOA fees and laws to other high-HOA states
Related Calculators
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Home Insurance Costs
Texas homeowners insurance averages — see how it stacks with HOA
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What to do with this
HOA fees are easy to overlook until they show up on your closing disclosure. Here's how to act on what you just read.
Fees feel high?
See how HOA dues factor into your true monthly cost of owning a home in Texas, not just the mortgage payment.
Buying in an HOA neighborhood?
Ask for the CC&Rs, the reserve study, and 12 months of meeting minutes before you write an offer — not after.
Want the full cost picture?
Run your numbers in the affordability calculator with HOA fees included, so you don't overcommit.