How to find out if a home belongs to HOA

Question

Hey BP,

I am looking at an off-market property but trying to determine if the property belongs to a HOA. The home was previously listed for sale but taken off the market a month ago. The old listing can be found online, but makes no mention of an HOA. The property is in Ohio (Sandusky). Is there any place that I can confirm this info?

Thanks,

Brian

Brian S. · Answer

@Theresa Harris After my last message, I realized someone will suggest this! Long story, but we haven't been able to reach the owner. He's in AZ and apparently not very close with his family in Ohio.

If I can figure out the HOA situation and ready to make an offer, I'm sure he'll be available!

Clint Votruba · Answer

There are several ways to approach this depending upon how much information you have about the property.

First, you could do a search Sandusky county recorder's website that can tell you who's name is on the last deed recorded (may not still legally own it) AND if you search backwards, you may find that an HOA was created when the Plat of Subdivison was recorded.  Here's the link to the recorder's office:  https://www.uslandrecords.com/ohlr3/controller

To get the name of the owner, you could go to the Sandusky county assessor's website that/may tell you the name of the Owner but is likely to tell you the PIN number IF you have the address of the property.  Here's the link to the assessor's office:  http://www.sanduskycountyauditor.us/

Also, if you know or can get the name of the Subdivision, you could do a search of the name of the HOA, which will be named after the subdivision for example, the Willowlakes HOA in the Willowlakes Subdivison, in the OHIO corporation data base search at this link:  https://businesssearch.ohiosos.gov/

The City of Sandusky could be contacted by phone or letter (FOIA request) asking if they know anything about an HOA in that area/for that property.

Good luck.

Brian S. · Answer

@Remington Lyman Thanks for the reply. I'll check with a realtor and see if they can find anything.

Remington Lyman · Answer

@Brian S. You could have a Realtor check the previous MLS listing and see if there is any information there

Brian S. · Answer

I checked county and state websites but no luck. Is there a site that lists HOAs by address? Since this particular property is in a popular vacation spot in Ohio and setup like town houses, I suspect there may be a HOA.

Any insight would be much appreciated!

Brian

Any insight would be much appreciated!

Brian

Brian S. · Answer

Quick update: I was able to find what I needed by reaching out to the Code Department at Sandusky City Hall. The reason I checked with them was for questions about short term rentals (which the property is zoned for). They also advised me that I could check the Erie County Recorder’s Office pertaining to the Home Owner’s Association. I was able to find an entry pertaining to Columbia Gas and an association named after the street the property is located. Hopefully this is helpful to anyone else looking for information in Erie County Ohio.

Theresa Harris · Answer

@Brian S.  Why not just ask the owner?

Brian S. · Answer

@Clint Votruba Thanks for the thorough information! Its a long story but I know a family member of the owner of the property. I was able to find just about anything I could even need for this property online except for the HOA. My good friends uncle owns it but everything my friend told me about the property was slightly inaccurate. I'd like to make an offer on this property since I know they are motivated to sell it as long as there is no HOA.

@Mark H. That was my next step. I will be calling Sandusky city hall later and see how much I can do by phone. Still need to find out if they allow STR's there and maybe they can tell me if it belongs to a HOA. Since I literally couldn't be further from Ohio at the moment (I'm in Asia), this has been another pain in the a.. since I'm 12 hours ahead.

If that doesn't work, I'll try @Stacy Preston idea.

Thanks,

Brian

Mark H. · Answer

When I bought my last primary residence I wanted to make sure it didn't have an HOA since part of the neighborhood has an HOA I went down to the county records office and had them look it up.  Didn't even charge as long as I didn't want the physical paper.

Stacy Preston · Answer

Realtor or title company should be able to assist.  In Indiana, I use an HOA database that a title company provides in addition to MLS data and tax records.

How to find out if a home belongs to HOA

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