{
  "id": 11028781,
  "title": "1 in 2 Florida residents live in HOAs—how these private governments are reshaping the American Dream",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/1-in-2-florida-residents-live-in-hoas-how-these-private-governments-11028781",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-30T21:00:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Phys.org",
    "slug": "phys-org",
    "url": "https://phys.org/news/2026-09-florida-residents-hoas-private-reshaping.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In Florida, approximately half of the residents reside in communities governed by homeowners associations (HOAs), representing the highest proportion of any state. This phenomenon extends beyond Florida, with 80% of new single-family homes in subdivisions and 60% of all new single-family homes in the U.S. falling under HOA governance. The exclusivity of HOAs contributes to racial segregation and perpetuates inequality, as they can limit the agency of racialized communities and legitimize unequal resource distribution.\n\nHOAs operate as private governments, led by volunteer boards of directors that enforce aesthetic regulations and impose fines and sanctions. While they may appear neutral, HOAs can create and maintain racial inequality by diminishing the agency of racialized groups and shaping their policies. For instance, in one Florida HOA, a veteran was instructed to remove a Puerto Rican flag. Their control extends to various aspects of residents' lives, from home decor to community events, including the celebration of certain holidays.\n\nIn the U.S., there are around 373,000 HOAs affecting over 78 million Americans. However, there are no standardized laws governing HOA elections or residency requirements across states, leading to inconsistencies in regulation. Federal laws do impose some limitations on HOAs' power, yet they typically function as private entities with considerable influence. Research indicates that they also act as spaces of exclusion, preserving residential segregation and favoring those with higher socioeconomic status.\n\nA 2024 survey revealed that fewer than half of Americans living under an HOA believe their neighborhood is better with an HOA, and one in ten has considered selling their home due to HOA-related reasons. Dues for HOAs, averaging $230 monthly in Florida, can be a deterrent for potential homebuyers, often excluding based on racial lines and contributing to residential segregation. Many residents feel a lack of agency, as HOAs set voting rules that can make participation inaccessible, such as requiring in-person voting during inconvenient times and denying non-homeowner household members the right to vote.",
  "summary": "As she sat across from me drinking tea, Coretta—a pseudonym to protect her identity—shared her dismay about living in a central Florida community because of the control exercised by her homeowners association, or HOA.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Conversation",
        "title": "1 in 2 Florida residents live in HOAs – how these private governments are reshaping the American Dream",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/1-in-2-florida-residents-live-in-hoas-how-these-private-governments",
        "published": "2026-09-30T12:43:29.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}