Homeowners’ Associations around Arizona, including Tucson Arizona, are being forced to make tough decisions about the services they can provide residents of their neighborhoods. An HOA is usually in charge of keeping common areas of the neighborhood free of weeds and graffiti, and enforcing bylaws of the association that it governs. Due to the unusually high rate of foreclosures around the state, many HOAs are running too low on funds to take care of the communities they were set up to serve. Most homeowner associations’ dues are billed to the individual or paid through escrow. When homeowners fall behind on mortgage payments, they rarely decide to keep making payments to the homeowners association! Without these payments, HOAs cannot function properly. Furthermore, when an owner does not maintain a foreclosed property and weeds and trash accumulate, residents that still live in the community suffer. The HOA will often service that home in order to keep the neighborhood from looking blighted. HOAs are not required to do this, but many try their best to keep neighborhoods in the best condition for residents.

Arizona is a major hotbed for what’s called “foreign nationals” — persons from another country residing in the United States. Most foreign nationals who come to Arizona to invest or purchase second homes are from either Canada or Mexico. However, I have also seen buyers from the United Kingdom, Europe, Latin America, and South America. Many foreign nationals would like to purchase property in the United States but find the process confusing. It does not have to be complex. In fact, it is simple, and I will walk you through it.

by contributing writer, Eric Painter, Senior Mortgage Consultant, Infinity Funding Corporation