The yearly Community Association Fact Book from The Foundation for Community Association Research is always a wealth of information. For anyone who works in, writes about, or just is interested in homeowner or condominium associations, the research is indispensable. (The official purpose of the Fact Book is to provide “research-based information to all community association stakeholders–homeowners, board members, management professionals as well as attorneys, accountants, developers, mortgage lenders, federal agencies, public officials and others–all who work with the Foundation and CAI to build better communities.”) The 2019 Fact Book, meaning the research collected last year, is free and online.
Both national and state-by-state information is available. For instance, 25%-27% of the U.S. population resides in community associations (planned communities, condominium associations, or coops). In 1970, there were 10,000 community associations in the U.S.—today there are 351,000. 73.9 million people reside in homeowner or condominium associations in the United States, and some 77% of completed new housing is built in associations. Almost 2.5 million board and committee members volunteer to make their associations a better place to live!
By the way, Zogby Analytics in its 2020 Homeowner Satisfaction survey shows for the eighth time in 15 years, Americans living in homeowners associations, condominiums, and housing cooperatives are overwhelmingly satisfied in their communities. The March 2020 survey affirms the findings of almost identical national surveys conducted in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018. The findings from the seven surveys are strikingly consistent:
- By large majorities, most residents rate their overall community experience as positive or, at worst, neutral.
- They say their association board members serve the best interests of their communities.
- They say their community managers provide valuable support to residents and their associations.
- They support community association rules because they protect and enhance property values.
State HOA/condo statistics are also interesting:
NORTH CAROLINA HOA/CONDO SPECIFICS
North Carolina ranks 5th among states in its number of community associations (behind only CA, FL, TX, and IL). Over 2.7 million residents live in 14,100 associations.
Other interesting NC HOA/condo facts:
- Number of board and committee members – 91,800
- Value of homes in community associations – $184 billion
- Value of board and committee volunteer time – $80 million
- Association homes as percentage of all owner occupied homes – 41.5%
- Association population as percentage of total population – 27%
SOUTH CAROLINA HOA/CONDO SPECIFICS
South Carolina ranks 16th among states in its number of community associations. Some 1.3 million residents live in 6,945 associations.
Other interesting SC HOA/condo facts:
- Number of board and committee members – 45,000
- Value of homes in community associations – $85 billion
- Value of board and committee volunteer time – $37.8 million
- Association homes as percentage of all owner occupied homes – 40%
- Association population as percentage of total population – 27.5%
For more information, the full 2019 Community Association Fact Book can be found at https://foundation.caionline.org/publications/factbook.
For state-specific information, visit the North Carolina State Summary or South Carolina State Summary pages at https://foundation.caionline.org/publications/factbook/index-2019-state-summaries.
For state-specific information on the economic contributions and value-added benefits of community associations, visit the 2019 Community Association Economic Contributions and Value-Added Benefits pages at https://foundation.caionline.org/publications/factbook/economic-contributions-value-added-benefits-2019.
Many thanks to the Foundation, the Community Associations Institute, and CAI Past President Clifford J. Treese for putting together this useful information.