Start with the resale certificate. It shows current dues, transfer fees, any special assessment in progress, and whether the seller is behind or in violation.
Read the restrictions that affect how you plan to live: parking, fences, sheds, pools, exterior paint, short-term rentals, and vehicle storage.
Look at reserves. An association with thin reserves and aging amenities is a special assessment waiting to happen.
Check the leasing rules if you might ever rent the home. Caps and minimum lease terms are common and rarely mentioned in a listing.
Dues are not automatically bad. In many North Texas neighborhoods they fund the pools, trails, and upkeep that hold values steady over time.
