Active adult communities

What is the HOA disclosure packet in Virginia, and how do I order it when I sell?

The short answer: If your home is in a community with an HOA, Virginia law requires you, the seller, to give the buyer a disclosure packet, also called the resale package. It tells the buyer what the HOA fees are, what rules the community has, and whether anything is owed or unresolved. It comes from your association or its management company, and it can take up to two weeks, so it should be ordered before you list your home, not after you get an offer.

Tammy Irby is a Realtor with eXp Realty in Northern Virginia helping homeowners in 55+ communities sell their homes and move on to what comes next with less stress.

I have sold homes in Northern Virginia for 41 years. When you list with me, I order the disclosure packet for you, so you do not have to worry about it. Here is what it is and how it works.

What is in the HOA disclosure packet?

The packet gives the buyer the facts about the association before they commit. It includes the state-required items, such as:

• The HOA assessment, the one-time contribution amounts and any other fees
• Any outstanding HOA violations
• The governing documents, such as the rules and covenants
• The board minutes
• Other documents the law requires the association to include

Each association puts its own packet together, so what you receive can look a little different from one community to the next.

Who provides it, and how long does it take?

The association, usually through its management company, prepares and sends the packet. It is sent electronically. Turnaround varies. In Heritage Hunt, for example, the routine turnaround is up to two weeks, and the basic fee in 2026 is $317.95, which covers the resale package and the inspection. Rush, post-closing and statement of account fees are $70.66 each. Fees and timing change from one association and one year to the next, so ask your association or management company for the current amounts.

When should I order it?

I usually recommend that sellers order the documents ahead of time. I take care of this at the time of listing the home.

Ordering early also means you can read it first. If something in it surprises you, such as an unpaid fee or a violation on your home, you can deal with it before a buyer sees it.

What are the common mistakes sellers make?

• Waiting until there is an offer. This is the most common one, and it slows down the sale.
• Not checking the packet for problems. An unresolved violation or an unpaid fee can come up at the worst moment.
• Assuming every community works the same. Fees, timing and what is in the packet differ by association.
• Not knowing who orders it. In many cases the seller does. When you list with me, I take care of ordering it.
• Doing it alone while settling a home for someone else. If you are an adult child helping a parent, or settling a home after a loss, ask for help early.

What does this look like for real people?

Some owners are selling a home they have lived in for years and have never seen their association's documents in one place. Some are an adult child handling a parent's home from out of state and are not sure what the HOA requires. Some are a spouse who has lost a partner and wants as few surprises as possible. In each case, ordering the packet early takes one worry off the list.

Frequently asked questions

Where to go next

• Read my Selling page for how I plan and run the whole move.
• Read How do I sell my parent's home in a 55+ community when I live out of state?
• Read What should I know before selling my home in Heritage Hunt?
• Read What should I know before selling my home in Potomac Green?
• Read What should I know before selling my home in Birchwood at Brambleton?

Tammy Irby, Realtor, eXp Realty. Call or text 703-929-3540. livetheeasylife.com