Key Points
- New Realtor.com data shows about 45% of all homes listed for sale in Washington now have HOA dues as of early 2026.
- In the Seattle area, roughly 58% of homes on the market include HOA fees, up from 54% in 2024.
- Monthly HOA charges are adding a significant extra cost for buyers, with some downtown Seattle condo dues around $450 for mid-tier buildings and $600 to more than $1,200 for luxury high-rises.
- The rise is being driven by higher insurance costs, utility increases, and more expensive landscaping and repair work.
- Nationally, median condo fees have risen 29% since 2019 to $420 a month, while single-family HOA fees are up 26% to $63.
- The trend is making homeownership less affordable and is pushing some buyers to reconsider condo purchases.
Washington (Evening Washington News) April 25, 2026 families are facing a growing burden from homeowners association fees, with new data showing that more homes on the market now come with monthly dues that can add hundreds of dollars to housing costs.
How big is the increase?
Seattle, April 25, 2026 – As reported by writers at Realtor.com and Axios Seattle, the share of Washington homes listed for sale with HOA dues has climbed to about 45%, while the figure in the Seattle area has reached about 58%, up from 54% in 2024.That means a larger share of would-be buyers must now factor in a recurring monthly bill on top of mortgage payments, insurance, taxes and utilities.
The cost is especially noticeable in condos, where dues can vary widely depending on the building, its age and the services it offers.
Why are dues rising?
As reported by the Wall Street Journal, which cited Realtor.com data, HOA and condo fees have risen because insurance has become more expensive, labour and materials cost more, and associations are dealing with ageing buildings and higher reserve demands.
The Independent reported that from 2019 to 2025, the median monthly condo fee rose 29% to $420, while single-family HOA fees rose 26% to $63.
Joel Berner, a senior economist at Realtor.com, told The Wall Street Journal that these costs are pricing some people out of homeownership.
In Washington, rising utility costs for water, electricity and sewer services are also feeding into the higher dues faced by residents.
What does this mean for buyers?
For buyers in Washington, the fees can change whether a home is affordable, even if the listing price looks manageable.
A condo with a lower purchase price may still cost more month to month once HOA dues are added, especially in buildings with gyms, rooftops, concierge services or other shared amenities.
Some buyers may decide to look at properties with lower dues or no association fees at all, while others may still accept the extra cost if the location or building features are important to them.
What are sellers and associations doing?
Some associations are trying to keep increases under control, but the general direction of travel remains upward because many of the underlying expenses are not easing.
The Wall Street Journal also reported that some homeowners are already paying more in association dues, condo insurance and property taxes than they do on the principal and interest of their mortgage.
That shift shows how HOA fees are no longer a minor side cost for many households; in some cases, they are becoming one of the largest parts of the monthly housing bill.
Background
HOA dues are monthly or annual payments collected by homeowners associations to cover maintenance, landscaping, repairs and shared amenities in a community or building.
In many condo developments, they also help pay for security, common-area utilities and building upkeep.
For years, these fees were often treated as a secondary concern compared with the mortgage itself, but recent inflation in insurance, labour and materials has made them much harder to ignore.
That is why the issue has become more visible in housing markets where condos and managed communities make up a large share of the inventory.
Prediction
For Washington buyers, especially first-time buyers and condo shoppers, the likely effect is tighter affordability and fewer options that fit a fixed monthly budget.
If HOA dues keep rising at the current pace, more households may choose older homes, smaller properties or communities with fewer amenities in order to keep monthly costs down.
For current owners, higher fees may mean more pressure on household budgets and greater scrutiny of how associations spend reserve money and set annual budgets.
The broader housing market could also see some buyers delay purchases or shift away from condos if total monthly costs continue to climb.
