Creating a website for your HOA: All you need to know

If your HOA still doesn’t have its own website, now is the time to invest. The first website ever was developed over 34 years ago. Since then, websites have evolved immensely. They are a must have for every single industry, including HOAs (homeowner associations).
The chart below shows the growth of the number of internet users in the U.S. from 2015 to 2024. The number continues to rise with the use of laptops, mobile phones, smart watches and other devices.

Basically, if you don’t have an HOA website, it’s like your HOA doesn’t exist. That’s because 75% of people judge a business’s credibility based on their website; and HOAs are essentially a business.
Yet, some HOAs, especially self-managed ones, still don’t have their own websites. If this is your HOA, we’ll share all the reasons why your HOA needs one, the benefits of having one and how you can go about creating a website for your HOA that delivers value to the Board, property managers and residents alike.
Let’s start at the beginning.
What is an HOA website?
An HOA website is essentially a collection of digital (online) pages, populated with information that addresses one or more topics relevant to community living and HOA operations. It is managed by a person(s) or an organization. All digital pages are accessed through a single website address/domain name.
Basically, an HOA website is an online hub where HOAs can upload and manage all kinds of information that impact members and operations such as:
- Announcements
- Event dates
- Governing documents
- Accounting management
- Maintenance requests
- Mass communications
- Member engagement
- and more
Members will see information available to the public as well as access information that is only available to them through a member-only area on the website. The public, on the other hand, would have restricted access and would be unable to see member-only information.
The impact of not having an HOA website
You may be thinking that you’ve done without a website all this time, why should our HOA get one now?
First let’s look at what is usually taking place in HOAs that do not have their own websites.
- Fragmented community
Inadequate and poor communication are common complaints in HOAs that don’t have their own websites. Communication to homeowners is often on paper that gets tossed into a pile. It’s sent in the mail, which delays the information, and is generally forgotten about because there is no quick way to look up information. - Overworked Board
With no single place to make information accessible to members, the Board and property managers end up answering the same questions repeatedly. They also end up doing extra administrative work by booking amenities, receiving and tracking maintenance calls and collecting and processing fees manually. As volunteers, the Board can be overwhelmed with all the manual tasks.

3. Lack of community
Members can feel cut off from their community by not knowing what developments are taking place or suspect some members know about developments, while others don’t. They are seeking clarity and want increased transparency.
4. Unorganized documentation
With Board members coming and going every two years, it’s very easy to misplace paper files or even store them in cabinets that no one has extra keys to. Poorly organized documents make running an HOA more difficult than it needs to be.
5. Legal compliance
HOA laws and requirements change state by state at different times. Members and HOAs can fall behind in compliance when new laws or amendments are not made available quickly or homeowners aren’t aware of updates.
These are just a few of the challenges self-managed HOAs face without an HOA website. The answer to these challenges is to have their own HOA websites. Let’s explore all the benefits.
Top 10 ways HOA websites improve community living
The question is, can an HOA website help with all the above challenges? It certainly can, and in many ways. Here’s how.
- Enhance communication
When community announcements and news need to be circulated, they can be posted to your website immediately. Your HOA website acts as an information hub where members can get information as it becomes available. You can even include an online event calendar so members can see what meetings and events are coming up so they can plan to attend. This keeps everyone current and engaged. - Free up the Board’s time for better community management
With an HOA website, many of the manual tasks, such as placing a maintenance request call, or printing and mailing out documents, are replaced with members using the website to place their maintenance calls online. They can also easily access the documents they need online, with the ability to download them. The Board will have more time to focus on community management and decision making. - Increase community participation
Members can’t get involved if they don’t know what is happening in their community or where to find information. Your HOA website is the ideal place for members and visitors to find out news about their community and how they can participate in meetings and events. Your HOA website can include a community marketplace and member-only message boards.

4. Organize important documents for quick access
An HOA website lets you organize and file documents online. Documents are easily found, and the Board and members can have quick access to them.
5. Collect fees early and on time
No need for members to drop off checks to the HOA office. Instead, they can pay fees online from the convenience of their home. You can also send automatic reminder emails from your HOA website before and after due dates to make sure fees come in as soon as possible, keeping your bottom line in the black.
6. Community promotion
Don’t let homes for rent and for sale in your community sit on the market indefinitely because no one knows about them. An HOA website helps you promote and showcase the best of your community online. You can display your community amenities and attractive property, so rentals and sales happen quicker. Your community remains vibrant with interested renters and buyers.

7. Save money and time
Don’t throw away HOA funds on unnecessary costs on paper, mailing and administrative costs. These things consume money as well as precious volunteer Board time. Your HOA website makes information available to members and visitors in a single platform.
8. Escape rigid office hours
Operating within standard office hours no longer apply with an HOA website. Homeowners and visitors can access the information they need anytime of the day or night.
9. Improved maintenance response
There are always maintenance requests that need to be addressed immediately, like a broken laneway light needed for safety or flooding in a common area. It can be overwhelming managing maintenance calls, getting all the details, and then following up to make sure problems are being addressed. Through your HOA website, residents easily submit maintenance requests online.
10. Immediate updates
Timing is everything. When an emergency occurs, like a power outage or weather that damages property, you can use your HOA website to post your most important announcements as they happen. So, it’s the first thing members and visitors see.
These are the most popular reasons HOAs get their own website, and the optional features you can include make it operate exactly as you like.
Let’s take a look at some of the best features to make HOA operations and community living better.
Why certain features are must-haves for your HOA website
HOAs have both common and unique requirements to make their communities operate at their best. You can choose from the many features available to best suit your HOA.
Here are some must-have features you’ll want to include on your HOA website and why.
- Document distribution and downloads
When you send documents via email through your website or allow members to download certain documents themselves, like Rules and Regulations and other Governing Documents, your Board saves a ton of time and money by avoiding paper and mailing costs. - Amenity booking
Is your time taken up with booking party rooms and community assets for members? Members will be able to book amenities themselves through your website. They’ll have transparency to see when dates are available with an online calendar and feel like the amenities are more accessible to them.

Maintenance calls
No more taking phone calls about maintenance requests and manually tracking them. You can keep on top of service and repair requests through your website and track their status with maintenance tickets and email notifications.
Online voting
If you live in a state that allows online voting, you’ll reach quorum quickly due to the convenience of members casting their ballots online. Plus, as Website Administrator, you’ll view results in real time.
Online payments
Collecting fees can be a challenge. Sometimes checks come in late or not at all, and you have to chase the money. Members can pay their fees conveniently online through your website, and you don’t have to change the HOA bank account.
Community marketplace
This feature is excellent for promoting items for sale in the community. Through the online classified ads members can post their items they’d like to sell.
Directories
Having a Member Directory as well as a Pet Directory included in your HOA website, is the perfect way to create familiarity among members. They’ll know who their neighbors are, and who their furry pet friends are too.
Automatic invoicing
Manually sending out invoices after every transaction is a time waster. Through your website, homeowners can pay online with debit or credit cards and receive automatic invoices.
Financial reports
With all the financial accounting that takes place in an HOA, your HOA website keeps track of your HOA finances in a single platform. You can download reports, track sales, see profits and make real-time Income Statement adjustments.

- Mass communication
You can reach your entire community in minutes through your HOA website by sending mass emails and text messages.
All of these features used in your HOA website makes managing your HOA and engaging members much more effective.
So, now that you know the features your HOA website could include, let’s consider its design.
What HOA website design best suits your HOA?
Your HOA website design is important because it’s the face you will show to the online world.
As indicated earlier, websites have greatly evolved over the years. Just as in fashion, you don’t want an HOA website design that looks outdated.
You want a design that puts your best image and brand forward to members and visitors.

Responsiveness
Did you know that more than half the people that visit websites use their cell phones, 67.56 percent in fact. This means the content on your website needs to appear and operate properly, whether someone is looking at your website from their laptop, phone or tablet.
Clean
You don’t want a cluttered HOA website with tons of information posted on every page. Think about the essential content you want on each page and what images might complement the information. Less is more as long as you include what is important.
Fonts
Fonts are either “serif” or “sans serif.” This means that the letters either have little lines attached or not. For example, “A” or “A”. Today’s modern websites typically use sans serif. No little lines attached.
Images
Images speak louder than words. Make sure you have high-quality, clear photos of your community and amenities to use on your website. Consider having professional photos taken. It’s worth the investment to make your HOA look its best.
Ultimately, your HOA website should be visually appealing and represent your HOA community at its best.
Now that you know some the elements that would make your HOA stand out online, you might be thinking how do I actually get an HOA website created. Good news, you don’t have to create one on your own.
Ways to have your HOA website created
You have options when it comes to creating your HOA website. You can:
- Hire a website designer
This would be ok, but if you don’t know what will make your HOA website really stand out, chances are your every-day website designer will not either. HOAs have their unique needs and wants. - HOA website designers
If you are going to do it, you may as well do it right from the start by using website designers who specialize in creating websites for HOAs. An operation of this kind often has years of experience designing HOA websites, so they know what works and what doesn’t. You won’t need any technical experience, and some providers have Personal Project Managers to walk you through the process from start to finish.
You have a choice of which option you’ll take to create a website for your HOA. It’s a best practice in any industry however, to use specialists in the field.
Building your HOA online presence through your website
Your HOA greatly benefits from having a website specific to your community’s wants and needs. An HOA website offers digital pages for you to promote your community as well as engage members. The features you’ll choose for your website increase productivity and efficiency while saving you time and money in the areas of:
- Communication
- Accounting
- Operations
Additionally, the design you choose for your HOA website is your opportunity to present a professional, attractive image to members as well as to visitors to your website.
Finally, you don’t have to build your website from scratch by yourself. It’s recommended that you get professional assistance to build your website, preferably a company that has expertise developing websites specifically for HOAs.
These days having an HOA website is an expectation that all HOAs should meet for the benefit of the Board, the community and visitors.
Learn more by downloading Essential Tips for Your HOA Website: Operating, Engaging and Promoting Your Community


