HOA stands for Homeowners Association. HOAs charge dues to their members (homeowners within the community) in the form of a monthly fee. This goes to pay for upkeep of cosmetic features across the grounds including grass, trees, shrubs and parking lots as well as common areas such as patios and lobbies. These fees can also contribute to the maintenance of amenities such as swimming pools, saunas and tennis courts while paying for services like sewage maintenance and garbage disposal.