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Sweet Home Growth: HOAs and Housing Trends in Alabama 2025
By Aimee, Winegar, CMCA, AMS, LSM, PCAM
The tide is rolling in Alabama in 2025. From 2024 to 2025, Alabama has been ranked as the 7th most popular state for domestic migration within the United States, adding 26,000 residents in 2024, or 0.5% of its population (source: US Census Bureau). This is down slightly from the nearly 0.6% growth Alabama experienced in 2023, but still higher than 43 other states (source: Reventure). In 2025, it appears that analysts and developers are anticipating significant additional growth, particularly in the usual Huntsville/Montgomery/Mobile areas, but also in smaller towns and cities, as well.
The Alabama Association of Realtors has reported that Alabama’s new home building permits increased 10% between 2023 and 2024, and as of April, 2025, almost 1500 building permits for new single-family homes had been issued in the state since the start of the year, with almost all of them under construction already. This is a decrease from 2024, but remains an indicator of Alabama’s ongoing attractiveness for new residents. The Alabama Association of Realtors notes that construction and sales have been affected by national economic uncertainty, relatively high interest rates, and concerns about purchase costs. Nevertheless, the Alabama market appears to be stronger than many other states.
Per real estate professional Amy Brown, growth is spreading beyond the bigger Alabama cities because of Alabama’s beautiful landscapes and southern Alabama’s proximity to some of the world’s most beautiful beaches along the gulf coast.
What does all this have to do with professionals in the community association management industry? Brown reports, “As far as I can see, most new developments all have HOAs. Builders and homeowners seem to appreciate HOAs.”
As new construction proceeds to meet the needs and goals of Alabama’s residents, Brown says, “more neighborhoods are including pools and playgrounds in their HOAs. I do think people really gravitate towards neighborhood with pools.” She believes that in Alabama, “attitudes towards HOAs are definitely getting better. I think people realize that the HOA is what keeps these neighborhoods looking great year after year.” Developers/builders are recognizing that HOAs can provide significant benefits to homebuyers – even those who swear that they will never live in an HOA.
For those of us who work in the HOA management industry, it is important to focus on the benefits that community associations bring to their residents. Consistent (but not dictatorial or unreasonable) standards enforcement, financial stability, and high quality maintenance for landscaping and community assets are the traits of a strong, desirable community. As professionals, our goal should always be to help residents – new or old, native Alabaman or fresh out of a northern state – feel welcome and happy to be a resident of a community association.
Aimee Winegar has worked in the community management industry for almost 40 years, and is now serving as the President of the Midwest Division of HOALiving (hoaliving.com).
Understanding Wind/Hail Deductibles for Your HOA
By Jake Linkous, CIRMS, EBP - Robins Insurance
A wind/hail deductible for a Homeowners Association (HOA) works similarly to the individual wind/hail deductibles homeowners have on their policies, but it applies to the HOA’s insurance policy that covers common areas, buildings, and other shared property. Here's a breakdown of how it works:
- What It Is
A wind/hail deductible is a special deductible that applies when a property sustains damage due to wind or hail. It’s typically a percentage of the total value of the property rather than a fixed amount. - How It Works
If the HOA's insured property (like a community building, clubhouse, or shared roof) is damaged due to a wind or hail event, the HOA's insurance policy will cover the repair costs, but only after the deductible is met. The deductible is often expressed as a percentage of the policy's coverage amount or the value of the property. For example, if the HOA's insurance policy covers a property valued at $1 million and the deductible is 2%, the HOA would need to pay $20,000 before the insurance coverage kicks in. - Why It’s Different
Unlike a standard deductible, which is a flat fee, a wind/hail deductible is usually a percentage-based amount because wind and hail events can cause widespread damage, often resulting in high repair costs. This helps the insurance company balance the risk of paying out for such events. This deductible is separate from regular deductibles for other types of damage (like fire or vandalism). - Impact on Homeowners
For homeowners in the HOA, the wind/hail deductible could affect their assessments or fees. If the HOA has to pay out the deductible, the costs may be passed along to homeowners through special assessments or increased dues, depending on the HOA’s rules and the severity of the damage. In some cases, the HOA may have reserves or additional coverage to help cover the deductible, preventing the need for special assessments. - Claims Process
After a wind or hailstorm, the HOA would file a claim with its insurance company. Once the deductible is met, the insurance policy will cover the remaining damage. If the damage is extensive and the deductible is high, it might take a larger amount of time and effort to collect the deductible.
In short, a wind/hail deductible is a way to manage the risk of large-scale weather events, and it impacts how much the HOA (and indirectly, its members) will pay out-of-pocket before insurance coverage kicks in.
Stormwater Pond Management: Aren't Nutrients in the Water Good?
by SOLitude Lake Management
Nutrients are a cornerstone of healthy freshwater ecosystems, playing a vital role in fostering fish, micro-organisms, and native plants. However, perhaps due to the word’s positive connotation, property managers are often surprised to learn that abundant nutrients aren’t always good. Just as ingesting too many vitamins can make you sick, an excess of nutrients can cause harmful water quality imbalances. Like many things in life, moderation is key.
Over time, lakes and ponds become increasingly enriched with nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen that create fertile conditions for excessive vegetation and algae growth. When it eventually dies and decays, it releases nutrients that fuel new growth. Without intervention, the cycle will perpetually continue until the waterbody fills in with decayed material. This process is called eutrophication—or, put simply, aging.
While nutrient enrichment is normal and may occur naturally over hundreds of years, human activities accelerate the aging process and can reduce a pond’s lifespan to just a few decades. Once a pond is filled in, it can only be restored by dredging out all accumulated materials. Dredging is one of the biggest expenses a community will ever face, but by understanding why nutrient enrichment occurs and how to help slow the process, communities can prolong the need for costly dredging for as long as possible.
During storms, rainwater picks up nutrient-rich materials and substances as it flows over sidewalks, roadways, agricultural land, construction sites, and other developed areas. The water is diverted to stormwater ponds that are specially designed to prevent flooding and filter out pollutants before the water is released downstream. Most urban ponds, particularly in homeowners communities, are man-made for this purpose.
Some of these nutrient-rich materials include:
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Lawn and garden fertilizers
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Grass clippings
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Leaves and yard debris
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Eroded sediment
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Pet waste
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Septic system runoff
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Trash
Unsightly weeds, slimy mats of algae, and toxic blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) are common signs that your waterbody is over-enriched with nutrients. If water quality tests reveal that nutrients are above desirable thresholds, communities have several solutions at their disposal to help manage them.
First and foremost, property managers can implement impactful changes such as installing more trash bins and pet waste stations around a community, moving designated dog parks further from the vicinity of their ponds, and instructing landscapers to reduce fertilizer use and properly bag grass clippings and lawn debris. Every individual living or working in the vicinity of a waterbody influences its health and these small changes can have a significant cumulative effect over time.
Incorporating these best practices can help amplify the benefits of more impactful solutions:
Nutrient Remediation
This involves applying eco-friendly products that bind with or “deactivate” excess phosphorus in the water column and in the bottom sediments so it is no longer available for uptake by weeds and algae. Subsequent water quality testing will allow experts to assess if nutrient levels have been restored to an ideal range.
Biological Bacteria
Biological bacteria play a central role in decomposing plant debris and organic materials. Comparable to probiotics for your waterbody, supplementing these beneficial bacteria can help make the decomposition process more efficient and inhibit the accumulation of nutrient-rich muck. These bacteria need dissolved oxygen to thrive, so installing a fountain, surface aerator, or submersed aerator can enhance their activity.
Mechanical Hydro-Raking
In cases of significant muck and debris build-up, experts can use a floating barge equipped with a specialized clamshell bucket to physically remove hundreds to thousands of pounds of nutrient-rich material. This can also help restore several feet of depth back to the pond, limiting flood risks.
These strategies are highly effective at targeting excess phosphorus in the waterbody, but it’s also imperative to prevent additional nutrients from invading the ecosystem. Such efforts start outside of the water and can involve residents, landscapers, and other employees.
Buffer Management
While many communities desire an unobstructed view around their ponds, it’s favorable to maintain a healthy buffer of beneficial vegetation around the perimeter. These plants act as a protective barrier, filtering rainwater and capturing nutrients and debris before they enter the pond. A well-curated buffer should incorporate native plants that densely extend 3-5 feet from the shoreline and receive regular trimming and maintenance.
Shoreline Restoration
Pond erosion is not just an eyesore and safety hazard, it allows sediment to build-up in shallow areas around the shoreline. Tree roots, pipes, and other buried equipment can become exposed as sediment deteriorates. Experts can employ bioengineering techniques that physically reshape and anchor the shoreline in place, preventing future collapse and erosion. Sod or vegetative buffers can be installed directly on top to blend in harmoniously with community landscaping.
Nutrients play a major role in the health and appearance of community water bodies, but they are only part of the equation. Maintaining balanced levels of pH, dissolved oxygen, alkalinity, and salinity is essential for clean, weed- and algae-free water. An ongoing management program tailored to your community’s specific goals and budget is one of the most effective ways to ensure your waterbody remains healthy, beautiful, and functional for years to come.
