One in four U.S. homeowners paid condo or HOA fees in 2024, about 21.6 million households. Of those, 3 million faced steep charges topping $500 a month, according to a new U.S. Census Bureau survey. "This is an added burden on home affordability that many buyers may not take into account in their housing budget, and one that is increasingly expensive," says Realtor.com senior economist Joel Berner. "HOA fees are becoming more common and more costly, and homeowners who are already spread thin fac