By Scott Magyar, Associa
The story of homeowners’ associations (HOAs) in Colorado begins with a national movement toward planned communities that started in the 1940s. One of the first and most influential examples was Levittown, built on 4,000 acres of Long Island, New York, to provide housing for returning World War II veterans. While Levittown didn’t have a formal HOA with a board of directors, it did establish community rules and standards — laying the foundation for the modern HOA.
Inspired by developments like Levittown, Colorado saw its own early experiment in cooperative housing. In 1948, a group of university professors formed the Mile High Housing Association (MHHA), creating the state’s first single-family housing cooperative.
The Federal Highway Act of 1956 helped fuel this growth even further by making more areas accessible for development. Then in 1960 the creation of the National Association of Housing Cooperatives (NAHC) gave these new communities more structure and support, paving the way for today’s formal homeowners’ associations.
A major turning point came in 1963, when the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) began approving mortgage insurance only for homes and condominiums in communities managed by HOAs. This policy quickly made HOA-style neighborhoods more common, as they offered shared amenities, consistent upkeep, and higher property values.
As communities became larger and more complex, volunteer HOA boards often struggled to handle day-to-day operations. This created a need for professional management companies to assist with finances, maintenance, and rule enforcement — a trend that took off in the 1970s.
Today, the Community Association Institute (CAI) estimates there are over 370,000 HOAs across the United States managing more than 40 million homes. In Colorado alone, there are nearly 12,000 HOAs, and about 42% of Coloradans live in HOA-governed communities — the second-highest rate in the nation after Florida.
Colorado’s HOAs operate under the 1990 Common Interest Ownership Act (CCIOA), which defines the rights and responsibilities of both homeowners and associations. This law is designed to ensure transparency, fair communication, and proper dispute resolution, helping Colorado earn a reputation as a homeowner-friendly state.
HOAs have also become an important part of Colorado’s economy. By maintaining neighborhood standards and shared spaces, they help boost property values — with HOA homes valued about 4% higher on average than those outside of associations. Since many new housing developments are HOA-managed, this activity supports Colorado’s real estate industry, a major source of jobs and economic growth.
Looking ahead, HOAs are continuing to evolve. New communities are being formed every year — an estimated 5,000 annually across the U.S. — and the HOA model is expanding into retirement communities, timeshares, and mixed-use developments that blend homes, shops, and cultural spaces.
From Levittown to modern-day Colorado, HOAs have become a defining feature of community life — shaping how neighborhoods grow, how homes are maintained, and how people connect with one another.
Scott Magyar - President, Associa – Colorado Association Services. Scott Magyar grew up in Carbondale. After spending his college, consulting, and several industry years in Texas, Scott has come home to Colorado as President of Associa - Colorado Association Services.
