HOA Lien Filings Climb 8.6% In 2025, With Sharp Increases In Sun Belt States
U.S. homeowners associations filed 284,933 liens against property owners last year - an 8.6% increase from 262,446 liens in 2024 and the equivalent of roughly one lien every 90 seconds - according to property records analyzed by Benutech.
An HOA lien is a legal claim placed on a home when an owner falls behind on assessments, dues, fines, or other fees. In many states, these liens can eventually lead to foreclosure.
The national increase was not spread evenly across the calendar. As the accompanying monthly chart shows, the sharpest year-over-year gains came in the summer and fall, when many associations move from sending delinquency notices to formal legal enforcement in line with their annual budget and assessment cycles.
June saw the biggest monthly spike, rising 21% from 20,737 filings in 2024 to 25,092 in 2025. December followed closely with a 19.4% jump. July remained the busiest month in both years, climbing to 31,710 liens in 2025, up 12.6%.
Sun Belt Dominance Continues
Five states - Florida, Texas, California, Georgia, and Arizona - still account for more than half of all HOA liens filed nationally, reflecting the heavy concentration of HOA-governed communities in the nation’s fastest-growing Sun Belt markets.
Florida once again led the country with 49,447 liens in 2025, or 17.4% of the national total. That was up 9.9% from 45,012 the year before. December stood out in the state, with filings surging 34.4% year-over-year.
States with the Biggest Surges
Louisiana posted the most dramatic escalation in the country. Statewide HOA lien filings nearly tripled, soaring 178.9% from 2,345 in 2024 to 6,541 in 2025. The increase was heavily concentrated in the second half of the year: October filings jumped 295%, while November exploded 672%.
Benutech analysts suggest the surge may stem from regulatory changes, rapid formation of new HOAs in suburban developments, and ongoing financial pressure in communities still recovering from recent hurricanes. Lenders and servicers with exposure in Louisiana may want to pay closer attention to HOA collection practices and borrowers’ ability to stay current on non-mortgage housing costs.
Colorado also saw a steep rise, with 7,679 liens filed in 2025 - a 74% increase from 4,413 the prior year. Unlike most states, the growth was broad-based and especially pronounced in the back half of the year. August filings rose 146%, September 164%, and October 152%. Rapid population growth along the Front Range, a pipeline of new HOA communities, rising insurance and maintenance costs, and tighter enforcement appear to be driving the trend.
Maryland recorded a nearly 30% statewide increase, from 12,432 liens in 2024 to 16,123 in 2025. Growth was remarkably consistent month after month, with double-digit gains in February (+56%), March (+58%), July (+50%), and December (+56%).
Where Lien Activity Declined
Ten states bucked the national trend and recorded fewer HOA liens in 2025.
Missouri’s decline was notable given its volume: 886 fewer liens, a 14.6% decline from a relatively high base. Activity was especially soft in the first half of the year before partially rebounding later.
New York also saw an 18% reduction in filings. The lower numbers may reflect the state’s different housing governance landscape - including a higher share of co-ops and stricter rules governing common-interest communities - which tend to result in fewer liens than the single-family HOA model common in Sun Belt states.
What’s Behind the National Rise
Benutech attributes the 8.6% national increase - nearly 23,000 additional liens - to several overlapping pressures: continued expansion of HOA-governed communities following the post-pandemic building boom in Sun Belt states, higher association dues and special assessments driven by rising operating costs, and the growing number of homeowners who are financially strained but "locked in" to low-rate mortgages and therefore reluctant or unable to sell.
The data also reinforces a clear seasonal pattern, with lien activity typically accelerating in the second half of the year as associations work through accumulated delinquencies before year-end budget deadlines.