Buying and Selling in HC

The information provided here is designed to assist new and current residents of Harper's Choice on what buyers and sellers should know and what they should do when a property is sold, such as what are the Harper's Choice and Columbia Association resale documents, where do I get them, what is a Letter of Compliance and how do I get one?

When property is purchased in the state of Maryland, it is a requirement of the Maryland Homeowner's Association Act that sellers provide buyers with any and all information regarding the property, including the fact that Columbia, and the Village of Harper's Choice, are covenant protected communities. This information is most fully disclosed when the Harper's Choice and Columbia Association resale documents are purchased by the seller and passed on to the buyer for their review.

The information contained within these resale documents (Covenants, By-Laws, Articles of Incorporation, Guidelines, Budget, etc.) is provided by the Harper's Choice Community Association and the Columbia Association and may not be reproduced or photocopied for purposes of sale. These documents are available for purchase by check, cash or money order for $20.00. The Village Covenants are a part of the deed for each property, are legally binding and automatically transfer the rights and responsibilities to the buyer upon transfer of the deed(sale of the property.) By purchasing property within the Village of Harper's Choice, you agree to abide by the documents which afford each resident all the rights and responsibilities of owning property in Columbia, MD.

If you are selling property in Columbia, in addition to purchasing and providing these documents for settlement, please request a Letter of Compliance. This letter provides written documentation from the Village of Harper's Choice that your property is free of covenant violations. If violations exist, a letter will be sent stating what needs to be done to bring the property into compliance. A request form is available at our office or on this website.

If you are purchasing property in Columbia, we suggest that you ask the seller to provide you with a letter of compliance as unresolved violations become the responsibility of the buyer when they purchase the property.

A copy of the Harper's Choice Architectural Guidelines is provided to sellers as part of the resale packet. The guidelines help residents to better understand the covenants by providing information on seeking architectural approval for changes to their properties. Additional free copies of the guidelines are always available at the community association office, or can be viewed and printed from this site.

If you have questions about the information given here, the covenants, guidelines, or the Harper’s Choice Community Association, please call us at 410-730-0770.

Covenant Corner
Harper’s Choice Real Estate 101

Q. We will be selling our house soon, and will be putting up new siding, windows, doors, etc. We know we need some kind of Village consent for these changes. Is it difficult to get approval?

A: The process is easier than you may think. Over 97% of all applications received are approved. An Exterior Alteration Application is used to request approval for exterior changes; these forms are available at Kahler Hall, or click on the link below. The Architectural Committee meets at Kahler Hall twice a month to discuss applications on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at 7:30 pm. When submitting your form for approval, be sure to include all applicable items from the list on the front of the form, obtain neighbors signatures, and sign and date the form. Applications must be submitted two weeks prior to the meeting date. There is no fee to apply.

Q. Our neighbor’s house is being sold and they received a Letter of Non-Compliance for their property because the previous owners put up a shed without getting approval. Why is this now their responsibility to resolve?

A: The covenants run with the land, so a violation of the covenants by a previous owner can affect a current owner. Unfortunately, your neighbors likely did not ask for a Letter of Compliance when they purchased the home and now the unapproved alteration is not only a surprise, but becomes their issue to resolve. If the shed meets the current guidelines for exterior alterations and is in good physical condition, it is likely that approval can be granted after the fact. Have your neighbor contact the Village Covenant Advisor for more information