HOA Transparency & Home Inspection Reforms Signed By Governor

The 2026 Iowa Legislative Session included several meaningful updates for REALTORS®, homeowners, and property rights across the state.

Throughout it all, Iowa REALTORS® stayed at the table, advocating for policies that help keep our housing market strong, fair, and accessible for everyone.

Last week marked the final step in one Iowa REALTORS® 2026 legislative priority focusing on transparency in the home buying process, with Governor Kim Reynolds signing HOA Transparency & Home Inspection Reforms.

SF2448 brings greater clarity and fairness to transactions involving homeowners associations (HOAs) and home inspections.

Under this new law, HOAs are required to provide timely access to the certification showing whether dues are current or delinquent, along with the disclosure of any upcoming approved assessments.

The bill also brings more transparency to HOA fees. HOAs also must disclose any fees related to the transfer of property within the HOA. Homeowners associations can continue to charge reasonable fees, however the fee charged must not exceed the actual production or reproduction costs or the reasonable cost to develop the necessary certifications, and upon request, documentation supporting the fee must be made available to the unit owner or their designated agent.

There’s also an important update when it comes to home inspections. Now, a seller may receive, on request and at no charge, those portions of a buyer’s home inspection report that are relevant to remediation (repair) requests made by the buyer or the buyer’s agent rather than the entire inspection report. If the buyer or their agent fails to provide the relevant inspection portions upon request, the seller can cancel the purchase contract without penalty.