In real estate, POA stands for Property Owners Association. It is a governing body that encompasses HOAs (Home Owners Associations) and COAs (Condominium Owners Associations) . POAs are made up of local residents and businesses that usually influence and seek to influence policy and improve the development of a geographic area. The area under a POAs purview may include a street, district, waterfront, an entire town, or even a region. POAs stand in sharp contrast to an HOA or COA because of what they dont do. Unlike HOAs, POAs lack the ability to make a direct immediate impact in the way that an HOA can by imposing fines and setting rules. POAs are not as regulated as HOAs or COAs. POAs fees are combined with HOA or COA fees, and they may handle zoning and land use planning for an area, maintain common areas and utilities, help with economic development, or even provide legislative support and lobbying for the HOAs and COAs under its umbrella.