Final answer:
Homeowners association fees are used to maintain common grounds, are not optional to homeowners, and should be considered when buying a home.
Step-by-step explanation:
Homeowners association fees are typically used to maintain common grounds in a neighborhood, such as parks, swimming pools, and landscaping. These fees are not optional to homeowners and are usually quite high, so they should be considered when buying a home. While they are not often used for security guards, some gated communities may allocate a portion of the fees for security purposes.