First of all, let's understand what SSA stands for. SSA is short for Special Service Area. They are often seen in relation to new home construction. A Special Service Area is a financing technique that municipalities use to fund public improvements such as roads, sidewalks, sewers and other municipal utilities that are needed to serve new neighborhoods. The bonds that are issued are allocated to the public improvements benefiting your neighborhood, so the bonds are paid by the property owner benefiting from the public improvements. Property owners within the Special Service Area pay their prorata share of the bonds as a part of their property tax bill. The payments are typically spread over a period of approximately 25 to 30 years.Keep in mind that special tax payment periods and special tax deferral periods vary per community, so check into the details for each neighborhood of interest. As a result, the initial cost of a new home will likely be lower. Without an SSA, these public improvements would be part of the builder's cost, and would be included in your purchase price (and therefore your mortgage). So, in essence an SSA is a special assessment for public improvements. I know, it's a little confusing to everyone, but with an SSA you typically pay less for the home (initial purchase price) but will have to pay the SSA(special assessment fee until paid in full). If you buy a home without an SSA, typically your purchase price will include the cost of improvements and will therefore be higher but you will not have the SSA(special assessment) to pay. Does this help? I hope so.