If it's all voluntary, why are there so many nightmare HOA complaint stories?
Are people in HOAs stupid and don't read their contracts? Do they need a lawyer just to read it because it's 40 pages of ultra convoluted legal babble they hope you don't read?
You’ve hit the nail on the head. There are complaints because people are stupid and/or lazy and don’t read the documents, which, according to the law in every state in which I’ve worked, must be provided at the time they sign a contract to purchase the house. Most states also require a summary of the documents to be provided. The documents, especially as they relate to architectural control, are not particularly complicated, but many people when purchasing a house are more concerned about things such as what color countertop to get.
Because you never hear about an HOA unless someone is complaining about it.