As with all things, there is good and bad. Ever had a neighbor park 20 cars on his lawn and street...you know the deal. Ever had a neighbor cement a yard sale sign in his front yard...you know the deal. Ever had a neighbor mow his lawn and find a car...you know the deal.
yes I do, and that's HIS problem. if I assert the right to solve his problems to my satisfactcion, he automatically gets the right to solve mine to his.
no thanks.
The municipality I live in (and I think most of them) already cover that. No "unsightly" or unlicensed vehicles are allowed to be parked in the driveway, and not on the lawn. High grass or weeds, peeling paint, trash, etc -- Any of these offenses and all that is required is a phone call to the city (annonymous if preferred) to report the offender. A city bureaucrat investigates. If there is an offense under the statutes, the offender is given a warning and a time frame to correct the problem. If not corrected, then fines and penalties begin, in a manner much the same as an HOA.
I don't see any value in two sets of laws and two sets of bureaucrats covering the same thing!!
Still, the rules are not so offemsive (as some HOA's) that I am told what color to paint my house, that I can't park a van or a travel trailer in my RV driveway, and no one comes and knocks on my door to tell me that one of my flowers has expired and I must replace it right now or else! Also, we have heard the cases where HOA's have disallowed the display of Old Glory ...
Therefore .. I see NO upside, and plenty of downside, including the extra expense, to buying a home in an HOA. Therefore, I would never ever be foolish enough to do so. Yet at the same time, I feel my property value is adequately protected by the city zoning laws.