Never buy a residence subject to an HOA.
Yup. If where we bought had any more HOA type rules we would have bought someplace else. Our place has a “landscape maintenance assoc” and really the only way they can mess with an owner is if they don’t pay their dues. They supposedly maintain all the common areas. Eleven years and never been seen on our street. But, no “common areas” on our street.
My previous house had a HOA and only Democrat yard signs were allowed. If you put up a Republican one, they send you a letter reminding you that signs are not allowed. Meanwhile, the Democrat ones stayed up.
We don’t have a HOA with this house and several homes have vomited their contents into their front yard. My favorite is the broken lawn mower in the front yard that they mow around, when they mow which is very seldom.
But if you want to live in a guard gated community -- a very good thing in these days of rising crime -- you can't avoid an HOA.
Never ever! When my Dad built the first house in one of these communities they tried to do a HOA, just pay your $50 and join and will take care of the commons area and your kids can use the pool as well. His reply, not interested ever and its not in the contracts or deeds that I have to join, don’t ask again. It died rather quickly.