You’re worried about a window unit? Are you sure you’re a born and raised Texan?
I think if all that evenly clipped grass, perfect shrubs and lack of individuality on every property is of primary interest to someone, then living on a city lot under HOA edicts is perfect for them-personally, I prefer the openness, tolerance and variety of the boonies-you get to know everyone, and know who to ignore if they are an ass...
I lived in a neighborhood with an HOA once, when my husband and I were just starting out-never, ever again. I returned to the country as soon as I could, where I’m free to live as I choose-as is everyone else.
I don’t give a damn how many running or non running vehicles, or whatever else you have on the front of your property-since all is acreage property, it is usually livestock or horses anyway-and I don’t care about the racket your rooster makes at 6AM as long as you don’t care if I take my Husky outside with me on Winter nights to howl at the moon with the coyotes-to each their own, and leave everyone alone...
Window units bother you? You’d really go apes*** around here-those things are far more practical and economical for dwellings with rooms that are not used all the time. And paved driveways don’t exist-you drive in the gate and park the truck or SUV in the yard under the trees-garage is for storage or your workshop...
Every homeowner in an HOA is one NAZI away from having an HOA from hell.
It's also funny how these 'contractual' relationships are compelled. The only way I know of to buy a new house any where near where I live that is not in an HOA is to build my own on my own land. As a matter f fact, in the town I live in you can't build a new house that is not a part of an HOA.
That hardly seems voluntary.
It's interesting that you can't sell a house with a "no muslims" stipulation in the deed, yet you can sell a house with a "you must associate with this group and subject yourself to their arbitary decisions" stipulation.