If you're an independent type that doesn't like being told what they need to do, you probably don't want to live in a community with an HOA. If you care about your property value, then you might find them attractive. When you buy into a home with an HOA, By-Laws and Covenants, you go into the purchase when you go to close with your eyes wide open. Caveat Emptor.

I've lived in three communities with HOAs and one without. HOAs can be overbearing which is driven by the personalities of the board of directors and officers. I've been an officer and board member for all three HOAs. They need to take a measured and balanced approach to how they administer the HOA By-Laws and Covenants.

In one community that I lived in without an HOA, a neighbor absolutely refuse to paint their house to the detriment of all of their neighbors on the same street. How a neighbor takes care of their home will impact your home value. Without an HOA, there was nothing that the neighborhood could do about it. It wasn't like they didn't have the money to paint the house (frame house w/ Masonite siding). They were just being contrarian as well as penny wise and dollar foolish. Since we moved away, the house has finally been painted. In any case, HOAs serve a purpose and must be run properly to be effective and tolerable. Home ownership is a mixed bag. There's no such thing as a maintenance free home.