Who lives in an HOA single family home?

Removed.

In essence, a home owners association is the same as any other form of government. It's exactly as good as the people who are willing to put in the effort to run it. And, frankly, that is the largest problem with any form of collective government. It took my HOA 4 ballot mailings to get a high enough return rate to revise the CC&Rs to LOWER the costs that the association had to cover, because most people just can't be bothered to vote!

Look over the bylaws of whatever community you are thinking of moving into and decide if you want to live by those rules. The ones I have lived in have been pretty reasonable, even with my "low-water butterfly garden" front yard instead of grass. A lot of people will say that they don't like them because "they don't want other people telling them what to do", but you will still have that. The person earlier who said they want the freedom to put a shed on their land if they want to can't if it is against the zoning laws. An HOA is just a smaller, more local government, and thus sometimes easier to handle exceptions than getting the city to grant you a variance.

HOA is structure by the residences of the area or even a management company. They set bylaws for residences to follow by. It really is what type of person you are. Some HOA are very slack and barely have any rules, where some are demanding your house to be a certain color, along with garage door and entrance door. Before buying/renting, please read over the bylaws carefully and maybe look through court documents to gather if there has been any conflict. That will give you an idea if you may be able to tolerate the residences or if it may be living in a nightmare.

I don't mind it, there are some good things as long as the monthly fee is reasonable. For example I have a gym (treadmills, weight equipment, key to open any time day or night), pool (I don't use that), and yard maintenance in my community. The yard is immaculate, which means no snakes or rats because there are no weeds, etc., and no work for me maintaining it. The gym is great, I often have it to myself and don't have to drive anywhere to get there and no monthly fee, etc. No street parking, they will ticket you, its great because I can back out without ever worrying about cars parked everywhere .... so there is alot of good if the HOA is reasonably priced.

I live in a subdivision that has an HOA. Have never had the first problem. They maintain the common areas, plant flowers in the medians, keep them looking good, resolve any violations by other homeowners such as those who do not keep up their properties. Dues have gone up once in 20 years & that amount was minimal. Prices have gone up in 20 years so no complaints here.

I hear nothing but complaints around here. Although they are a good idea in theory, there is usually an HOA nazi that gets on you for every little transgression and threatens a fine if you do ANYTHING out of the scope of the CC&R's. Yes, for some people it's nice having all houses cookie-cutter and looking the same (ick) but if you want to be able to do as you please, they aren't for you. A friend of mine got threatened with a fine for putting an obelisk (for vines to grow on) in her front yard for crying out loud!

HOA's are usually ran by retired people, very set in thier ways, and not willing to allow for anyone to have a different prefernce in anything. Including the type of flowers you plant outside your house. Whether your guest can park in the neighborhood, to virtually anything the old folks don't like. If there isn't a HOA bylaw to cover their dislikes, they hold a meeting while everyone but them, is at work, and pass a bylaw to create one that covers their new dislike..

Anything that can be seen from the outside is under their control. My sister had threats of being sued by the HOA because her kids left their toys in the yard when they came inside for lunch.

The only upside to an HOA is when they provide a service such as plowing the snow off the streets in the winter, or getting rid of someone who wants to have junk cars and trash on their property.

Personally, I would never purchase a piece of property under the control of an HOA.

I would stay away from any mandatory HOA! Why? They can be overbearing in their rules and do not work for you since they are mandatory. Already had a bad experience with an HOA. Had to walk away from the property because of them. THey can sue you for anything and take away your property! Beware!