Honestly HOA's are good if you can avoid those strict ones. I'm gonna take a picture of something later and it will explain better.
I get people not wanting someone to tell them something about their property but that's why they have the choice to not buy in an HOA.
What I do like is say my neighbors are having crazy "different lifestyle" parties at all hrs of the night, or his dog is crapping on my lawn, or he's draining his pool into my yard (still can't believe that one, or like any of the issues thats been mentioned in this thread....... They get a letter saying to fix the issue.... If they don't they eventually get fined.... Instead of me having to have a conversation that could end up badly
