Like truble said, those rules are disclosed to you before you buy. Some like truble have good feelings about HOA, others do not. I myself will NEVER like in a HOA or any "fee" community, simply becasue I am an independent rebel! We bought our 20 y.o. house 5 years ago and pay a normal monthly mortgage and normal yearly property tax. Our little town does have rules about trash in yards, junk cars, and grass overgrowth, but they are common sense rules that I don't believe anyone has a problem with.