[lelanthran]

> I think there is a high variance in how involved different HOAs are, so it's hard to make a blanket statement that you should totally avoid considering buying a property that's in an HOA.

I don't think it was a blanket statement; he differentiated between voluntary and mandatory HOA. The mandatory ones can, at any time, turn into a nightmare.

I'm part of a voluntary one. They don't have actual rules for the homeowners, but they do use the money to keep the area clean, run cameras on our suburb's entrances, etc.

They've been nothing but helpful and don't get involved if two neighbours have a disagreement (My two nieghbours both launched different lawsuits against each other, and HOA persons they each contacted declined to get involved).

OTOH, in a mandatory HOA (I've lived in one of those too) the neighbour with the best friendship of the board will basically get their way. The board members themselves get their way all the time.