[harshalizee]

Same! My house is the most expensive thing I own, I worked incredibly hard to get it. I am proud of it. I take care of it the way I want it. I don't care what some other un-invested party has to say about how I live.

> they've done nothing but enforce rules everyone has agreed to

But that's not really true is it? Most people buying a house in America do not have access to HOA by-laws until after signing. It's increasingly hard to even find homes that don't belong to a HOA unless you have the financial means to buy wherever you like. Plus, HOAs aren't opt-in/out either.

It doesn't matter if a majority of you decide on rules, unless the same majority is willing to fork out money to pay my mortgage+taxes, Idgaf what you have to say.

> I want to live in a neighborhood with others who feel the same way.

If you really believe this, you can go ahead and disband the HOA. You don't need to enforce with a stick if this is really the case.

[foogazi]

> Most people buying a house in America do not have access to HOA by-laws until after signing.

This is not true

[Kon-Peki]

In most states, a buyer has the legal right to rescind the purchase contract for some number of days after receiving these documents.

But you generally have to ask for them when you make the offer, or the law doesn’t protect you.

[foogazi]

In contracts I’ve been part off the buyer is required to sign the HOA covenant

Redfin, Zillow disclose HOA fees. Nothing prevents the buyer or their agent from requesting docs or calling the HOA directly

[Kon-Peki]

Right, what I’m saying is that the HOA is not allowed to say no to the request, and you have the opportunity to look over the docs once you get them (and decline to move forward if you don’t like what you see - and get your earnest money back).

But the main thing, is that you have to ask for the docs at the very start, or those laws don’t really protect you.

[harambae]

> Most people buying a house in America do not have access to HOA by-laws until after signing.

I know John Oliver mentioned in his HOA segment that this is sometimes the case, but it's definitely not "most" locations and I actually don't know where it is true (wish he had clarified).

It's definitely not true in Massachusetts, New Hampshire or California because I'm familiar with the real estate laws of those states.