[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.