[NoMoreNicksLeft]

> If you do not want to be part of an HOA tell your real estate broker that this is one of the criteria for where you want to live.

Yes, tell your realtor "I don't want to look at any of the properties you have for sale, or any properties within the greater [insert city here] metro area, or for that matter any geographical location within 100 miles of here". He'd look at you less strangely, and might even chuckle instead of telling you to go fuck yourself and to not waste his time.

And the best part of all is that these two requests are essentially identical.

[marssaxman]

Where do you live? That sounds terrible.

I would never consider any house encumbered with an HOA, and I would fire any realtor who ignored my wishes by showing one - but it's never been an issue, here in Seattle.

[jghn]

At least where I live such a request would barely remove any houses from your search. Your response is very location dependent.

I for one would not only not by an HOA encumbered home but I’d not move to an area where that would be an issue

[nilamo]

People talk to real estate agents? I thought things like Zillow completely eliminated that step...

[insane_dreamer]

All Zillow does is put you in touch with a real estate agent.