The problem with HOAs is control freaks are attracted to running them.

Here I would get a petition requesting removal of the speed bumps signed but a dozen neighbors and petition the board.

The nuclear option is to find a rich person in the HOA who doesn't like the bumps. A real lawsuit (regardless of merit) stops HOAs because they cannot afford to fight back without collecting from the homeowners, and the homeowners won't want to pay for it. Money wins via lawsuit unless you have a rich development where people just get off irritating each other, in which case you should move out of New York/New Jersey.

Small claims court for damaging your car is a viable #2 plan if collecting signatures fails.

But they do not keep property values up, that is the biggest steamy pile ever. A $20 lawn mowing isn't going to affect the value of a $100K home next door and the notion that it will is pretty lol.

Most people don't like HOAs. I know I would pay LESS for a home in an HOA than an equivalent home that wasn't...so an arguement could be made that they actually reduce property values. A community with a bunch of speed bumps? Now the value of those homes just went WAAAYYYY down and in reality, I'm just not buying that home. Because of the HOA.

No need to go off on me, I put it in quotes because I don't totally believe it, but that's their standard line.

But, in reality, a neighborhood full of 2 foot tall grass is going to turn off buyers more than speedbumps and HOA fees. However, you are (just guessing) a unmarried childless 20-something guy, whose opinion doesn't mirror that of the prototypical "married with 2 kids" homebuyer.

Are you kidding? I wouldn't even consider moving into a neighborhood where several houses look like it's owned by trailer trash. I drive through neighborhoods like this every day and there is a nice house or two in there that is well kept, then a ton of rentals or other crappy houses that are just disgusting. No surprise, the value of the houses in that neighborhood are significantly lower.

There are also amenities that they can provide, such as play areas for kids, swimming pools, etc... Those will raise property values.

Now they certainly do get taken over by people who are overzealous and life nits, and that is a flaw with them, but there are good and bad with them.

I moved into an HOA neighborhood 6 months ago. Fees are like $130 a month or something.

Like others have said, they keep common areas mowed, make sure people don't have RVs or junk cars sitting in their driveway, keep people from painting their house some crazy color or putting in ugly fences, etc etc.

I don't love my HOA, but I don't hate them either. They are just kinda there, and when I bought the place I figured the dues were already built into the cost of the house anyway. So as long as they don't do something silly I am good to go.

there's a house down the street (outside my neighborhood or HOA) that has 3 or 4 old rusty ass junk cars sitting in the yard plus a bunch of other trash. Stuff I can't understand why anyone would want to keep... how many ****ing old ass lawn mowers do the white trash need?

Hey DonkeyChip i think the house NEXT to that one is for sale