[fintstone]

HOAs can be good or bad. The by-laws are written with some very general phrases regarding things like "Attractive appearance" and "well maintained" etc. It can be interpreted as the board sees fit. One HOA might think your grass being six inches high or having a dead spot here and there is just fine, other HOAs come by every week and measure your grass with a ruler. I got fined by my HOA in Vegas because there was a spider's web on one of my tenant's car wheels. They interpreted that as the car was immobile and could not be driven. Spiders can build a web in a day. One HOA might only be annoyed if you put a car on blocks on your yard while another would fine you for opening your hood to check your oil (since the rules say no auto repairs on the property. The people that sign up to be on the Board of Directors are usually the kind of folks that are just dying to tell you how to live your life. Often, they hire, with your money...a company that does this type work and inspects your property and collects your money. If a shrub or tree dies, I get fined. If I remove it and don't replace it, I get fined. If there is a single weed on the half acre property, I get fined. If there are leaves under a tree, I get fined. If someone parks on the street in front of my house, I get fined. I got fined about a year ago because one of the power lines coming into the house was not painted the same color as the house (it had been that way for 14 years since when the house was built). You either have to do what they want, or sue...as they have the ability to place a lien on your property.