HOAs: Yay or Nay?

When I bought my home, I didn't want to be in an HOA community.  There are fees associated with having an HOA and more importantly, rules.

I first saw my home for sale in October, 2009.  It's a small but cute house in an HOA community of about 140 homes.  And when I first walked through, eh, it was OK.  The inside was painted one bland color - more brown than off-white - and being completely empty, it didn't have much character.  But I could see that the previous owner was in the midst of many updates, including double pane windows and french doors to the backyard patio.  After I thought about it - an hour later I decided that it could be the perfect home for me!   Except it was an HOA. 

The monthly price of the HOA dues was a little steep, more than I had been looking to pay, but it includes front yard landscaping maintenance.  For a single, working woman that's ideal!  Someone else trims the trees and bushes, and blows the leaves and such from the rest of the yard every week. 

As the years have worn on, yes, totally worth the price, considering the alternatives!  However, it's the little rules that can wear a person down.  For the first couple of years, on and off I was given a "warning" because I didn't pull my trash can off the street before the end of the day.  Most of the time, I'm the type who likes to keep up with things such as paint, but it can get away from a person.  Today I got a notice that I am required to paint my garage door within fourteen days!  Being deluged with rain the past few mornings, it had been a while since I picked up my mail, so I only have 7 days left on this time crunch! 

At my age, it feels like a punch in the gut when someone else has to remind me that I need to do some maintenance.  I also realize that being here 9 years already means I am probably due for a new roof or something as well.  *sigh*

The joys of home ownership.  And their HOAs.

Guess who's heading to Home Depot?????