I lived in a gated HOA for a number of years and I thought it was great. I read the covenants and talked to the manager and some potential neighbors BEFORE I bought in. There was a significant monthly membership fee but the elected mgmt board was really on utility and road maintenance so I was generally pleased with it. I'm a plant guy and so, felt that the rules regarding landscaping were overly conservative, even boring. But I'm sure I was in the minority because all of the yards looked essentially the same. Except mine and a few others that skirted the bounds of common decency. I wasn't resentful. Just not entirely pleased is all.

I sold at a nice profit before a local real estate collapse, which I believed was an act of brilliance on my part. Then Katrina happened and you could sell swampland at Florida real estate prices and then I felt like I sold too soon! I understand that the HOA became quite lax with the sudden influx of New Orleans refugees and flush of money. People tell me the place is getting seedy. Maybe I was brilliant to sell back then.

B