I foking despise HOA. Even though I've had one at two properties for two decades.
I personally don't have an issue with staying in compliance. Heck I generally win "Yard of The Month".
But the fact that 95% of ALL Communities in Texas force you to be in one if you want to live in a nice or affluent neighborhood is bullshit. Ours doesn't maintain our yards or really benefit shit for the $700-$1k annually. If you take pride in your home which you should in this price point anyway, HOA should not even exist. I've read some major horror stories too...