This map shows how many Americans are there in HOA per state

HOA dramas are real! With the rise of homeowners' associations, buyers have been more reluctant than ever to purchase a house. People are more likely to avoid buying houses managed by HOAs. In fact, a survey of 1,000 Americans conducted by 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty found that a negative experience with an HOA convinced 1 in 3 homeowners to leave their community. However, leaving your home because of the associations is easier said than done, particularly since a significant number of houses are now under HOA, and it's hard to find one without it. In September, Newsweek created a map to represent each American state and the proportion of people living in an HOA-owned neighborhood, and it's just stressful!

Using data from RubyHome Luxury Real Estate, the Foundation for Community Association Research found nearly 30% of Americans, i.e., more than 75 million Americans live in 365,000 separate HOA communities. In fact, they found that among other states, Florida, Delaware, and Vermont have over 40% of their population living in HOA-governed neighborhoods. Now, among them, Vermont has 46%, Florida has 44.5%, and Delaware has 41% of HOA residents. Notably, Americans living under an HOA usually pay $200-$300 monthly. However, it isn't constant, and it changes based on the location. What if you're someone who doesn't want to live in an HOA-regulated neighborhood? Consider buying houses in West Virginia, Puerto Rico, and Mississippi, where a small number of people live in HOAs. However, in general, the U.S. Census data reveal a significant increase in single-family homes built within HOAs, from 49% in 2009 to 65% in 2023. With an increase in HOA-maintained neighborhoods, buyers' reluctance towards buying property has also been on the rise. But why do people hate or at least dislike HOAs?

People often complain about HOAs for enforcing unnecessary rules, imposing penalties, raising fees, and a lack of transparency. While HOAs are supposed to manage communities and ensure harmony, 54% of American homeowners aren't okay with the associations. Among those who want to leave their homes, 63% consider the decision due to unreasonable fees, 53% raised concerns about rule enforcement, where some people are given benefits over others, and 40% homeowners cited an unresponsive HOA board. In fact, when a person (u/salsafresca_1297) asked homeowners to share the most bizarre HOA rules they've encountered, the response was unreal!

For instance, u/powerskunk92 commented on a post, saying, "An HOA I lived in had a rule where residents could not wear camouflage clothing outdoors. It was considered 'redneck' to go out in public in such. This guy racked up fines because he wore camo daily. No matter how many times he appealed, with a good reason, the fines would stand, even though he refused to pay them. The fines were dropped after his unit commander attended an HOA meeting and tore into the board about their idiocy in fining a man for wearing a military uniform." u/drarmament shared, "Curtains and blinds have to be white when closed. No color but white. But you can put up different-colored LED lights and make different colors project onto it. Perfectly fine."

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