'HOAs Are A Complete Scam'—Redditor Says Homeowners Give Up Their Rights To 'Busybodies Who Micromanage Your Life'

A Reddit post titled “Never buy a house with HOA” struck a nerve in the real estate investing community this week, as thousands of users shared horror stories and hot takes about the often-controversial world of homeowners associations.

Viral Post Sparks Heated Debate Over HOAs

The original poster, who goes by the handle Popular-Role-6218, pulled no punches. “HOAs are a complete scam — plain and simple,” they wrote. “Imagine handing over the rights to your own house — your house — to a bunch of busybodies who have nothing better to do than micromanage your life.”

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They described selling their home at a loss just to escape the HOA’s grip, citing arbitrary fines, constantly changing rules, and a system run by neighbors who act like royalty. “The worst people from your high school class, the petty gossips from work … those are the people deciding what color your shutters can be, how long your grass can grow, and what kind of mailbox you're allowed to have,” the post reads. “They can put a lien on your house and take it from you.”

The post, which quickly racked up more than 4,000 upvotes, naturally sparked a discussion.

A House Divided

While many users piled on in agreement, others pointed out that not all HOAs are created equal. One user wrote, “Our HOA is really good. A small townhouse neighborhood who really care … I’m glad we have HOA.”

Another shared a similar experience: “I live in an HOA and my neighbor is the president. He doesn't give a single flying [expletive] about the HOA, he just runs it so nobody starts raising chickens in their backyard or something crazy. Never had an issue.”

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Still, even those with positive experiences admitted HOAs can go sideways fast. “You’re always just one election away from a [bad] HOA,” one user warned.

Some users acknowledged that while HOAs can be power-tripping and overly aggressive, they can also help prevent neighborhoods from turning into what one commenter called “the Wild West.” Others said they were grateful not to live next to neighbors with junked cars, RVs, or unkempt lawns.

Who Really Owns the Property?

A few users took the debate further, saying HOAs reveal a deeper issue: the illusion of ownership. “If it's not an HOA, it's your local government. We don't ever really own our homes in America,” one user commented.

Others noted that HOA rules are typically recorded in the property deed, so buyers are bound to them whether they like it or not. “It's a restriction recorded on the land. The by-laws and rules get recorded before you ever bought the property,” another explained. “You don't have to affirmatively accept them. (as opposed to a voluntary HOA, which exist too)”

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Emotional Toll

The OP’s frustration struck a chord with users who shared stories of biased enforcement and personal stress. One wrote, “I literally couldn't have a raised bed or fire pit when multiple neighbors around me had one or the other. I got mad reading your post, not at you but projecting my own issues onto the Karens you're talking about.”

A comment perhaps summed up the thread best: “There are good HOAs, mediocre HOAs, bad HOAs. Just like people. Can't generalize one way or the other.”

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