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Often you have a clause in your mortgage where the homeowners' association can foreclose on your home if you fail to abide by their rules or pay your dues.

This is becoming a more and more common thing in the US, and it's repugnant.

I'm with you on this one, and I like your choice of the word "repugnant". Not only are you not allowed to do whatever you want, in/to a home you own, you get to pay for the "privilege" of artificially restricting your freedom. I can agree that there's a need for rules and regulations to keep society running smoothly with some semblance of order, but I sure don't see how the colour of one's window blinds needs to be part of that social contract. Is this the same country which prides itself on freedom?

I really don't understand how those things got started, let alone why anyone would ever agree to be bound by one. If I want to paint my house an emerald green with hot-pink trim, then I'll be damned if anyone other than my family will have a say in the matter.