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I have a really hard time coming to grips with paying somebody to tell me what I can and can't do.

We do it all the time. It's called government taxes and government regulations.



However government taxes are usually (disclaimer) for the individual’s benefit and to provide protection from others. Not to keep us from doing what we want with our property.

You can argue that homeowner's associations protect our property value. However that comes at the expense of someone else’s freedom to do what they want with their property. While governmental laws like that do sometimes arise they are usually met with opposition, at least by me.

I think the majority of these people on the homeowner's association boards are people that get off on telling others how to live and enjoy the power trip. “Mind your own business” is a good motto, IMO.