I've never lived in a neighborhood that had a HOA, and I expect I never will. Sounds entirely too obtrusive to this lemur. If I have a neighbor who hasn't mowed/raked/shoveled in a couple of weeks, a little good-natured ribbing will do the trick with far less fuss than a contract.

Besides which, I enjoy people being odd and doing their own thing. The dude across the street who bought a used Bobcat and uses it to landscape his hideous yard? Why the heck not? The old lady who never shovels her walk? (We all shovel it for her, depending on who gets out there first.) The 'naturalists" who have a jungle for a yard? More power to 'em.

But then again, I view my home as a place to live first and foremost. The investment aspect never really interested me.