ATM, the HOA in my neighborhood is very very tolerable. The money (all $100 per year) goes towards maintaining landscaping and the signage. The only "restrictions" they have are no above ground pools (which I 100% agree with and they were rather powerless when someone actually installed one), and if you're gonna put in a detached shed, at least try to make it a permanent structure instead of some cheapo plastic plastic thing from walmart or lowes.