HOA's serve a very important part in the up-keep of the neighborhood so that the value of your house increase and not depreciate. However, there should be term limits for the officers. When the same people serve all the time, they become a clique with a dictator in charge. And some let power go to their inflated heads. Make sure you know what's in your covenant before you move in a new neighborhood. If it's not in the covenant the HOA don't have a leg to stand on and they will lose if they try to take legal action against you.