As a SC resident stuck with an HOA, I can confirm this is 1000% true

But I can see your garbage bin. That's a $1/hr fine since it was first noticed. Unfortunately you won't get the official correspondence for another few days. Also you need to account for what the fine will total at the time we process payment. Any overages are considered a charitable donation. Any underpayment is subject to fees and fines per the fee schedule located in the bylaws section 897.56.3.a.i.3.22b and the fine schedule in the pamphlet you got when you first moved in and probably threw away.

Love, Your friendly neighborhood HOA.

I was fined for tying my trash bag incorrectly.

It kind of looks like a push to have for-profit HOAs replacing not-for-profit community led HOAs.

People hate the Karen’s so much that they’re ignoring the fact that they’re seeding control to companies that charge people massive legal fees and have a track record of foreclosing and displacing people for HOA violations.

Because much like in government, they like to hold meetings and elections at inconvenient times when most people are at work, so it's retired and anger-motivated people that show up. And those are not the people you want doing it.

In my area, the representatives aren’t the people who live there. There’s a large renters population and the owners are focused only in property values not on the practicalities of actually living. They are not subject to their own rules.

In other areas, it can be because the kind of person who ascends to that position is exactly the kind of person who shouldn’t have those powers.

they are too small in general. They can't pay to attract someone who might be willing but isn't passonate. so often what is left is busybodies who are passonate and you let them do whatever as it is better than doing it yourself - you have other things todo with your time.