Well, this community has been here for 15 years and all of the residents I have met speak highly of this HOA. Maybe I fell into a good situation somehow.
I went to one and one board member wore a Hillary button. I thought about wearing a MAGA hat to the next meet but decided to sell. Didn’t want to deal with those old hags on other issues but then they needed to be cut own a notch. The complex was 50% rented units so the pride in ownership was not there but the busy-body crap got me to cash out.
Yes, I think you did fall into a better situation. Condo living is perfect for anyone retired or in busy career who wants an as-is nice living space, no lawn labor, etc., and expects nothing more.
Viewing the photo above, this guy bought his house in a completely different HOA situation, with an appearance of an open campus of individual houses, and from the get-go was quite mislead by the seller-agent, who knew he needed the add-on, and guaranteed it.
His Association’s Rules were familiar to him, since he’d also served a stint on the board. He followed them, if his story is accurate. The Association apparently ignored him until they could roll him, after the rule of “45 Day HOA Non-Response Consent”. He proceeded and was well invested in the add-on.
A good example of a bad example of one HOA. Yikes!