For my own personal situation, I am really glad my home doesn't have an HOA and never will.
I don't see any advantage to perpetual "forever" expenses of thousands of dollars a year on my budget.
Think about how much money that would amount to in a lifetime. Maybe $100,000 in HOA fees?
With the dollar at it's current value; mine is $54,000 over 30 years for the smallest-sqft townhouse layout in the HOA. Not bad when it covers all outdoor work (lawn, snow, dryer vent, etc), retention ponds, playground, driveway reseal, etc etc. For the larger 2-story townhouses here it's approx $72,000 over 30 years.