Fuck HOAs. I refused to look at houses within an HOA when I bought mine. I fired a realtor because they kept wasting my time showing me "wonderful houses" that were within an HOA, even though I explicitly told them no.
this post was submitted on 15 Aug 2026
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Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) are AI-powered cameras that capture and analyze images of all passing vehicles, storing details like your car’s location, date, and time. They also capture your car’s make, model, color, and identifying features such as dents, roof racks, and bumper stickers, often turning these into searchable data points. These cameras collect data on millions of vehicles—regardless of whether the driver is suspected of a crime. While these systems can be useful for tracking stolen cars or wanted individuals, they are mostly used to track the movements of innocent people.
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HOA are cancer. I don't understand how anything the HOA does is not a municipal government issue.
Because our country has a weird obsession with "government overreach" and somehow a private entity policing your every move is "more free" than a municipal ordinance.
It's because the government said let's all get along, and treat black people as humans and HOA's were a legal way to enforce segregation...
It allows individuals to harass members of the community they don't like through ticky tack violations that can be selectively targeted at any type of "other." At the inception of HOAs that "other" was usually some type of race, but it can apply to anyone who doesn't conform or just who your crabbiest neighbor might not like because they hate kids or don't like that someone drives a nicer car than them or are just angry at their lot in life.
Our HOA is a municipal government. It functions exactly the same as an HOA but ran locally by elected government instead of a private company.
Being municipal government doesn’t really make it any better.
The only thing I think is reasonable is in cities like SF, the HoA pays for elevators to operate and usually a full-time security guard(s). Its annoying that if I get a condo that I have to pay an HoA fee (some are insane and basically just rent) but if its reasonable I can see it being worth it.
But in suburbs? I genuinely have no idea why I would want to be in one. And the fact that youre forced to pay dues just because the previous owner of the home youre trying to buy was in it is wild to me
Yeah, I meant that specifically for suburbs/single family zoning areas. A multi owner building needs an organisation to actually do maintenance.
In townhouses, HOA dues typically go to redoing the decks/roofs, trash collection, and landscaping. I kind of get the need for it in this case, since one person neglecting these things could have major implications on the value of the attached units completely outside the other owners' control. HOAs are largely the stereotypical Karen bullshit, though.
Sorry for the "clickbaity" in-video title but I thought this a great example of how people are fighting back: Youtube Link
people should be aware of AXON cameras too.
When I was house-shopping, I refused to look at any house that was in an HOA.
Some HOA's are literally just to pay for the maintenance of a shared private drive, which IMO is reasonable. So, we explicitly refused to make any offers or consider any homes in HOA's which didn't let us see their charter. Interestingly enough, that was all of them... makes you think.
Where I'm from, the board has to make all documentation and meeting minutes available to people considering purchasing.
And it's a damn good thing they do, I've had friends discover some pretty expensive things that were lurking in the wings for future costs, like mold abatement and foundation problems.
What you don’t want to pay a surcharge every month for the privilege to fund a micro government focused on harassing its constituents?
Ya fuck HOAs
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The municipalities are allowing it and the police are gobbling them up. As someone commented below, a fucking Ring camera is near identical to a Flock. In the near future, I'm certain Ring will also offer a camera, with options, that will read your ass.
They already do gait analysis. It's not a leap to assume that Amazon can identify you from the motion of your ass as you walk.
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The fact that your HOA is surveiling your house and its residents is disgusting enough to at least meet with an attorney, IMHO. 🖖🏼
I went to the the pool yesterday with my toddler and noticed a flock camera pointed at the pool entrance. Fucking perverts.
Whatever spying cops are doing, HOA busybodies are doing it worse.
Regardless of whether flock cameras are deployed or not, I can't figure out why anyone would be looking to buy into an HOA community.
My friend bought a house in a good neighborhood with "good HOA". Half a year later they went on vacation and while they were away, hoa people entered his yard with a key that they apparently have without informing him, and cut down a beautiful cherry blossom tree in his yard, then sent him a bill for a removal, with the explaination that the tree had "incorrect leaf density".
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Flock cameras aside, I would never buy a home that's part of an HOA. There have been too many stories over the last 10 years of these terrible people abusing their power, up-to and including stealing people's home out from under them. That neighborhood is unlivable.
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My hoa has this. Wish I knew before I moved in. My car got vandalized, and the offender was their friend. They decided to protect him and not give out the recording. Also sent out email with disclaimer: cameras are not for our safety or security. What are they for then?!?! Stalking us?!?
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also ring cameras are spying too. i see them still installed in most houses.
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Is that censor a break in my screen or does that happen to everyone else while scrolling??
Edit: It was leaving temporary afterimages while scrolling. Other posts were fine tho. Restarting my phone seems to have fixed it, so a me-thing most likely.
its part of the image
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