Why do you have to join an HOA if you buy a home in an HOA neighborhood? Why isn’t there an opt out option?

Question

Edit just to clear up: I don’t have a positive or negative opinion on HOAs. I know next to nothing about them. They’ve just been mentioned to me a few times by family members recently and I asked about aspect I didn’t understand

In: Other

Answer 1

I generally don’t like them, but after living in some trashy neighborhoods I totally get them.