For buying in neighborhoods where there is or may be a HomeOwners' Association, it is important to get an idea of how restrictive or micromanaging the HOA is. I took notes when someone on a different board suggested checking how uniform or diverse local yards were.

They wrote:

"When we were house hunting, part of my research was to walk the neighborhood. Were there reasonable additions (decks, sun rooms, garden sheds)? Yes, indicating that the HoA doesn't prevent these. Similarly I saw children's play equipment, vegetable gardens, and yes, clothes lines. I suspect that ten minutes spent walking any neighborhood would give a pretty good indication of the nature of the HoA."