If you're willing to limit your search, at least in the US, HOAs in some cities are optional. E.g. when looking for houses in LA, no HOA was a soft requirement

If you're willing to limit your search, at least in the US, HOAs in some cities are optional. E.g. when looking for houses in LA, no HOA was a soft requirement of mine. Every house built in the 80s or later seemed to have one, so we ended up with a house built in the 70s. Some of the HOA rules were kinda ridiculous (could not have garage open unless a car was exiting or entering, wtf). In a condo building though, I don't know how you can get around an HOA.