So many times it's the only thing available. There's a John Oliver segment about it if you'd like to know more. We bought in an HOA. I didn't want to but I read the CC&Rs beforehand and they seemed pretty chill. The HOA itself has proved to be pretty chill as well and our fees pay to take care of a little park I don't really use but whatever? It's fine.

My HOA is pretty much: no car hoarding, don't let your house look like it is falling apart, don't let your grass get 6 ft tall in the front (back, we don't care). They are sticklers about not letting trash bins be visible from the road which is dumb and weird. It's like the only thing they care about.