DH and I bought a home in a neighborhood with an HOA. We chose this neighborhood knowing about the HOA and reading the rules.
So I guess I fit under "Snobby people who think their rear ends don't stink and wish to flock together and create a "perfect" neighborhood."
We did this because this was the only neighborhood that we saw that didn't have dead cars, piles of trash, weeds, loose pets, and crap everywhere. Those lots that did not have that stuff had 5 acre horse pastures without a blade of grass left on them. In an area which is known for being windy - 50 mph predicted for Sat. - I could not imagine living next to a bare field riddled with horse apples. My boss lives next to one of these and has the first 10-15' of his property along the neighbors fence buried in about 1' of horse manure that rolls under the fence. As it is, where we live all the lots have all native short grass prairie, fully vegetated and we still have massive dirt windrows form and constant dust getting into the house.
And yes, my life experiences have shown to me that if you have piles of rubbish (housing and food for rodents), loose dogs (bowls of dogfood left outside), and just generally don't care about what you pile onto your property, there is a good chance you will get rodents in the neighborhood.
Our HOA covenants do not allow any livestock except two horses per lot. I am working to get them changed. If I cannot get them changed, then I will not get chickens. It will be an education issue for many in the HOA to overcome their ignorance about chickens. Some I will never be able to convince. However, according to our bylaws, I only need 2/3 of the homeowners WHO SHOW UP TO THE ANNUAL MEETING to vote for a change in the covenants. I know a high percentage of those that show up are either for chickens or don't care if someone else has them.
