HOA Redux

The Arizona leg passed a bill limiting the power of HOAs in the state. It is really interesting to see the leg do stuff like this. For anyone who has ever considered buying a home with an HOA, this should be of particular interest see here.

The bill basically strips HOAs of any real power. I am very skeptical of the power of HOAs, but this seems a little boneheaded. If you are going to strip them of their power, why not just outlaw them. It is good that they cannot take members homes anymore, but they should have some enforcement power. After all, it does suck to have a neighbor with 3-foot tall weeds and a car up on blocks in the front yard. Some people choose to live under the regulatory authority HOAs.

What do you think? Should the government regulate these areas? For instance, in Phoenix if you don't cut your grass or have a particularly junky house, you can get a blight notice. It is similar to an HOA, but much less affective, but also much less intrusive. Does government have a role in regulating this kind of behaviour?