Let’s not forget about HOA fees. They can be expensive and unpredictable. At least half the homes in the US are tied to HOAs that can make additional demands on how you maintain your property that can cost beaucoup bucks. Saving on electricity by drying your clothes on a line outside? Forget about it. Saving on food costs with a nice, big vegetable garden? Work on your car in your driveway? You can forget about that, too. I would never buy a home with an HOA.