demand an accounting for that $70 you pay in association fees. Where is that money going? If they can't or won't account for the money, I'd refuse to pay until they did. Not only that, I'd consider contacting the local DA if I suspected they were misusing the money.

I always try to check the covenants before buying a home. Sometimes, they don't want to show them to you until right before closing. By that time, it's often too late to back out of the deal.

Like I said before, I don't want to live in a trashy neighborhood any more than anyone else. However, I do have a strong philosophical disagreement with those who try to dictate what others can do on their own property. As a general rule, I believe their say about my property is directly proportional to the percentage of my mortgage they pay.

Done properly, a covenant is a loose agreement among neighbors about certain standards. Done improperly, it becomes a tool for tyrants to bully others.

In the case of government regulations, they should be applied uniformly and be consistent with both public safety and common sense.