Why anybody would ever sign up with a homeowner's association is beyond me.
They can go straight to hell. It's my house. I pay the mortgage. I absolutely will not pay someone else to tell me what my house should look like or that I cannot display The American Flag on Independence Day/Memorial Day/etc...
"Hi, welcome to the neighborhood. We have a Homeowner's Association. You have to sign up here and our dues are...."
"No thank you."
"Well it's mandatory."
"No it's not."
"It is absolutely mandatory that you sign up."
"You had better call the Police then because I'm not signing that nonsense."