The True Origins of HOAs—and Why Discrimination Is Baked Into the System

Homeowners Associations (HOAs) are often marketed as guardians of “property values” and “community standards.” But the uncomfortable truth is this: HOAs were born out of a system designed to exclude. Understanding their origins explains why so many modern HOA disputes feel personal, targeted, and deeply unjust. Racially Restrictive Covenants: The Predecessor to HOAs In the early 20th century,…