I was just visiting someone who lived in a very affordable condo - something like $50K for a decent two-bedroom in a safe neighborhood. They have a high monthly fee, something in the $300 range, but it includes heat & hot water. However, the common areas are so dated that it's actually depressing to be there. You feel like you're in a time warp. On the day I visited, neighbors were talking about the $600 assessment the HOA wanted to charge the following year to update one common area. The work sorely needs to be done, but no one wants to spend the money, AND the president of the HOA does not seem to be trustworthy with money. Which has required the people I was visiting to have to involve themselves in the HOA, which isn't something they'd prefer to do and brings its own set of demands and personality clashes.
I'm not sure what my point is. Only that it all seemed like one big headache to me, having to deal with an HOA all the time, and so if you can go to a few HOA meetings before you decide, that might give you some insight as to what it would be like to be an owner there.