In my opinion, for a SFR (SFH, or whatever you call single family home) that is DETACHED, I wouldn't pay more than $50/month that has very little in terms of common area. (no common pool, no common recreation utility, no attached golf course, not gated community), etc.
That's the biggest qualm I have against some of the latest developments (for example some of the Pardee communities here in Carmel Valley.) I think the attached homes have HOA's for $150/month or something like this. The neighborhood has very little "common" to maintain imho, no shared resources, no shared pool, no gated community with a guard house, etc. I guess it might be common trees, and landscaping, but there isn't that much in a detached community. Where i live, there's very little to maintain (a hillside brush, which belongs to the city, not the HOA), and there's a $25/month HOA. I even think at times that's overkill, but $25/month is ok for me to chip in, considering the masters association organizes a free easter egg hunt every year .
