Not quite 75K. First thrown in the insurance you would have to buy on the structure for an SFR of about $70/month. Then add the water bill of say $40/month plus trash of $20/month. Dont forget maintaining the landscaping of your SFR which is about $100/month. Then there is the value of any amenties you get (pool/spa/tennis/clubhouse/parks/gym if any) which can easily run you $60 to $70/month for a couple/family. We are already pushing close to $300/month. Then you have the costs of exterior maintenance over the life of your house (painting, stucco repairs, roofing etc) and that can easily average another $100 to $200/month over the long haul.
Not to say that HOA fees arent expensive but its not as if you arent getting anything for them. Of course there are benefits of flexibility, peace and privacy one can get with an SFR and not a condo but all these things need to be weighed against each other. Its a folly to say one is simply giving up $75K of purchasing power when there is so much more to consider.
