so who is in charge for organizing repairs/replacement of common area things? Fences, parking lots, elevators, roof, pool, dog park, interior carpets, re-painting walls, etc?

I guess i’m thinking of a condo HOA. Maybe some of that is less relevant in a neighborhood with single family homes?

I do agree some HOAs are awful. But many actually help keep a place from looking shitty and from collapsing like the condo tower in florida a few years ago.