1 - There are a series of governing documents that describe the community and association structure, roles, and responsibilities. You should be able to obtain a copy at the HOA office. Now, getting them to live up to these responsibilities is another issue entirely.

2 - The dues vary according to the type of property, development phase, etc. I live in a single family home in Founder's Village. My quarterly assessment is $254.

3 - The HOA dues include an assessment for Qwest high-speed internet. It's $35/month. Some people love it; others hate it. I never succeeded in getting it to work properly, so I am still paying $35/month for the service even though I had to find a different ISP. If you like making your own choices about high-speed internet or have any unique needs, having the HOA mandate your provider and level of service is not necessarily a good thing.

4 - Yes, a single-family home with a private lot pays a lower assessment than townhouses, condos, or those with shared common areas.

5 - You would need to obtain approval through the review committee to install a fence and/or modify the landscaping (including in the backyard). The process sounds more ominous that I found it to be. I believe the committee meets twice a month. I submitted and had final approvals for my fence and landscaping within a few weeks. There have been complaints about how consistently the standards are applied throughout the community, and I know that others have had a much more difficult time getting things approved through the review committee.

Hope this helps.