Condos can be a good choice for some people, provided they are run well and maintained.
I'm not going to say that every Condo is run poorly, but I can tell you, having been on the board of my local HOA (all single family homes) that the majority of owners don't give any thought to funding reserves or future repairs, and are vocal about any proposed increase in monthly/annual dues to do so. Kicking the can down the road, as we saw with the Surfside Condo collapse, is the rule, versus the exception. And, as we saw with the Surfside Condo collapse, comes back to bite everyone in the end.
The other issue of Condo (and HOA) life is the percentage of full time versus part time residents, and the percentage of units being rented. Where you have part time residents, they aren't thrilled paying for costs associated with the property when they aren't there, especially seasonal ones, and want the lowest possible dues. If your part time residents outnumber your full time residents, they'll also wage war over paying for things they perceive as being there primarily for the full timers. Where you have a lot of rentals, they require the amenities to be "top notch". So, you're staffing a lifeguard at the pool in two shifts, versus a single shift.
Most Condo/HOA management companies are terrible. They typically exist to be a scapegoat for everything. Dues goes up? The management company raised prices. Pool railing not fixed in an hour? That darn management company doesn't employ enough maintenance staff. Most management companies are good at collecting dues, and usually nothing more.
Before you buy a Condo or home in an HOA, you'll want to read the rules and regulations and bylaws and declaration. Many states require these to be provided to you, and offer a "exit agreement of sale" if you don't like what you read. Also, ask to read the meeting minutes for the last two years. Most monthly meeting minutes are only a couple of pages long, so it's not a lot of reading. These are typically not provided to you automatically. These are where you're going to see strife and issues.
My advice would be to not buy a Condo. I'd be looking for a "55 and up" senior community that maintains the outside (or at least the grounds) of single family homes. Alternatively, a single family home not in an HOA, and find your own lawn care maintenance, and bug treatment companies.