If as you say you have read other posts then you know about the Federal Law that says Yes you can install and use a antenna on the roof no mater what the hoa says.  Here is the Federal Law , 
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html.  The owner of the house in your situation is the one that decides if a antenna is put on the roof or not.  That said. If the antenna must go in the attic then pointing the antenna at about 95 degree magnetic compass is a good aim point. Here is how to aim antennas , 
http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html. Install a Winegard HD7696P antenna with a Antennas Direct CPA-19 preamp in the attic , the HD7696P antenna will hopefuly fit in the attic space and aim in the correct direction. Most attics have a electric outlet , so put the preamp and the preamp power supply in the attic. Here are some places to buy antennas and etc. , 
http://www.winegarddirect.com , 
http://www.solidsignal.com , 
http://www.amazon.com , 
http://www.ramelectronics.com , 
http://www.tigerdirect.com. If the owner of the house decides that the antenna can go on the roof then here are some roof top antenna mounts , 
http://www.ronard.com/909911.html , 
http://www.ronard.com/34424560.html , 
http://www.ronard.com/ychim.html , 
http://www.ronard.com. Buy the ronard mounts from solidsignal by typing the word ronard in the solidsignal search box.  ( Now Back To The Attic )  If the house does not have a metal roof and does not have stucko WIRE on the outside walls then the reception should be Ok for the digital tv stations/channels in the green and yellow reception zones of the tvfool radar map.  With the antenna in the attic.  If the aim of the antenna in the attic  is at a outside wall that has stucko Wire , then try and aim the antenna through the roof if the roof has standard composition shingles or clay tiles.