“The HOA fees almost doubled within a year and the lawyer signed contracts with certain contractors who were the only companies authorized to do any work on any home.”
Care to provide the name of the HOA so I can verify your info?
HOA by default are authoritarian. I had hits or misses where I bought from that contained HOAs.
One neighborhood went from reasonable to totalitarian very quickly. Had to pay an extra $185 a year because of some pool/playground that never materialized because I lived on a certain street. The rest of the community targeted our street and the HOA was very friendly with the local government. Did the sensible thing and moved.
http://www.ccppoa.com/CCPPOA-—Property-Manager.html
Top right hand corner where I used to live was the only street that was ordered to pay this “fee”.
My guess is that you are a on a council of a HOA. That is fine, I understand HOAs and Stepford way of life mentality, but also understand the right to do what the heck you want on your own property as well.