When we bought our house (almost 7 years ago) there was only one other house in the development and there was no HOA ever mentioned by our realtor nor is there anything in our paperwork when we...

bought the house. There is now over 100 + homes in our community. About 4 years ago we were sent a bill for three years of HOA back fees saying an HOA was created to do things around the lake (which at the time I didn't know that there is no way to access without crossing onto someone s personal property to get to) and the entrance of the development. At first I thought it was a good idea and I sent them a check hoping they would put a gate up like they did with the neighborhood across the street and put public access park by the lake but the HOA people said they could not because the road (the same one they were decorating with expensive plants and holiday deco) was a public road. I then started looking at their expenses in great detail, which they posted on our community website. They were initially using one of the creators personal checking accounts and had charged us (the community) for bouncing checks and misc fees. The three on the board also have cell phones that are paid from the HOA dues and some other questionable expenses like Christmas decorations that just so happen to be the same ones the treasure has at their house and the gardening company was working on their house the same day they were working on our neighborhood entrance. The HOA was charged twice for the decorations because they claim someone stole the ones they put out on the lakes bridge so they had to go out and spend another $200 on more bulbs and garnish. At this point (three years ago) I stopped paying the $50 HOA annual fee. Since then, they have created a list of those who have not paid on our community website. They have even tacked on late fees. We are getting ready to sell our house and I have been told the HOA people can and will get their money when we sell and that they can put a lien on our house. Is this true? Can any group of neighborhood yahoos get together and create an HOA. The paperwork looks legal and comes from our secretary of state. What are our rights with HOA?