While management has been helpful in dealing with this, I also learned that per our contract (which we never signed, the developer did) that the HOA management company is entitled to all late fees. 

We signed everything electronically but our county won't accept it.

If a sponsor resists this basic transparency measure, consider it a serious warning sign.  

is the counter party refusing to sign cancellations..

Normally the escrow agent will want mutual sign off even if its clear the contract terms indicate one party should be awarded the escrow funds.

The buyer signs a representation agreement with no locked in period, with the flat fee buyer agency.2.

.- You will have to come out of pocket for the arears, fees etc, just to get into "contract" some times $20k or more and all you have as protection is the word of someone who's proven to be unreliable and a signed piece of paper... 

You can check out this group to know who the players are.

An agreement would be signed, and the property would be sold in 5 years and proceeds split up appropriately.

Also if you get signed up for Pro it locks you in at that price and you are not subject to further price increases.