If you are looking at this from the perspective of helping the group, I would find an experienced developer and/or an existing (possibly failed) development, introduce the two parties then get out of the way and let the group handle the particulars of what and where they actually want to live.

@Mark GallagherIf you have ever listened to BP podcasts, they always ask the guest the question at the end of the podcast: "What do you think sets apart successful investors from those who fail, give up, or never get started?"  

The law fails to explicitly require any PM to follow State HOA laws and the governing documents of the HOA managed.

One of the best things about living in the US is that it is so easy to fail at business, get back up, dust your self off, and try again -- with all of that new knowledge.I'm planning to borrow millions of dollars within the next year or two and cash flow 500k/year when the dust settles. 

Just do not want to sugar coat why most fail at this business.  

Contrast this with a startup where it can take a hell of a long time to really get to execution and even at that time there is huge optionality (meaning you either do really really well or fail very little in between).

IF all else fails, ask him point blank, why dont you support my attempt to better our lives? 

"fail fast, fail often, fail forward."

The business model to develop Community Association Manager (CAM) licensing legislation (and other HOA legislation): 1) legislators consult with the Community Association Institute (CAI)) to craft a Bill aimed at mitigating abusive practices of property managers who are the very folks the CAI represents 2) CAI lobbyist and their CAI “dependable” legislators become Bill sponsors 3) the Bill is assigned to Committees with CAI “dependable” legislators 4) the Bill becomes law with little to no home owner input, full of promoting CAI interests, and heavy on fees and costs and processes imposed on CAMs and 5) the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) implements licensing rules highly reflective of CAI efforts but fail to even contain explicit language for CAMs to obey State law or an HOAs governing laws or for CAMs to report observed violation of the law thus ensuring oversight is empty from the home owner’s perspective.

I notice you failed to answer simple questions whether the inspection period was a ruse..or a legitimate concern before closing.