TEXAS: How can I trust I'm not in an HOA if my closing documents said no but the HOA is telling me yes?
Location: Fort Worth, TX
I bought my property last year and during all the hustle of closing I was informed that the property was not in an HOA in my closing documents and by the seller. A few months ago, I received a letter saying that my property was being included in the HOA. My deed doesn't specifically mention it and all the CCR's I've found before I purchased my property don't appear to include my lot in the addition. Looking through tarrant county clerk i see that I've been "annexed" into the HOA by a document dated after my purchase.
I'm in a townhome community so HOA's aren't uncommon but the previous owner mentioning specifically there is no HOA and the title company verifying no HOA, I want to believe I'm free, but I'm out of my league here. I've reached out to a few local but none of them are getting back so I don't know what to do. Where could I find the HOA's authority to annex my property without my consent after my purchase?
EDIT: To add some more context, I spoke with neighbors who have been in the neighborhood far longer than me and the lore is the original declarant of the HOA and who owned the townhouses went bankrupt and so for a few years nobody in the neighborhood was paying HOA dues, until some change in ownership the last few months. The few of us that had grass were maintaining on our own.
Also appreciate everyone's comments, i did reach out to 2 more real estate lawyers since posting asking for some legal might in my little battle.