Live in Cary Park? Like it? (Apex: for sale, apartments, HOA)

[slk0728]

I have to tell you.

My husband really likes a house in Cary Park.

However, I'm more than a little afraid of this mega-development. Taking the question of schools off the table, what is the community like? Family-friendly? Is there a community?

We work from home, so the commute really doesn't matter for us.

[Funky Chicken]

I am a ex-CP resident. We lived there from May 2003 until November 2007. Our primary reason for leaving was the fact that our home did not suit us any longer. We considered staying within the neighborhood but the right house for us wasn't there at the right time.
We made many friends when we first moved in. We were the 75th family to join the pool-now there are over 500. There is an active women's club. The swim team is a VERY big deal, and the club holds quite a few functions during the year that are pretty popular.
The only counterpoint I will offer is that because of the diversity in home sizes and prices people tend to form friendships within their little sections or streets and those groups can be a bit "closed". We were there early on and got to know people all over the neighborhood because there simply were not that many residents-now that it's pretty much built out that could be a bit more difficult.

[Buberry]

Funky Chicken (or others who might know), does this mean the pool is too crowded during the summer? e.i. is there a mad dash for chairs and tables? I wonder about this with more apartments/condos going in, new sections (Southbridge, Bellemont)... can all these join the pool at Cary Park? Anyone know the pool membership cost (it's separate from HOA's dues)?

[WorkingMomof2]

I think the fact that you have to pay extra for the pool/clubhouse keeps everyone and their brother from joining. In fact, the club needed extra membership when it first opened and solicited surrounding neighborhoods for members. That didn't go over very well with the CP residents.

I believe the cost of membership is around $400 for initiation and another $800/year for membership. But I could be way off base. It's been a while since I looked.

[Grooge]

We just moved back to Connecticut after living in Cary Park for a year. At the very beginning of the season, the pool was a bit crowded with kids, but I never had trouble getting a chair. As the summer wore on it was less and less. On some Friday evenings and weekend mornings there would only be a handful of us there. The only time it got crowded was during the holiday parties (4th of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day). But, people brought their own shades if need be. We really loved it there and will miss it this summer!

[janetplanet]

We're looking at a house for sale in the Cary Park neighborhood, but I had heard about a "capital contribution" fee that is charged at closing when buying a new home. Is that true and how much is that fee? Thanks!

[MikeJaquish]

Originally Posted by janetplanet

We're looking at a house for sale in the Cary Park neighborhood, but I had heard about a "capital contribution" fee that is charged at closing when buying a new home. Is that true and how much is that fee? Thanks!

Generally buyers pay 2 months' additional HOA dues when buying a new construction home in many subdivisions.
The "capital contribution" is just that, a little extra to help build the capital fund for the community.

[adlnc07]

Originally Posted by MikeJaquish

Generally buyers pay 2 months' additional HOA dues when buying a new construction home in many subdivisions.
The "capital contribution" is just that, a little extra to help build the capital fund for the community.

Existing subdivisions have started adding this on as well - I don't know if it's a recent law change or what, but I paid it when buying my house in Oxxford Hunt (built in 1987) and the buyers of my Apex house (built in 1998) paid it as well. I have to admit it seemed like BS for the Apex community, since they have a surplus of funds every year and not that much infrastructure to maintain. Oxxford Hunt, on the other hand, is older and I know has had to spend money updating the clubhouse, pool, etc. Anyhow, don't be surprised to see it on your HUD-1 the next time you buy a house in a HOA community, no matter how new or old it is!

[MikeJaquish]

Originally Posted by adlnc07

Existing subdivisions have started adding this on as well - I don't know if it's a recent law change or what, but I paid it when buying my house in Oxxford Hunt (built in 1987) and the buyers of my Apex house (built in 1998) paid it as well. I have to admit it seemed like BS for the Apex community, since they have a surplus of funds every year and not that much infrastructure to maintain. Oxxford Hunt, on the other hand, is older and I know has had to spend money updating the clubhouse, pool, etc. Anyhow, don't be surprised to see it on your HUD-1 the next time you buy a house in a HOA community, no matter how new or old it is!

I suppose it is better to have a surplus than to have continuous wrangling about assessments and/or dues increases. Then folks can run for the board and everyone can argue about how to use the surplus.
And there will always be someone saying, "I had to pay it. Why should the next guy get off for free?"

[janetplanet]

Thanks for the replys. We just found out we wouldn't have the capital contribution at our closing, so that's good. There's a small transfer fee, but I'd I heard about other neighborhoods having a capital contribution of $1800! So of course I was a little shocked at that and thought I'd find out if Cary Park had the same.