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We pay $642 a year pool, playground, 2 entrance's upkeep, common areas and we also have to pay for are street lighting in are dues. Home prices are 265 - 375
I live in Woodcroft in Durham where many of the houses fit into the price range mentioned by the OP. Homes here were built in the late '80s and early '90s. I'm not sure of the exact number of homes; I'm sure there are over 1000 (single family homes plus townhomes). Annual dues for the HOA are $189. Most of that covers maintenance of our 6 miles of paved walking trails, plus miles of manicured landscaping along the trails and roads (mowing, seasonal replanting of flowerbeds, benches, doggie bag stations, etc.). We have a clubhouse with a pool, tennis courts, and soccer fields, but joining costs extra and is purely voluntary.
Note that I know people who live in smaller, newer neighborhoods than ours & have higher HOA dues even though the only community property is the neighborhood sign.
You must live in Braefield as well, what a rip off. We pay $384 a week in lawn mx to mow 4 small sections of common area. It's obscene. I think someone is embezzling.
The Board should explain the annual budget thoroughly before the community members adopt it, especially if it will drive up the dues. Ask questions to make certain that the Board is giving these costs the necessary attention they deserve.
Last edited by Green Irish Eyes; 04-09-2010 at 02:16 PM..
Reason: No self-promotion allowed.
We just moved out of Springbrooke in Cary. Price range is about $175-$250,000. There are about 120 houses there. Dues were $115, which covered primarily landscaping of common areas and insurance on a community pond.
However, it is worth noting two things:
1) Springbrooke operates with an all-volunteer board and management and has a tight budget with that. Silverton, the considerably larger subdivision of about 400 houses across the street in a similar price range, uses a management company and I believe their dues are in the $300-$400 range (a realtor could check this on current listings). If your dues are being driven up by a management company, you could try to get a new management company.
2) At Springbrooke the covenants prevented the board from ever raising dues more than 10% in a single year. You might want to read your community documents and determine what the limits are for your community.
You don't need to know what others pay - it's different for each neighborhood. You need to request your budget and your financials (your right). Then look them over and ask about potential savings. A lot of people jump to the same conclusion without knowing the facts. It's not free to plant flowers at the entrance, buy insurance for the common area, blah blah blah.
You must live in Braefield as well, what a rip off. We pay $384 a week in lawn mx to mow 4 small sections of common area. It's obscene. I think someone is embezzling.
Before you so casually toss out such an accusation, have you asked to see financials or contracts? Or are you content to sit back and make assumptions? One point I try to make to residents who say the lawn maintenance should be cheaper is that it's not just mowing. It's mowing, edging, weeding, fertilizing, aerating, seeding, lyming, fire ant killing, etc. And I guarantee your budget has at least 20 line items. I cannot stand it when homeowners call and say, "Why do I have to pay $400 a year just for ______ (any one amenity)?" I always just say, "You don't, because only x% of your budget goes to that." Educate yourself and you will be surprised.
The HOA dues in the community in which I live are $80 a month. It's a townhome community with no pool, club house, etc. The community is professionally managed and they maintain all landscaping, do structural repairs, repaving, and things of that nature.
I think $80 is very reasonable. However, things are changing in the community and I'm worried we homeowners will face an increase in the near future.
I live in a large PUD in Cary and pay into two associations although they seem to be the same thing. They are managed by Talis and we pay $13 a month that is billed as an annual payment. We do not have any amenities. They maintain common areas, a small playground, neighborhood signage, etc...
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