w e i v e R
Estates of Russell Creek Estates of
Russell Creek October 2009
Volume 3, Issue 10
Official Publication of The Estates of Russell Creek Homeowners Association
Trees Add Value To Our Homes And Neighborhood
Sandra Johnson The trees in the Estates of Russell Creek add charm, beauty and value to our neighborhood and set us apart from neighboring subdivisions. As a homeowner, I take great pride in our beautiful tree-lined streets. When our family moved to ERC, our street (Strecker) was mostly barren dirt lots with a few houses and skinny, young trees. Having just moved to ERC from an older neighborhood with mature trees, I remember missing the sounds of the birds singing. I remember wondering when the trees would grow sufficiently to attract and sustain birds and squirrels – and now we have them in abundance! Through the years, homeowners in ERC have lost trees. Some have been lost to storm damage, most recently in April of 2008. Some trees have been lost to disease. Many Bradford Pear trees in our neighborhood have died or are at their “end of life”. At considerable expense, residents have replaced their damaged or diseased trees returning beauty and value back into their homes and our neighborhood. We haven’t always had beautiful, mature trees in ERC. Through the years, homeowners have purchased, planted and nurtured them. Most of our homeowners take great pride in their yards and landscaping. Our entire community benefits when homes in our neighborhood are well maintained. Unfortunately, some residents have been slow to replace their damaged and diseased trees. The homes with missing or unhealthy trees stand out among our beautiful tree-lined streets and visually impact the charm of our neighborhood. As our neighborhood continues to age, it is important that we continue to maintain the standards that were established in our Deed Restrictions. Inside this month’s newsletter, residents will find a Summary of Deed Restrictions and Covenants (a full description is included in the CC&R’s received at closing from your title company). One bullet specifically refers to a tree requirement: “A minimum of two trees, at least three inch caliper in size shall be installed in the front yard of the home.” As noted on the Summary, Deed Restrictions and Covenants are binding to all ERC homeowners. (Continued on page 3) Copyright © 2009 Peel, Inc.
Estates of Russell Creek Summary of Deed Restrictions and Covenants
The following information summarizes the declaration of covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&R’s) covering the lots in all sections of Estates of Russell Creek. This is intended to be a brief overview. A full description is covered in the applicable CC&R’s and is available through the Estates of Russell Creek Homeowner’s Association. This summary contains only the covenants that apply post construction/occupancy. • Current Assessments (2009): Initiation Fee/HOA Dues, $150.00 initiation fee collected at closing, HOA dues are $205.00 per Lot semi-annual (payable in advance Jan. 2, and July 1). • No boat, trailer, marine craft, recreational vehicle, pick-up, camper, travel trailer, motor home, camper body or similar vehicle or equipment may be parked for storage in the driveway or front yard of any dwelling or parked on any public street on the Property. (Any such vehicle must be completely (Continued on page 5)
Estates of Russell Creek Homeowner's Association Newsletter - October 2009
Estates of Russell Creek erc board members David Oldani, President....................................972-731-6244 Amy Newell, Vice President..............................972-335-5860 John Dwyer, Secretary.......................................972-377-0246 Jeff Einspahr, Treasurer......................................972-335-5413 Doug Finn, Director.........................................972-712-4655 Sandra Johnson, Director..................................972-712-2337 Robert Simmons, Director................................972-731-9683 Dan Estep (CMA).............................................972-943-2856
newsletter info Editor Geoff Clark.......................
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disclaimer DISCLAIMER: Articles and ads in this newsletter express the opinions of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Peel, Inc. or its employees. Peel, Inc. is not responsible for the accuracy of any facts stated in articles submitted by others. The publisher also assumes no responsibility for the advertising content with this publication. All warranties and representations made in the advertising content are solely that of the advertiser and any such claims regarding its content should be taken up with the advertiser. * The publisher assumes no liability with regard to its advertisers for misprints or failure to place advertising in this publication except for the actual cost of such advertising. * Although every effort is taken to avoid mistakes and/or misprints, the publisher assumes no responsibility for any errors of information or typographical mistakes, except as limited to the cost of advertising as stated above or in the case of misinformation, a printed retraction/correction. * Under no circumstances shall the publisher be held liable for incidental or consequential damages, inconvenience, loss of business or services, or any other liabilities from failure to publish, or from failure to publish in a timely manner, except as limited to liabilities stated above.
Personal Classifieds Puppies - Dachshund puppies, 7 weeks old, available now. Shots, wormed, registered and raised with four kids Please call if interested. 3 males($250) 1 female($275) Please call Jason or Kristin at 972-334-0253 babysitter needed - Lynda Zitka is looking for after school assistance with her 5th grader. She can be contacted via email at
[email protected] Looking for an English Tutor - Solange Ferreira is looking for an English tutor for conversational classes from September 30 - October 12, 2009. Exchange of English/Brazilian classes would be also an option. Please email solange_ferreira@ yahoo.com or call 214.387.8217
disclaimer At no time will any source be allowed to use the Estates of Russell Creek Community Newsletter contents, or loan said contents, to others in anyway, shape or form, nor in any media, website, print, film, e-mail, electrostatic copy, fax, or etc. for the purpose of solicitation, commercial use, or any use for profit, political campaigns, or other self amplification, under penalty of law without written or expressed permission from the Estates of Russell Creek Association and Peel, Inc. The information in the newsletter is exclusively for the private use of Estates of Russell Creek residents only. Estates of Russell Creek Homeowner's Association Newsletter - October 2009
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Estates of Russell Creek Trees - (Continued from Cover page) A majority of residents attending the Annual Homeowners Meeting last March expressed frustration with the slow progress of some homeowners to replace diseased and damaged trees (and damaged fences, but that’s a topic for another newsletter). Board members continue to field questions and comments from homeowners on this issue. The Board is in agreement that we must take appropriate measures to ensure compliance with the CC&Rs. To add value to our homes and neighborhood, and to help Homeowners reach compliance with the CC&Rs, the Board is pleased to be working with Fannin Tree Farm on the ERC Tree Replacement Program. We have negotiated special pricing for ERC homeowners. We plan to hold an informational meeting soon to discuss the specific details of the program. A certified arborist will be at the meeting to answer your questions on what type of tree to plant, how to take care of trees, etc. All homeowners are welcome to participate in the program and receive a discount on their tree purchase. Look for more information on the ERC Tree Replacement Program to be announced soon via the ERC ENews. If you are not already signed up to receive the ERC ENews, you can do so by going to our website at www.estatesofrussellcreek.com and click on the link on the top of the home page to subscribe. Your email address is confidential and will not be shared or distributed.
Money Really Does Grow On Trees! “A mature tree can often have an appraised value of between $1000 and $10,000.” – Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers “The net cooling effect of a young, healthy tree is the equivalent to ten room-size air conditioners operating 20 hours a day”. -U.S. Department of Agriculture “Trees properly placed around a buildings can reduce air conditioning needs by 30% and can save 20%-50% in energy used for heating” – USDA Forest Service The Arbor Day Foundation website notes the following statistic: “In one study, 83% of realtors believe that mature trees have a “strong or moderate impact” on the salability of homes listed for under $150,000; on homes over $250,000, this perception increases to 98%”. “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is now.” ~Chinese Proverb
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Estates of Russell Creek Homeowner's Association Newsletter - October 2009
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Estates of Russell Creek Deed Restrictions - (Continued from Cover page) •
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concealed from public view). No temporary dwelling, shop, trailer or mobile home of any kind or any improvement of a temporary character except children’s playhouses, dog houses, greenhouses, gazebos and storage building which may be placed on a Lot only in places where not visible from any street. Animals may be kept as household pets only (number of pets vary by section). No breeding is permitted. Pets must be restrained or confined to the rear of the Owner’s Lot inside a fenced area or within the house. Except with written permission of the Committee, no antennas or satellite discs shall be permitted on the Property except for antennas for AM or FM radio reception and UHF and VHF television reception. All antennas shall be located inside the attic. Signs may not be displayed to the public view except one sign of not more than five square feet advertising property for rent or sale. Any portion of any lot/home or fence exposed to the public view must be maintained in a neat and orderly fashion. Any fence or wall must be constructed of brick or wood or other material approved by the Committee. Any fencing facing
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any street must be constructed to that the side of the fence containing the horizontal structure supports is not visible from such street. No portion of any fence shall be erected more than eight feet in height unless otherwise approved by the Committee in writing. • Minimum of two trees, at least three inch caliper in size shall be installed in the front yard of the home. • All homeowners should have received a full copy of the CC&R’s from their title company upon closing of their home. If you did not receive the full legal document, please contact your title company for your copy. CMA (972- 943-2800) will provide a copy for a fee. These are legal documents filed by the developers prior to construction and are binding on ALL homeowners. • Residents planning to add or make changes to their home or yard should submit a completed Architectural Control Committee Submission Form to: Estates of Russell Creek HOA/ Architectural Control Committee, c/o CMA 1800 Preston Park Blvd., Suite 101, Plano, TX 77093. Please help us maintain our community and hold/increase our property values by honoring these guidelines and respecting your neighbors. If you have any questions concerning this summary, speak to an ERC HOA Board member or CMA.
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Estates of Russell Creek Homeowner's Association Newsletter - October 2009
Estates of Russell Creek College Life: Lessons Learned….
Sandra Johnson Fall can be a stressful time for high school juniors and seniors (and com to help identify schools which are a good fit for you. It’s their parents!) going through the college selection and admissions free! process. We have many ERC neighbors who have navigated through • College websites are so useful – spend time online checking this process with older children. With hindsight, some have valuable them out. lessons learned which may benefit others…. • While visiting the campus, try to visualize yourself as a student attending the school. Does it “feel” like a fit for you? ACT & SAT Testing • Get to know the local recruiter for your prospective school(s) • Pace yourself with test preparation. Don’t start too early or wait – they are a very good resource. too long to get started. • • •
Consider one-on-one tutoring for test prep and essay writing. Comparatively, the cost can be less than fees charged by test prep companies – and the process is more individualized. Register early for testing dates to ensure you get the most convenient testing locations. Consider passing on the opportunity to send out “Free” test scores automatically. It may be to your advantage to pay a fee and send only your best scores.
Identifying the Best College(s) for You! • Start Early! It’s never too early to start visiting college campuses. • Where do I start? Use “College MatchMaker” on Collegeboard.
Admissions • Don’t stress. Start early. organized. • Carefully review a copy of your high school transcripts for errors before submitting to colleges. • Keep an open mind. There are so many good schools out there.
Stay
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Estates of Russell Creek Homeowner's Association Newsletter - October 2009
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Estates of Russell Creek Low Cost Vaccinations for Dogs & Cats The City of Plano Animal Control Services Department provides low cost vaccinations for dogs and cats on the 2nd Friday of every month from 4-7pm. Appointments are not necessary. Interceptor, Sentinel, Vectra 3D, and Home Again Microchips are available for purchase. Plano residents can register their pets, too! Plano Animal Shelter 4028 West Plano Parkway Plano, TX 75093 Call (972) 769-4360 or go to www.planotx.org/animal for more info.
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A Sensible Plan for College Funding Submitted by Rich Keith
How you fund college expenses is divided naturally between using your money, and by using other peoples’ money. This sounds simple but each scenario requires understanding of the long-term impacts. In this article we are going to focus on free money, and on “Tax Scholarships,” where the Federal Government helps you send your child to college through tax savings and other methods. Recently the federal government boosted financial aid for higher education, including various tax breaks. An expanded version of the Hope Scholarship tax credit appeared called the American Opportunity tax credit. The new credit can save taxpayers as much as $2,500 in tax, or $5,000 for two collegians, and a refund of $1,000, if you satisfy certain rules. Remember that you can’t claim the American Opportunity credit for expenses paid with withdrawals from a 529 plan. So you may wish to limit 529 withdrawals so some college expenses are paid with other money, to allow the use of the new tax credit. Some students won’t qualify for the American Opportunity credit. Fortunately, a Lifetime Learning tax credit provides a maximum annual credit of $2,000 for tuition and fees, subject to rules. The tax advantages of 529 plans are many. A down year for stock funds, combined with a poor year for many bond funds, has driven down the value of many folks’ 529 accounts. People with younger children can keep contributing and look to a rebound. Parents of college and pre-college students, though, may have few options other than using 529 plan withdrawals to pay for higher education. Having said that, it may be better to pay for college from cash flow or from cash reserves. This delays liquidation of 529 assets as long as possible, allowing for a recovery. Remember to reimburse yourself from your 529 plan before the end of the calendar year in which the expenses were incurred. If the market does not come back in time for your needs, you still have options. If you have other funds that can cover college bills without disrupting your financial plan, keep the money in the 529 as long as feasible, in hopes of future tax-free growth. Of course, if a child is finishing school and there is no younger sibling who could use the funds in the future, then you should spend down your 529 funds. Tax tip: parents of college-bound children should realize net losses in their taxable accounts to lock in tax benefits. The proceeds can be reinvested in 529 accounts so that any future gains from today’s low levels can be withdrawn, tax-free, to pay for college later on; perhaps in graduate school. Check with your financial coach and tax advisor for full details.
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Estates of Russell Creek Homeowner's Association Newsletter - October 2009
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