President’s Message Important Information About Assessments

President’s Message

By Matt Metz SRCA Board President

If you believed what you read in the newspapers about homeowners’ associations, you might think homeowners associations are oppressive, evil, dictatorial organizations set on taking away all your rights and liberties. But nothing could be further from the truth.

Let’s think about all the benefits brought to you by your HOA.

Amenities:

Depending on which community you live in, your HOA provides common areas, a lake, a community center, perhaps tennis courts and exercise rooms, and maybe even a staffed entrance gate. SRCA’s community center is a hub for all sorts of community activities and clubs for everyone including knitters, wine-lovers, musicians, golfers, artists, boaters, food-lovers, mahjong players, etc.

Activities and services:

Your association provides lots of activities. Here at Scottsdale Ranch, these include Movie in the Park, Jazz Night, Children’s Story Time, a Fishing Derby & Lake Fest, information on City services, new resident cocktail parties, and access to a block party trailer. In condominium associations, your association may also maintain the roof and exterior of your home.

Protections:

Perhaps most important, SRCA provides and enforces architectural and property maintenance standards, to ensure your property values and quality of life are protected from those who are tempted to do substandard construction or landscaping projects. Many residents of SRCA may not be aware that our community provides very strict protection from short-term rentals (those who would rent out their homes by the night much like a hotel). These short-term rental restrictions are much stronger than what is allowed by the City of Scottsdale. Similarly, Scottsdale Ranch provides better protection from commercial and recreational vehicle parking than the City of Scottsdale does.

In addition, you may have noticed that Scottsdale Ranch further protects your property values by providing attractive and clean thoroughfares, traffic medians, and common areas. These are maintained to a much higher standard than you would see for city-maintained areas. SRCA also provides Mutt Mitt stations, more lush landscaping, and better litter control than you see in other areas of the city.

All these protections, services, activities, and amenities are provided for the exceptionally affordable assessment of only $395 per year.

Conclusion:

Scottsdale Ranch has a well-earned reputation as a great place to live, whether you’re single, an empty nester, or part of a growing family. That reputation is no accident; it’s earned by setting high standards, and by consistently and fairly enforcing those standards. I’m reminded of a former SRCA board member who related the following story.

Someone asked me where I lived, and I told him I lived in Scottsdale Ranch. He said, “That’s such a great place – it’s too bad they have an HOA!”

Obviously that person didn’t understand that SRCA is a great place to live BECAUSE of the HOA, the sense of community it fosters and reinforces, and the high standards to which it holds itself and all its members.

I’m hoping that the next time you engage with someone who asks about where you live, you will feel pride and brag about this wonderful place we call Scottsdale Ranch!

Important Information About Assessments

By Ricki Stamos SRCA Bookkeeper

We’d like to take this opportunity to thank each of the homeowners who have already paid their 2022 Annual Assessment. By paying your annual assessment in a timely manner, you are not only ensuring that Scottsdale Ranch Community Association continues to remain in good financial standing, you are also helping to ensure that we are able to perform the many tasks and duties for which the association is responsible.

As you are probably aware, the 2022 Annual Assessment, in the amount of $395.00, was due on January 1, 2022. Invoices were mailed to all homeowners in December 2021. Payment was considered delinquent if not received in our office by January 31, 2022 thus giving homeowners ample time to make a payment without incurring a late fee. A 10% late fee of $39.50 was added to any unpaid accounts on February 01, 2022.

If payment on unpaid accounts was not received by February 28, 2022, interest was added to the account at the rate of 12% per annum. This fee will continue to be added to unpaid accounts each month until payment is received.

If payment is not received by April 29, 2022, a lien will be placed against the property through the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office, lien filing/release fees will be added to the account and

further collection action may be necessary. This means that the property cannot be sold until the past due payments have been paid and having a lien filed against your property could affect your credit.

Should a homeowner’s assessment continue to be delinquent, their account may be turned over to an attorney for collection action without further notice from the Association. Failure to pay these assessments could also result in the filing of a personal judgment action and the homeowner will be responsible for all attorneys’ fees, document recording, and any other fees incurred to collect this debt.

If your annual assessment has not yet been paid, we encourage you to contact the Scottsdale Ranch Community Association administrative office as soon as possible to discuss your account and how we can work with you to bring it current. If you need

to arrange a payment plan, consideration will be given. If you have any questions regarding this matter, you may contact our Bookkeeper Ricki Stamos at (480) 860-2022 or via email at rstamos@scottsdaleranch.org. We are here to work with you.