137 replies to this topic

[ChipShot]

don't raise chickens in the front yard

What!!..Well, you lost me as a resident right there. Where else am I gonna raise 'em? Backyard? Nope...they'd mess-up my pool and putting green. Why is Serrano so anti-chicken?? A vast chicken-prejudice? Hmmm...

[Orangetj]

I hear ya....we had a hard time giving up our front yard chickens as well, but that was nothing compared to having to explain to our young'uns that we'd have to get rid of our goat. Since the HOA handles all of the front yard maintenance, though, the need for a goat to keep the front grass short is somewhat reduced.

[palango]

So according to Meganslaw website, there is one of those pedophiles near a park in Serrano. So my budyy get a flier from an angry homeowner that is p##d off @ the association for not letting the folks know. Association says sorry, its not our problem, but we will be happy to write you a ticket if you park your car one night right in front of your house.

What a bunch of idiotic cowards @ Serrano HOA. They took off all the flyers from the mailboxes because they deem it as "solicitation". Some p**d off guy wanted to warn his/her neighbors to watch out since Halloween was coming up.

Top 11 reasons why Serrano, El Dorado Hills real estate is an absolute Rip-off



1) HOA Dues = $477 per quarter. OUCH. All you get for $477 is front yard landscaping, the gated enclave/compound that makes you feel safe and a 24 hour security patrol.



2) Mello Roos. On your Semi Annual Property Tax, in addition to your taxes, you have assessments for the EDH library, ambulance, police and fire, parks, schools, etc. These charges can be another $2000 annually.





3) List of approved plants and not approved plants according to association “standards”. Are you kidding me??? You mean I cannot plant Italian Cyprus if I want in my OWN home which I paid good $$$ for???



4) You have to color your satellite dish the same exact matching color as your exterior.





5) You cannot park in front of your OWN home overnight. Are you kidding me???



6) Take a look at the MLS and MORE THAN 60% of ALL listings in EDH are in Serrano. More listings of Foreclosures, short sales, etc.





7) Much higher utility bills. NO SMUD… PGE bills almost 3X more in Serrano than in Folsom. We were shocked at our PGE rates compared to PGE rates in Folsom for the SAME usage.



8) Your HOA does NOT get you Golf membership, health club, or any other clubs in Serrano. You have to pay separate for all those. Some Golf Memberships are like $40,000 annual. To belong to a “ladies club”, “moms club” or other clubs, will also cost you $$ just in case like you feel like socializing or paying to have friends with the rich.





9) Bugs and rattlesnakes. Since you live in the foothills, you should become accustomed to having a pest control guy come in every other month, so your cost there would be around $80-$120 . On a hot summer day at around 6pm, just walk into a Serrano street and you will run into a few rattlers. My next door neighbor called the fire dept and they caught a 4 footer. I guess the snake fence that she paid for did not work. In fact, they have caught 4 thus far. So much for paying $70,000 lot premium for “open space” and building a pool that you can’t enjoy.



10) HOA hired the sheriffs department to do “extra” patrols because there were a couple of windows smashed on one street. So they decide to increase the HOA’s for EVERYONE in all the neighborhoods . Now that is a great mutual company.





11) Very little, if ANY, competitive bidding process. What do I mean?? I mean, the HOA does NOT shop around to lower costs such as insurance, security, etc. They (HOA) calls themselves a “mutual” company and they are supposed to have the best interest on its members. I bet you the execs at the landscaping company and the security company has close ties to association Pres or they are golf buddies and fatten each others pockets. You know how it goes with ‘ol buddies and a game of golf. AAA is also a mutual company. I received a $70 check with a thank you letter because they are TRUE Mutual company.



Now I am going to get to the “myths” about the positives of Serrano. Some of my neighbors (and bless their heart) make this argument about the “gated community”.



Myth # 1.. I feel safe.

Truth: If you feel so safe, then how did you feel when just about a year ago, the BIGGEST distribution Meth bust in El Dorado County History happened. They had FBI, DEA, Local and State officials broke down the doors of one of our neighbors. Come to find out that this house was under surveillance for almost three months. They discovered $1.5million in Canadian money and arrested the homeowner for this distribution. The weird thing is that the media did not report on this as much.





Myth # 2 gated communities and the “mystique” of Serrano and the HOA will keep our property values up.

Truth: This is THE biggest bunch of hogwash and couldn’t be further from truth. I recently attended a Foreclosure auction and according to the auctioneer, he has about 1-2 properties a WEEK that come to him for Foreclosure. Again, the facts don’t lie. Do an MLS search as my realtor did and the MAJORITY of listings are in Serrano. The ship is sinking. Compared to other areas in El Dorado Hills and in Folsom WITHOUT gated communities, Serrano is losing value quick. How you like to live on Terracina Court where a 4000+ sq ft home just sold for $425,000 due to mold problems and there were two short sales + 1 foreclosure. Now this is a very “scenic” Folsom lake view million $$ homes. What do you think happened to the property values in that street. The values have come down DRAMATICALLY in Serrano.





Myth # 3.. Serrano has the best schools. While I tend to agree that all the HOA dues and the Mello Roos + builders have pumped extra $$$ into the schools, and the “appearance” of these schools are newer and modern, I say at what cost??? I mean with all the taxes + Melloo Roos + HOA, how much can you save you if you move to Folsom and send the kids to private school. Besides, who is to say that Folsom schools WITHOUT HOA dues are worst than gated community school?

Has there ever been a serious scientific study that proves for once and all that kids that go to gated community schools score a lot higher than kids that don’t??? How many CEO’s, Scientists, Doctors today lived in gated community during their childhood???? Once I see concrete irrefutable scientific evidence, I will not be brainwashed into that line of thinking.



While the above argument is exclusive to Serrano based on my own personal experience, some of the points hold true for MOST gated communities. However, some gated communities give you a Gym membership, access to clubhouse, and other amenities as a part of your HOA. To them, I say BRAVO. AT LEAST you folks in Lincoln are getting a community pool, clubhouse, high speed internet for your dues.

[Orangetj]

My guess is that they are not legally allowed to notify the community. It is a shame, but I guess that's the way it goes. Looking at the Meagan's Law website, it looks like there are registered offenders in many, many neighborhoods in Folsom and EDH. I'd guess that many of them live in neighborhoods with HOA's. Did those HOA's notify the residents? Doubtful.

[Orangetj]

From the Meagan's Law website:

"It is a crime to use the information disclosed on the Attorney General's Internet Web site to commit a misdemeanor or felony. Unless the information is used to protect a person at risk, it is also prohibited to use any information that is disclosed pursuant to this Internet Web site for a purpose relating to health insurance, insurance, loans, credit, employment, education, scholarships, fellowships, housing, accommodations, or benefits, privileges, or services provided by any business. Misuse of the information may make the user liable for money damages or an injunction against the misuse. Before using the information disclosed on this Web site, you may want to consult with an attorney or merely suggest to others that they view the Web site for themselves."

I checked the listing of the guy here in Serrano. I hate that he's here, but these sickos appear to be everywhere. I highly recommend that everybody, no matter where they live, take a look at the Megans Law website to see who is living near them. There are A LOT in Folsom and several in EDH.

[ChipShot]

My guess is that they are not legally allowed to notify the community. It is a shame, but I guess that's the way it goes. Looking at the Meagan's Law website, it looks like there are registered offenders in many, many neighborhoods in Folsom and EDH. I'd guess that many of them live in neighborhoods with HOA's. Did those HOA's notify the residents? Doubtful.

Folks, it's another example of how our 'great' country is heading straight down the toilet, but I guess you know that by now. I'd list the many other reasons, but there's not enough bandwidth here to do it. Goodbye, Sweet America !! Sickening.

[mylo]

I'd list the many other reasons, but there's not enough bandwidth here to do it.

Try getting DSL

[Orangetj]

I thought it would be worth mentioning that we received a postcard from the Serrano HOA yesterday basically stating that with Halloween just around the corner, they encourage all residents to check out the Megans Law website. I thought this was a nice touch and it was a legal way for them to let people know that we all need to be aware of who may live nearby.

[Terry]

Tom Brokaw is from South Dakota--almost Canadian but not quite.

I think someone is thinking of Peter Jennings - who is from Canada.

[Orangetj]

I have already accomlished what I had set out to do which is to INFORM and educate. I have recieved 5 emails thanking me for my posts from folks that were either thinking of purchasing or had a family friend/relative that were interested.

Palango = Guest1971?

[palango]

almost, but not quite. Guest1971 is a good friend of mine. We grew up together.

On another note, guess who ultimately pays for all the foreclosures???

The members/homeowners of the HOA. Yours HOA rates are going to rising to "cover" costs of foreclosures and unkept houses, hoa violations, etc.

So the days of Serrano HOA monthly rates of $500 per MONTH is coming to a reality.

hey, whodever thunk that oil would surpass $300 a barrell. A very real possibility.

[Orangetj]

What on earth are you talking about? How is the HOA involved in foreclosures? The HOA has nothing to do with financing the properties being foreclosed upon. Please clarify. Are you really trying to make people believe that Serrano HOA dues are about to be $500/month? If, as you say, the HOA is somehow covering the costs of foreclosures (which seems like an extreme stretch), what possible good would it do them to raise HOA rates to such an extent as to potentially force additional foreclosures. Nonsense.

[palango]

What on earth are you talking about? How is the HOA involved in foreclosures? The HOA has nothing to do with financing the properties being foreclosed upon. Please clarify. Are you really trying to make people believe that Serrano HOA dues are about to be $500/month? If, as you say, the HOA is somehow covering the costs of foreclosures (which seems like an extreme stretch), what possible good would it do them to raise HOA rates to such an extent as to potentially force additional foreclosures. Nonsense.

Ok. Let me be specific. Lets say if someone is about to have his/her home foreclosed and they have not paid any of the association dues. They have not paid any dues for 1 year. By the time the lender forecloses on the property and the time the lender actually sells that property can taker another 6-12 months in this market. So that leaves anywhere from 18-24 of dues , penalties, and fines from this "x" property. So where do you think that "deficit" is made??? How will the HOA keep up with the "rising costs" of security, landscappe, and especially their Christmas Party and increasing salaries of the administration, if they have 10-15 foreclosure homes that they are not getting a dime for.

Its really simple economics 101 for dummies or the Complete Idiots Guide to budgets. You have dues coming in. Those dues pay for XYZ. If you do not have enough dues coming in AND the costs of all materials and labor rise, there has to be an increase???

How many foreclosures are in Serrano versus the rest of EDH and even Folsom??? A lot more. Just have anyone with access to MLS run a search about Foreclosures in the last 6 months and you will see.

The case can be made that the above HOA argument is not unique to Serrano as it will ultimately impact most HOA's unless laws are passed in CA to CAP the dues at a certain $$ amount or limit and/or ban any Christmas party and fire all the high paid official and get and all out volunteer organization. You gotta cut costs somewhere.

Also, I was absolutely shocked to find out how many properties the Serrano HOA actually owns as a result of foreclosure. A quick check with the County records will show that properties that were previously owned by John Doe (example) are now recorded with Serrano EL Dorado HOA. How is that possible???

[Orangetj]

Thanks for clarifying, although I doubt the dollar impact of those lost dues is going to be THAT significant. I'd be interested to find out how those past due amounts are treated for foreclosures, as I saw how they were done on the house we purchased (not a foreclosure). The sellers had not paid their last HOA installment and it was past due at the time escrow closed. When the transaction was closing, the escrow company pulled the past due amount out of the seller's side of the proceeds and paid it to the HOA. I'm not sure whether the seller had instructed escrow to do that or whether the HOA had a lien, but that's how it happened.

You reference the number of foreclosures in Serrano vs. the rest of EDH or Folsom as being a lot more. Do you have the numbers? What are the facts?

[Renroc]

I understand you wanting to let other people know your opinion. As a Realtor in Folsom/EDH I have always thought Serrano shine would dull. When showing clients who have requested seeing homes in there I always explain to them how it is. I could never live in a place with so many rules, etc. That being said I occasionaly have clients who (mostly from bay area) have had enough of the suburbs where people park on lawns, have junk everywhere and don't take care of their lawns. After long discussions about the pros & cons, it is up to them.

A couple of suggestions for those who might be looking at homes anywhere. Always work with an agent that is familiar with the area and different subdivisions. There are a lot of agents out there who know the nuances of different areas and can advise you on the pros & cons of each area, whether rules, utility costs, roads coming in, plane flights overhead, etc.

Also, once you have narrowed down your search to a house or neighborhood, walk a couple of the streets in an evening or Saturday am and talk to the neighbors. Ask the questions that would be important to you. Ask what they like and don't like about their neighborhood. Reading the CC&R's is the first step, but to really find out, you need to talk to those that live there.

M.E.G.

Yes aquiring a home in Serrano was an impulse purchase but the CC&R's I should have read more closely. Any family member of mine or any friend of Mine I would tell them NOT to move here. Too many rules. I moved off the Shingle Springs Rancheria to Serrano. (Moving from one gated community to another, I would choose more closely next time). But I deal with what I have.

I was told to take my archery equipment down, I was told that we had to have certain plants in the area. Some plants I can not have according to the predesignated list. But I am seeing what they have outlined more closely.

Perhaps they really are good people in the Serrano HOA? I personally dont know them other than everyone tells me (really, everyone I have spoken with say they are on a fringe of having Nazi like rules. Are they really that bad?). I would like to think they are good people at heart but we get written up for some citation once a month on average since we have been here.

-= Am I giving too much credit to the Serrano HOA ? (or are they good people really?)