What is the Homeowners Association (HOA)?
A Homeowners' Association (HOA) is a legal entity created by a real estate developer for the purpose of developing, managing and selling a community of homes. It is given the authority to enforce the Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions (also known as CC&Rs) and to manage the common amenities and areas of the development. It allows a developer to end their responsibility for the community typically by transferring ownership of the association to the homeowners. Generally accepted as a voluntary association of homeowners gathered together to protect their property values and to improve the neighborhood, a large percentage of U.S. neighborhoods where free standing homes exist have an HOA. Most homeowners' associations are non-profit organizations (such as Sandstone) and are subject to state statutes that govern non-profit corporations and homeowners' associations.
What are "CCRs?"
The "Declarations of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&R). IT describes an owner's responsibilities to the association which can include payment of dues and assessments as well as the association's various duties to the owners. It is commonly viewed as somewhat of a "constitution" of the association. The person or group of persons who either signs the original declaration governing the development and association or acquires the original developer's rights is referred to as the Declarant. CC&Rs can be amended if needed but only if 75% of the total homeowner population agree to the amendment. A copy of the CC&Rs can found on the "Documents" page.
What if my title company did not give me a copy of my community documents?
You can find all documents related to the Sandstone HOA on the "Documents" page of our website.
What if I want to put in a fence, change the color of my house or put in a pool?
Any exterior changes or modification must be met with approval by the Architectural Control Committee. To submit a request, please visit the Documents page of our website. Please take a moment to read the Architectural Guidelines before completing the Architectural Request for Change Form. Please note: some changes will require a site plan indicating where your project will be located in relation to your property lines, easements, etc. You will need to also submit any documents related to the project, including any color swatches or designs. Follow the instructions for submitting the Improvement Request, and submit plans to the Architectural Control Committee for approval prior to installation.
Who do I contact about violations such as tall grass, improperly maintained residence or trash that is not properly secured in a storage bin?
If you see an issue that violates the CC&Rs, you may submit a formal complaint via the "Contact Us" page. Your HOA board will handle the situation.
What are HOA fees and what do they cover?
HOA fees (also known as Assessments or Dues) are a fee determined by the Homeowners' Association Board of Directors. Each year, the Board tries to ascertain how much money it will cost to keep the community looking beautiful and safe, and also try and determine how much to reasonably set aside for potential repairs and improvements. When they have those numbers together, they divide by the number of lots in the community, and this is how much they charge in HOA fees. In general, fees cover the maintenance and upkeep of any common areas, as well as insurance for the common areas.
