After a Lost Creek Ranch (LCR) resident asked me a good question about our HOA dues, she thanked me for my response and suggested that I post it for all to read. The resident bought a home in Lost Creek Ranch when the neighborhood was new and small (2001-2002). Today, there are over 1,100 homes in Lost Creek Ranch and no more new homes being built. So, her question was about HOA dues for LCR residents. Specifically, why they didn't go down as the neighborhood grew and more homes were built? It's a good question, as more homeowners mean more dues collected. One would think that this would mean that less was needed from each home. So HOA dues should have gone down as the neighborhood grew, right? Unfortunately, no... here is the explanation of why not, in case you were unaware of this information:

It was never the intention or design of the LCR long-term budget (designed by the community developer/builders) for dues to be reduced. In fact, for the first few years/phases of LCR, the dues were subsidized by the builders in the community. This was because there weren't enough homes for dues alone to pay for all of our wonderful amenities. From our parks, ponds, fountains, jogging trails, fencing, signage, management and more... their cost required subsidizing for the first few years. This kept our dues from being unbelievably high; the builders didn't want high dues to keep homeowners from buying here so they subsidized them... or helped pay the shortfall. This is very common in new neighborhoods; and as with most new communities, the long-term budget was designed so that the more homes the builders sold, the less they had to subsidize the HOA dues. They looked at it as an investment in the neighborhood. Eventually, the design allowed for the builders to completely stop subsidizing the HOA dues as they sold out of homes in the (then) self-sufficient community. At that time, there would be enough homeowners to pay for the amenities while paying around the same dues they always had (with no more help from the builders). That's exactly what happened a few years ago and where we are still today.

The good news: While most HOAs have dues increases every year or two (as the cost to maintain amenities goes up each year due to inflation), Lost Creek Ranch has only had one increase since taking ownership from the builders several years ago. This is mainly because our board sends most expenses out for bid (i.e. we got bids on maintaining our common landscaping and have saved thousands). More good news: LCR HOA dues remain low relative to the amazing amenities we have. Just compare LCR to some of the neighborhoods around Allen, Plano, McKinney and Frisco. This is why most consider LCR such a great place to live (even at $460/year). If you want to help make this community even better, or you want to know more about the LCR HOA, please feel free to contact me. And remember that we always need more volunteers (for committees like: pool, parks, yard/decoration, social, etc.). Serving as a volunteer here in Lost Creek Ranch has been a rewarding experience for me that I have enjoyed for many years now. So, even though dues aren't going down, I'm thankful for all of the amenities that we have and how (relatively) little we pay for them.

Ryan Cave, The "Caveman"
Truth, Honor & Personal Integrity
214-789-9366
www.CaveRealty.com