Where does the association get its funding?

From us. We pay a monthly maintenance fee that goes toward the upkeep of the common property. Some of that money goes into a reserve funds for major expenses like roof repairs and replacement of roadways. In some cases, the board may levy a special assessment. That's extra money homeowners must pay to fund major improvements.

The fee is currently $90. Payment is due to the property manager by the first of the month and is considered past-due on the 15th. Past due payments are subject to a $20 penalty. (Information about how the special assessment process works can be found in Article X of the CCR.)

Information about how much money the association receives and how it is spent is contained in our annual budgets. The budget is approved by board during a meeting that is open to all members.

Why must there be rules?

Rules are never fun, but these rules are designed to protect your investment. For most of us, our homes are our single largest investment. If a neighbor abuses their property, it can have an effect on the value of our homes. The rules are designed to keep The Greens the same kind of quality community that made you want to become a homeowner here in the first place.

Rules also help us allocate use of our shared property. Parking is a great example. The CCR allows us to park one or two cars in our garages and one or two cars on the apron outside the garage, depending upon whether we have one- or two-car garages.

There are other rules that govern the guest parking spaces. While homeowners can use those spaces for their own vehicles when cleaning out their garages and such, we try to keep guest spaces available for those coming to visit our neighbors.

Unidentified cars that have been parked on our property for several days are subject to being towed. If you plan on having guests that will be staying for more than a week, please identify the car to the property manager or a board member. They can provide you with free stickers to put on the car to indicate it is known to a Greens homeowner.

Because our streets are narrow at The Greens, on-street parking is also restricted. It is important for streets to remain clear in case fire trucks or other emergency vehicles are needed.

Our rules also forbid parking of commercial vehicles at The Greens. If you have questions about how a commercial vehicle is defined and what is allowed, please contact the property manager or consult with the CCR section outlined below.

In these days when many households have multiple cars, parking can become quite an issue. Please take a few minutes to read the information in our by-laws and rules and regulations that concern parking. If you have any questions, please contact the property manager. (Additional information on parking can be found in the CCR Article XII, Section 1(e).)

If parking violations occur, the Association usually responds first with a warning. Repeated violations can incur monetary fines. Unpaid fines can result in liens being placed against your property and vehicles being towed.

Are pets allowed?

Dogs and cats are welcome and homeowners are limited to two animals per unit. All animals must be on a leash when outside.

Ordinances approved by the Metro government concerning pets also apply to animals living at The Greens. Those include rules and municipal fines that can be imposed for failure to clean up after an animal. (Article XII, Section 1(g) of the CCR discusses pets.)

What else should I know?

After you settle in, you may have additional questions. Please feel free to call the property manager or talk with one of your neighbors who serves on the board of directors. Here are a few other issues that are of interest to new residents:

Insurance: The Association maintains insurance on the building, its exterior and the common grounds. Homeowners are encouraged to purchase insurance for the interior of their homes and they may be required to do so by their bank or other mortgage lender. The Association's insurance does not protect the contents of your home.

Garbage: Garbage is picked up by the city each Friday. Please place your garbage carts on the curb for pick up Friday morning. Be sure to remove the cans after the garbage has been collected. On non-pickup days, cans or carts should be stored inside your garage or out of sight.

Home businesses: The Greens is a residential community and its homes are not intended for business use. Business uses that don't interfere with others' enjoyment of their property are allowed. Those are defined in the CCR in Article XII, Section 1(x).

Lastly, here is a quick guide to the responsibilities of the home owners and the association.