Steiner Ranch Information Blog

28 responses so far ↓

• 1 ARS // Oct 1, 2008 at 12:07 pm

  Steiner has similar rules regarding holiday decorations. I have noticed several people already decorating for Halloween, which is against HOA rules:
  Steiner Ranch rule regarding exterior holiday decorations:

  Holiday decorations (excluding Christmas) may be put out up to fourteen (14) days in advance of the holiday in question. Decoration must be removed no later than seven (7) days after the holiday. Christmas decorations may be put out beginning November 1st and must be removed by January 15th.

  One of my biggest pet peeves is that I have noticed several Christmas wreaths and various Christmas decorations out way into March and April. The HOA does police this policy. I have seen notices on people’s doors etc.

• 2 Melissa // Oct 1, 2008 at 6:22 pm

  The political signs and occaissional pumpkin do not really bother me. They are usually small and are not a huge eyesore, in my opinion. However, the yard situation drives me nuts. There is a yard around the corner that looks like crap. It always has. I have turned them in several times, and the HOA sends them notices. They then mow the lawn and that’s about it. The problem is that I don’t think the HOA can tag every plant and tree in the yard and say whether they feel it is overgrown or not, since that is really subjective.

  There is also someone who parks their rustbucket of a boat in front of their house on a regular basis. Those of you in Chaparral are familiar with Miss Helen, I am sure. They have been turned in numerous times, but the HOA is required to contact them in writing and then give them a reasonable time to correct the problem. Then contact them again. It is my understanding that the homeowners basically pushes it as long as they can before they get a fine and then move the boat. 2 weeks later, it appears again, and the process starts all over.

  Frankly, the entire stretch of Latimer Drive from Steiner Ranch Blvd to Mulberry Creek Dr looks like a trailer park. A lot of the homeowners are great and their houses look good. But there are a lot that don’t seem to have the same idea. Monday, there was a motorcycle parked ON THE SIDEWALK. There were tree trimmings (branches) piled in another yard for at least a week. There are almost always toys and bikes left in front yards overnight. A lot of those homes don’t have sprinklers (and it shows). The problem is, that by the time the HOA gets a letter to them, it’s too late.

  I actually live in Rocky Ridge, but I drive down Latimer to get to my house, and as soon as you turn off the street, it’s like a whole different development.

• 3 JA // Oct 1, 2008 at 11:27 pm

  I live in the area Melissa is speaking of and my only complaint is the fact that on latimer, tons of cars are parked in the street at all hours of the day and night. I feel like I’m playing Frogger most days.

  I had a horrible situation with getting turned into the HOA for “unsightly grass.” We inherited a really bad lawn from previous owners who didn’t water regularly. Not only were we turned in for our front lawn, but we were required to re-do our BACKYARD lawn. (About 3 months after moving in.)

  Didn’t settle well with us. We had to shell out big bucks to re-do them because apparently someone was looking in our BACK yard and didn’t like how it looked.

• 4 SteinerMom // Oct 1, 2008 at 11:50 pm

  The lawn deal is a huge pet peeve of mine as well. I cannot really complain about my immediate neighbors as they all keep their places in shape. But many in my neighborhood are a disgrace as well. I realize it takes time and money to keep up with it, but whatever happened to taking pride in your home?

  What I really hate are the FAKE flowers “planted” in flower beds and in front porch planters. I am not sure the HOA rules on this though.

  Also, I have been reluctant to ever turn anyone in because I wouldn’t want someone to retaliate…does the person know who turned them in?

• 5 Steiner Mom // Oct 2, 2008 at 9:27 am

  Well the HOA rules are in place to help keep up our home vaules. $$$ If you notice something that may be in question you can do one of 3 things…
  1-Do nothing and complain about it.
  2-Submit it to the HOA and they will look into it. They will incourage the violator to correct the offense. FYI-HOA does not give out names of who turned you in. Or atleast they didn’t give it to me when my garbage can was left out overnight when my hubby was out of town.
  3- You can talk to your neighbor about your concerns.

  I was turned in about a garbage can being left out and completely understand it. I now make sure I bring the trash can in on the same day it goes out. I did wonder who turned me in but also realize it was my fault to begin with because the trash can was left out.

• 6 Steiner under contract // Oct 2, 2008 at 11:08 am

  We are purchasing in steiner in a couple weeks and I have been keeping up with our new neighborhood throught this site. My husband I wondered about garbage cans – do you have to keep them in your garage? Or hidden on the side of your house. I would think your garage would get really smelly between pickup days.

• 7 Rob // Oct 2, 2008 at 11:49 am

  We keep out trash can inside the garage and have had no problems with the smell, however, we put meat scraps and anything that will rot into a deep freeze until trash day. My neighborhors have kept their trash cans alongside their homes and some put them behind their gates. I think as long as it is not part of your landscaping and is at least somewhat hidden you are ok.

  My only issue about inkept yards is that I have spent a LOT of money on my home. I couldn’t stand to see it look neglected. I guess I might be one of the few that really and honestly enjoy doing yardwork. I can’t justify paying someone $25- $35 a week for something that I can do in an hour or two. Plus it gets you out into fresh air, good exercise, gives the kids good values of hard work and not to be lazy, and it just shows that you care about the most expensive thing you own.

• 8 anon // Oct 2, 2008 at 1:13 pm

  My neighbor turned in one of our other neighbors. Turns out the one who got turned in was friends with someone at the HOA and she told her who turned her in. What a nightmare! Now I’m afraid to do it. There should be somewhere on their website to turn someone in anonomously.

• 9 Melissa // Oct 2, 2008 at 2:39 pm

  Just to clarify, I would never turn someone in who was a little behind on cutting the grass or whose trash can was out overnight. The only people I have turned in are a little behind on cutting the grass (or watering it, or trimming the bushes, etc) ALL the time. And if your trash can is left out for days on a regular basis, then I would probably say something.

  And who the heck turned you in for your back yard? I thought the HOA only cared about things if you could see them from the street.

• 10 BC // Oct 2, 2008 at 8:55 pm

  The HOA will not act on anonymous complaints. Therefore, you must provide valid contact information if you want something done. If the person receiving the complaint goes into the main office (Towne Square) they can see their homeowner file and can find out who submitted complaints. The HOA will not give that information over the phone, so the person has to make an effort to find out who turned them in. This was the policy about a year ago, not sure if it’s changed, but I doubt it.

• 11 ARS // Oct 3, 2008 at 7:58 am

  You are still not able to turn in somebody anonymously. Also, the HOA does have restrictions on what you can and can’t do in your backyard as well as your frontyard. So if you want to do any building (storage shed etc.) or major landscaping (planting trees, putting up retaining walls etc.) in your backyard, it has to be approved by the HOA

• 12 SI // Oct 3, 2008 at 9:21 pm

  Please take out the SodaHead cartoon. It is inappropriate for this blog and distasteful besides. If someone hacked it in, take it out faster!

• 13 JA // Oct 3, 2008 at 9:59 pm

  We were turned in for our grass dying in the backyard. We had just moved in a couple of months prior and inherited grass with some serious grub worms. We were told to leave the grass and let it get treated, then apply new sod. With threats from the HOA we got scared and just had to shell out $$ for new sod in front and back ASAP. (Both were infested with the grub worms.)

  We had never lived with an HOA and were just scared, honestly. In hindsight, I would have done my homework and probably not moved into a neighborhood where an HOA could dictate how my backyard looked. We are by far not lazy about our yard or backyard and now it’s awesome, but we had to forego our yard plans because of the insistance it be taken care of immediately.

  I was turned in for a garbage can left out once, too. I was unable to walk due to an injury and couldn’t get it in until Friday when I had help and was turned in promptly Friday morning.

• 14 Melissa // Oct 5, 2008 at 11:32 am

  I am really suprised about how many people are turned in for their back yards.

  But I’m curious, since you were new homeowners, do you know if the previous owners had been turned in? A yard doesn’t get that bad overnight. And, if the violation existed and was not corrected by the previous homeowner, wouldn’t they be liable for the cost to fix it? Really just curious.

• 15 mreddy // Oct 5, 2008 at 11:36 am

  I had a similar issue in my previous house… They stopped watering after it went under contract in the hottest summer months…

  its part of the inspection and if you dont say something then and ask for money to fix it… once you own it your problem is what I got of the realtors and the previous homeowners.

• 16 JH // Oct 5, 2008 at 1:30 pm

  Although people really don’t like having an HOA, they are there for a reason. People hate them when they get turned in but love them when they can turn other in. I would rather have one just because they are in place for the preservation of my home value and to keep the neighborhood beautiful.

• 17 JA // Oct 5, 2008 at 10:33 pm

  Mahesh is right, we never even considered the legalities of it all. (We also had a summer sale/close and were moving from out of state which took too long! But, there were infestation issues which played into that. ) As I said, it scared us and we just wanted it taken care of but in hindsight I would have better educated myself and maybe not rushed into it.

  I just want to clarify I do not hate the HOA. I think they do a good job and really do know their job is important and of great value to Steiner. For us personally, I would have done better homework (our fault) and probably not opted for an HOA neighborhood. But, I do know we’re probably in the minority.

• 18 Steiner Res // Oct 6, 2008 at 9:43 am

  I think our HOA is a little extreme. That said, you don’t want to live in a non-HOA neighborhood. Just pick out a couple and drive through them and you’ll see.

• 19 John // Oct 6, 2008 at 3:14 pm

  I would have to disagree with the HOA being extreme. In my opinion, I think they may be a little too laxed. I’ve personally lived in an “extreme” HOA neighborhood. It was located in Katy, TX (well known as Cinco Ranch- developed by the same company that developed Steiner). While there, we heard many problems with that HOA. (I heard of some people getting notices for their grass being too unevenly cut). The rules and regulations are almost exactly the same between the two HOA’s, however, I think it ultimately falls on who is working for the HOA and who is enforcing the rules and regs. I think they do a good job and I am happy to have them looking after me and my neighbors interests. As said before, go drive through a non-HOA neighborhood, you’ll be glad you have one.

• 20 David // Oct 8, 2008 at 4:37 pm

  We were renting a house on Mulberry Creek and had a very rough time with the landlord to get our yard in shape. Since we were only renting, we did not want to invest thousands of dollars for a new front yard,but on the other hand didn’t want to be an eye sore for the rest of the community. Needless to say, we did the best we could,but the owner refused to invest money into the landscaping. We talked to the HOA,but moved out before anything was resolved.

• 21 David // Oct 8, 2008 at 4:41 pm

  Oh, and one more comment. I feel that every person or family should be responsible with their own yard,but don’t go and turn someone in just for the fun of it. I mean does it honestly bother you that much if your neighbor doesn’t have their trash can in Friday morning by 10am? I don’t think our HOA is extreme,but some neighbors are. Ok, enough rambling. I do love Steiner Ranch and all that it offers!

• 22 John // Oct 8, 2008 at 6:41 pm

  I agree with you David- 100%.

• 23 Steiner Res // Oct 10, 2008 at 1:55 pm

  I forgot to bring in my garbage can last night.

  I am thinking about turning myself in.

  FYI — I e-mailed the HOA director a week ago asking why the steakhouse (which I am looking forward to trying) was allowed to put a (tacky?) sign at the entrance. No response. Good to see our money we pay entitles us to a response….

• 24 Jack // Oct 13, 2008 at 7:58 am

  First off everyone should worry about themselves. If your neighbor has a unkept yard then so be it. Honestly complaining about it just takes the joy out of your life and directs your thoughts to that which is out of your control. If everyone ONLY worried about themselves what a happier bunch we would all be. SO WHAT your neighbor’s yard or half of steiner looks unpleasant to you. What does that even matter in the big scheme of things? Does it make you all feel better to have something to complain about. You’re all the same people that if your neighborhood looked perfect would have something else to complain about. “The Power of Now” & “A New Earth” both by Eckhart Tolle, both excellent reads. Political signs, holiday decor and ghetto yards are all so petty. Get out there and enjoy what you have and all the great things life has to offer

• 25 Jennibc // Nov 4, 2008 at 3:30 pm

  Reading this thread is leading me to believe that I don’t want to purchase in Steiner Ranch. It seems people are a little too intense about the rules. It reminds me of an X-files episode from a few years ago where if there were violations a monsters would show up and do away with the residents at sundown. Backyards? Really?

• 26 mreddy // Nov 4, 2008 at 3:32 pm

  I have not seen the intenseness about the rules… I think it matters if you leave next to some people that will “tell” on you. Otherwise I dont think it matters.

• 27 anon // Nov 4, 2008 at 5:14 pm

  I agree that the backyard thing is ridiculous, but the rules are in place to protect everyone’s property values. Go check out the houses in Leander that don’t have HOA rules and you’ll understand why theya re needed. I wouldn’t let it keep you from buying here. Steiner is a wonderful place to live. In my cul de sac, we have 21 kids, several of them are under the age of 2. Because we’re all outside almost every night, we usually leave the toys out in a specific spot (we all share). Of the 8 families in our cul de sac, no one is the type to call the HOA. I think it’s rare.

• 28 Joanna // Nov 4, 2008 at 7:00 pm

  Agreed with two comments above, most neighbors are very laid back about the “rules”. And, really, none of them are that onerous if you get right down to it and read the statutes. I believe Steiner is big enough that the HOA stays pretty busy w/o doing a lot of petty activities.

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