Been doing some research on Creek Meadows, and have searched old posting here. I know the trains are loud (don't care) and the HOA apparently has a right to enter your home (?!). But i like the area and the elementary school. Wondering if there's anyone on here who has lived there a while and can give some insight on the neighborhood. TIA

Have a friend who has lived there for 3 years, they like it a lot. Not much more help other than that.

Right to enter a home, really?

I don't think that could be true. Read the HOA before you post something that could be completely unfounded.

I was the first house to close out here in 2008. I'm retired so the smaller size home is just what I was looking for. I really like living out here, really pretty quiet and laid back. And as far the trains, I love it. Very calming for me, especially at night hearing them go by. But that's just me. Lots of very friendly people.

Here you go, originaltexan. Page 18.

http://creekmeadows.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Declaration-of-Protective-Covenants-for-Creek-Meadows-10.11.2012.pdf

I love the trains too. I live in Bryan and find them comforting, but I grew up near them too.

originaltexan, AND the truth shall set you free!!!!!

The BiLaws do give the HOA authority (Section 5.05E) to enter the house in order to enforce any bilaws that are being broken...but his is only after a 10 day notice of written intent...once that notice is received, the owner has the ability to make sure that doesn't happen by correcting any measure being broken...Most HOA enforceable items are in regards to the exterior of a home, not the interior...with the exception of leasing-or at CM if the resident is a sex offender...that is against the bilaws...However, if a homeowner has, for example, converted a garage to a living space...and this is a violation...this gives the HOA the right to go inside, convert it back and then fine the homeowner...atleast in theory.

CM is a great community-I wouldn't hesitate to purchase there...

I am a year or two away from buying a house but this subdivision is always one that I have kept my eye on.... was curious about the rec/pool area and if they do a good job keeping it up. Also how busy is it during the summer months since the community is not that large curious how many actually use the pool.

Having a nice pool area to me is preferred to one in my backyard because then I don't have to deal with all the costs/maintenence of an in ground pool for something that would only be used half of the year, and it looks like cm has a really nice one.

[This message has been edited by jagouar1 (edited 10/16/2013 1:11p).]

maybe it's just me, but what I do on the inside of my home is my business, so long as I have obtained all required building premits. If someone from an HOA attempted to enter my home without my permission, and they weren't actually accompanied by a LEO to bust me for an actual crime, you better believe they'd be staring down the barrel of my husband's Glock.

Once again I am very thankful that we do not live in an area with an HOA. The student parking my get a little annoying, but at least my privacy is respected.

There is literally NO WAY I'd live in a HOA with that kind of a bylaw.

to rho for correctly spelling "bylaw"

Isn't that another Stylecraft subdivision?

Wow, very broad definition that allows entry into a home!!

I am shocked.

I don't apologize for challenging you, but I will say thank you. I simply could not believe it.

Don't assume CM is the only HOA with this bilaw...many of them have it. BUT, also, don't misunderstand the rule...it is not without permission...they can't just walk in...they send notice which then gives you abilities to take actions as well. No HOA wants to just bust into a house.

Part of a real estate contract for a home in an HOA will allow you to review the HOA documents and bilaws, and allow you to terminate the contract with no penalty if you don't like what you see, as long as you do so within a certain number of days. Make sure you, and your realtor, get that information. HOA's do have power so you need to know what you are signing up for.

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There is literally NO WAY I'd live in a HOA with that kind of a bylaw.

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Personally, I won't live in an area with an HOA, full stop, but if I had to, this kind of a term is too far an over reach, AFAIC

It started out as a Style Craft Village, but other homebuilders are there. We are building there, with Spirit Homes as our builder.

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Personally, I won't live in an area with an HOA, full stop, but if I had to, this kind of a term is too far an over reach, AFAIC

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I agree.

We looked at moving to a small development off of Old Reliance at one point. Brand new home, 1 acre lot, very nice street.

We got a copy of the HOA rules and decided against it. That HOA also had some rules that allowed them to enter your property. I can't recall if they could enter your home, but there was a stipulation that if you had too many dogs, they could enter your property and seize the dogs.

Let's think about the legal implications for a moment. Let's say you can only have four dogs (I think that was the limit in the HOA rules) and for some reason you have five for a short time (maybe you have puppies or you foster one of the many lost dogs on this board). The HOA comes to seize one or more dogs and someone gets a dog bite.

Then what?

We decided against moving there.

If I want to turn the entire interior of my own home into a S&M cave, and is not visible/audible to my neighbors, that's my business and the HOA can take a flying leap.

(Assuming I'd live somewhere with an HOA in the first place)

C M is a couple of steps up from Seeger's Little Boxes but the HOA's stipulations would keep me from living there. OK for some and Rockdoc I can see where it might suit your situation. As I recall those are 5000sq ft lots or so.. tight.

From someone who lived in CM and still owns the house...(recently moved away from College Station)

My wife and I (Late 20's) moved to CM back in 2009. It's grown decently since then. We never had any problems and never had any safety concerns. Walking around the neighborhood was enjoyable. Pool area is nice and when it's not Saturday at 2PM, it really isn't that crowded. It did get annoying when people had their kids birthday parties there. We lived in a SC house in the Landings area. I did wish more people took care of their yard...just from a "take pride in your home" viewpoint. HOA contact was always nice and understanind.

Trains were nice in my opinion. I'm not sure how anyone would complain about them. They pretty much become an afterthought.

[This message has been edited by FC12 (edited 10/16/2013 9:48p).]

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If someone from an HOA attempted to enter my home without my permission, and they weren't actually accompanied by a LEO to bust me for an actual crime, you better believe they'd be staring down the barrel of my husband's Glock.

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Dramatic much? I'm sure they would just walk right in and I'm sure your husband would display deadly force.

Have to agree with the anti-HOA folks. What I do in/on my privately owned property should be my business. We just bought a house in a very nice & quiet non-HOA neighborhood after turning down some good deals on nice homes because of HOAs. I'm not willing to trade away my private property rights to an HOA in exchange for a little financial security.

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Dramatic much? I'm sure they would just walk right in and I'm sure your husband would display deadly force.

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Not at all. If someone enters our home without permission, I regard that as a home invasion, and I will use whatever force is necessary to protect my home. Up to and including pulling the trigger. That said, you will note that I am talking about someone coming into my home. According to the wording on page 18 of that HOA agreement, the HOA representative can enter your property with 10 days notice. I'm saying, not without my permission unless they are accompanied by a police officer.

TDK, while I generaly support your views on the board, I have to disagree. In this specific scenario, someone who enters into a legal agreement with an HOA that includes a provision to allow for entry into the property with written notice would not have a legal argument for use of deadly force. I'm pretty sure blowing the head off the unarmed HOA rep would result in some legal troubles for the shooter. Home invaders do not normally give 10 days written notice and I doubt the home owners usually enter into a legally binding agreement giving the invaders right of entry.

Again, these kind of headaches are why don't want to live in an HOA neighborhood. Its much easier to shoot people if you don't give them permission to enter your house first.

We bought our house out there in the summer of '08. It's a good neighborhood. Quiet, families, sidewalks, the swimming pool area, etc.

We have lived in Creek Meadows for 3 1/2 years. We love the neighborhood and our neighbors. The area is nice and GP Elementary is awesome! The HOA isn't very proactive and is hard to get a hold of. The pool stays busy in the summer. Obviously the hotter days are the really busy days. There are days when all of the chairs are taken. There have been some issues with upkeep of the pool-bathrooms, water color, etc. The pool specific issues are usually addressed pretty quickly. The bathroom issues are taken care of but might take a few days. Overall, we are very happy with our home and the subdivision. It is mainly Stylecraft, but other builders are in there now and there is more to choose from. Hope this helps......

So what if they give ten days notice? If I say, no, I'm not letting you in, and they come in anyway, how is that NOT a home invasion???

edit: but if you agreed to the HOA terms, then yeah I guess you should probably let them in. Shoulda woulda coulda.

[This message has been edited by rhoswen (edited 10/17/2013 10:44a).]

Good gosh people, they are not going to invade your home.

I saw black helicopters over my neighborhood...its definitely the HOA spying on properties and planning home invasions of the righteous!

I live on the Estates side of Creek Meadows, and we have loved it. The neighborhood is great, the schools are fantastic. I'd definitely recommend anything in the area.

so why is the provision about entering someone's home in the HOA agreement in the first place? All it takes is one zealous HOA amateur-cop-wannabe to cause a big problem

Imagine some disconnected loon from a self-appointed title within an HOA coming into your house and telling you what to do.

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so why is the provision about entering someone's home in the HOA agreement in the first place? All it takes is one zealous HOA amateur-cop-wannabe to cause a big problem

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And all it would take would be an armed homeowner to decline the request for entry, regardless of zealous amateur-cop wannabe. Problem resolved...unless an actual policeman can provide a warrant with reasonable cause to enter said premises. Then, entry into your home is not unlike any other neighborhood in America.

[This message has been edited by JR Ewing (edited 10/18/2013 8:15a).]

I live in the Estates at Creek Meadows. Been there for a little over 2 years. The HOA has never come in my house. That bylaw is a non issue for me. The development as a whole is okay. I wouldn't say it's as nice as the Castlegate Communities but it's also not as established yet. So hopefully as sections get sold and built out some of the amenities, landscaping, etc get improved and/or kept up with more consistently. The master plan isn't set in stone. They probably won't make the Estates section as large as they once were. The south side of Greens Prairie is an open book right now. They may put in another pool, may do a splash pad, may do sports facilities, etc...we don't really know. But it's a great spot for young families. The Estates is full of young professionals with children under 5. National Night Out looked like a birthday party.