Prestonwood #18

Hi Neighbor!

Thanks for your interest in learning more about the mandatory homeowners' association, Prestonwood #18.

Members of Prestonwood #18 include 90 homeowners on five streets: Sandydale, Misty Trail, and portions of Golden Creek, Ranchita, and Warm Mist.

If you live on one of these five streets, you are obligated to pay annual dues to Prestonwood #18. (To confirm that you are within Prestonwood #18, contact Prestonwood #18 President Randall McCleskey at 972 385-4566.)

Here's the difference between the voluntary Prestonwood Homeowners' Association (PHA) and the mandatory homeowners' association, Prestonwood #18. All homes located in Prestonwood #18 are required by deed restriction to pay dues to the Prestonwood #18 Homeowners' Association.

Prestonwood #18 dues are mandatory because when our subdivision was originally established in 1979, the developer included in the deed restrictions for the homes on Sandydale, Misty Trail, Golden Creek, Ranchita, and Warm Mist that homeowners on these five streets would pay mandatory annual dues. These dues are currently $375/year and cover maintenance of what is known as "the park." The park runs along the North side of Arapaho Road, between Ranchita and Golden Creek.

You may be aware of neighbors who were unable to sell or refinance their homes until they paid current their Prestonwood #18 dues. Because the requirement to pay these dues is included in your deed restrictions, you willat some pointhave to pay your accrued Prestonwood #18 Homeowners' dues. What you may not be aware of is that interest is accruing, at up to 18%, on dues that are past due. By paying annually and keeping their accounts with Prestonwood #18 current, homeowners save money in the long run.

As stated, the annual dues that you are required to pay Prestonwood #18 are for the ongoing maintenance of the park. This includes lawn mowing; tree trimming; repair and maintenance of the sprinklers; weed and erosion control; mulch; and spring and fall color plantings at our neighborhood entrances at Ranchita and Golden Creek.

In addition to the mandatory Prestonwood #18, our neighborhood is also served by the Prestonwood Homeowners' Association (PHA). PHA is a voluntary association that currently costs $55/year. It covers 1,000 homesincluding our 90 homes in PW18.

The voluntary PHA provides the traditional services of a homeowners' association, including maintaining the common areas in our neighborhood and managing the Public Improvement District that provides a 24-hour Dallas Police Patrol of our neighborhood. PHA coordinates several fun events throughout the year, like the 4th of July parade and Jazz in the Park, and puts out a neighborhood directory and a newsletter.

It may not seem fair that only 10% of us in the Prestonwood neighborhood are required to provide for the maintenance of the park along the North side of Arapaho Road. But that's the system established by the developers before any of us bought our homes. On occasion, PHA has graciously subsidized portions of Prestonwood #18's costs for maintaining the parkPHA paid over $2,000 to trim all the trees and about $3,000 to improve the ground cover and landscaped beds. Prestonwood #18 truly appreciates PHA's contributions, and we anticipate continuing to work closely together.

Finally, the voluntary association, PHA, does so much that benefits our neighborhood communityincluding those of us in Prestonwood #18. The Prestonwood #18 Board of Directors not only recommends you join PHA, but encourages both your membership and your active participation.