Preserve at Astor Farms Official HOA Community Site

Astor Farms Real Estate Update – August 2010

Claudia — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:28:22 +0000

Since the last real estate sales update for The Preserve at Astor Farms on July 22nd, 2010, no sale has been recorded in our neighborhood.

Below is a list of homes currently under contract and scheduled to close in the next months (most of these homes were under contract already when we published our July update, now there are 3 more homes pending; one home that was under contract however came back on the market). The final sales prices may vary from the list prices noted below. All of the homes are listed as short sales.

The next real estate update will be sent out at the beginning of October 2010.

HOMES UNDER CONTRACT

1642 ASTOR FARMS PLACE

Short Sale
List Price: $419,000
List Price/Square Footage: $114.67
Bedrooms: 5 – Bathrooms: 3 and 2 ½ baths – Square Footage: 3,654 – Year Built: 2002
Pool: Yes

4766 CAINS WREN TRAIL

Short Sale
List Price: $299,000
List Price/Square Footage: $102.29
Bedrooms: 4 – Bathrooms: 3.5 – Square Footage: 2,923 – Year Built: 2003
Pool: Yes

4883 CAINS WREN TRAIL

Short Sale
List Price: $279,000
List Price/Square Footage: $82.72
Bedrooms: 5 – Bathrooms: 3.5 – Square Footage: 3,373 – Year Built: 2006
Pool: No

1691 SWALLOWTAIL LANE

Short Sale
List Price: $260,000
List Price/Square Footage: $89.53
Bedrooms: 4 – Bathrooms: 3.5 – Square Footage: 2,904 – Year Built: 2006
Pool: No

4907 CAINS WREN TRAIL

Short Sale
List Price: $249,000
List Price/Square Footage: $75.29
Bedrooms: 5 – Bathrooms: 3.5 – Square Footage: 3,307 – Year Built: 2006
Pool: No

4827 CAINS WREN TRAIL

Short Sale
List Price: $265,000
List Price/Square Footage: $75.74
Bedrooms: 5 – Bathrooms: 3.5 – Square Footage: 3,499 – Year Built: 2006
Pool: No

1651 SWALLOWTAIL LANE

Short Sale
List Price: $250,000
List Price/Square Footage: $81.12
Bedrooms: 5 – Bathrooms: 3.5 – Square Footage: 3,082 – Year Built: 2006
Pool: No

1670 SWALLOWTAIL LANE

Short Sale
List Price: $220,000
List Price/Square Footage: $77.66
Bedrooms: 4 – Bathrooms: 3 – Square Footage: 2,833 – Year Built: 2006
Pool: No

Back on market:

1662 ASTOR FARMS PLACE

Short Sale
List Price: $249,999
List Price/Square Footage: $91.27
Bedrooms: 4 – Bathrooms: 2.5 – Square Footage: 2,739 – Year Built: 2006
Pool: Yes

Information retrieved from Mid Florida Regional MLS on 08/31/2010

For a complete real estate report including images and listing descriptions or for listings and up to the minute real estate info about Astor Farms please request a FREE Neighborhood Sales Alert at http://www.therealestators.com/sales

Click here for a list of homes currently listed for sale in The Preserve at Astor Farms.

Mosquito Control

Jim — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 15:41:10 +0000

The Board is working with the Seminole County Mosquito Control Dept and has asked them to evaluate our ponds and common areas to see if we qualify for any type of spraying to control the breeding of mosquitos. This evaluation should take place within the week
In the process of working with the Dept., Board Member Pete Dukas has found out that they also will treat any abandoned or vacant swimming pools that might also be breeding grounds for mosquitos.
If anyone notices a swimming pool in a vacant or abandoned home that is not being maintained, please report this to our Property Management Company, All About Management, at 407 688-7405. Just let them know that you want to report a swimming pool that needs to be treated for mosquito control at Astor Farms. They will compile a list and turn it over to Pete who will forward it to his contact at the Mosquito Control Dept. The Dept will not maintain the pool to a level where it’s safe to swim, but will treat it so it will not be a breeding ground for mosquitos.
Thanks for your help in this community matter

Garbage Collection Times

Jim — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 14:19:36 +0000

At the August Board meeting it was erronously reported by a homeowner that Seminole County had recently changed our collection company and that the company came through on the 16th at 6AM causing a lot of missed pickups.
Here is the correct information. On April 1st Seminole County changed our collection company from Waste Management to Waste Pro. By contract they are allowed to run their routes from 6AM to 8PM. The company is free to set their own collection times for each route and development.
They did come through about 6AM on the 16th but I havn’t noticed them doing that any other day. Typically its later in the morning
The Seminole County manager I talked to was very understanding and promised to contract Waste Pro and instruct them we are not to be the first development for the day so we can continue to conmply with the ban on putting out garbage the night before collection day so we don’t feed the bears and critters. Please continue to put garbage cans out in the early morning as normal.
Shoudl any homeowner have a specific complaint about service or a question about pickup, the correct number to call is 407 665-2260, which is the Customer Service number of Seminole County Waste Management Department

HOA Board Meeting August 16th

Jim — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:20:34 +0000

Recap of HOA Board Meeting on 9/16/2010
After a call to Order, a quorum was established (Dukas, Flom, Malik, Tischler present), and minutes from last meeting were approved.
President Tischler provided a recap of the Transition process from House of Management to All About Management. He reported that AAM is making significant progress on getting ready to assume management as of Sept 1 and everything is progressing in good order. He had met with the AAM staff on 8/12 and personally reviewed their progress.
By covenant, the Board is required to provide 48 hours of public notice prior to any Board meeting. Typically a Board member puts our 2’ x 2’ sign in the ground by the entryway. Official compliance with the 48 hour requirement will be met in the future by posting a schedule of all future Board meeting dates on the Community Bulletin Board, located in the entryway, opposite the gate keypad. The metal ground sign will continue to be used as a courtesy to homeowners, but the official list will be on the bulletin board. A schedule of all Board meeting dates will also be kept on our website.
Re the Grounds committee, Tischler advised he had walked most of the ponds with our Pond management company and reviewed their work this summer to make sure noxious weeds are controlled and algae is kept under control and overflow drains kept clear. The front entranceway annuals have held up well over the extreme heat this summer. Palms at the entranceway and around the entry pond are scheduled to be trimmed in October as part of the normal course of our landscape contract.
Eloise Carter of the grounds committee expressed concern that the roses at the front entranceway were not being trimmed to achieve maximum bloom so Tischler agreed to set up a meeting with her and the landscape contractor to review trimming procedures used.
Mario from the grounds committee advised he is working with Seminole County to get our ponds and common areas sprayed for mosquitos.
Treasurer Flom reported he has been working with All About Management in setting up their financial management system to handle all of our finances when they take over. They will be mailing out a new assessment coupon to all homeowners in early Sept. All normal financial activity is in order.
Secretary Malik asked for an increase to $250 to have 275 kitchen magnets produced to be included with the coupon mailout by AAM. The Board had earlier approved $100 for this and the Board approved this request. The Board is trying hard to get everyone used to accessing the HOA website and the magnets will prominently feature the website URL. The Web Site provides a quick easy way to communicate with homeowners, as well as a source of general and related HOA information
The HOME managers’ report was reviewed and the request to turn over 6 homeowners to the attorney’s office for lien foreclosure for nonpayment of fines was denied. The new management company has been asked to take over this process instead.
The property manager was asked about the status of an ongoing violation of ARC rules by 4882 Cains Wren. She was unable to provide a coherent explanation. Tischler agreed to have the ARC set up a separate review of this one situation and present a clear report to the Board so they can make a firm decision on how to proceed to resolve this violation.
Six homeowners were requested to appear before the Board to appeal their fines for covenant violations. All 6 were set up to go through the fining process of $100/day, max $1000.
Under unfinished business, Tischler advised the enforcement of the ban on overnight parking is proceeding well. A Towing Area sign has been affixed to the entry gate and signs establishing an area where overnight parking is permitted have been ordered and will be installed shortly. A contract has been signed with a company to provide overnight monitoring of violators and a local towing company established as out towing company of record. Regular, ongoing monitoring will begin the week of 8/23/10. The full policy passed by the Board in June is posted on the Web Site.
Under New Business, the following issues were brought up:
Request to have the entranceway sidewalks pressure washed. There is a buildup of moss that is very slippery when wet. The Board agreed to do this and instructed All About Management to solicit bids.
The Board has been asked to address abandoned homes where the swimming pools are no longer maintained and are breeding grounds for mosquitos. Board member Dukas agreed to research this with Seminole County to see if they have any type of mosquito control program that could address this
The Board was asked to look into a grading issue near the pond off Astor Farms Place to see what could be done to address a backup of water under heavy rains. Secretary Malik agreed to review this and report back to the Board.
We have a new waste pick up company – Waste Pro that provides out pick up services for garbage, yard waste, etc. They have started their Round about 6AM, which is extremely inconvenient for homeowners who are prohibited from setting garbage out the night before. Our property manager agreed to contact Waste Pro and arrange for a more reasonable pick up schedule
The question of political signs in yards was brought up. The covenants clearly prohibit any type of commercial signage being posted in the yards, but it’s not clear how or if this ban applies to political signs. Tischler agreed to research this issue and report back to the Board.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30

Controlling Brown Spots in your Grass

Jim — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 17:13:29 +0000

As we work through the hottest time of the summer, some of the yards are starting to show it, with growing brown spots. The most common cause of those nasty brown spots is poor water
sprinkler system management.

By current regulation, we are only permitted to water our lawns twice a week. Many lawns are doing just fine with twice a week watering, so thats not the problem.

First, check the settings on your sprinkler system. Are they set to come on twice a week? Last winter, you might have moved them back to once a week. Or a power surger might have shut off your system. Second, check the time setting per zone. For July and August, a 15 – 20 minute time frame is minimum. And check each zone – some zones may have somehow gotten set to 5 minutes while others are at 15 or 20.

Next, turn on your zones one by one and see how they are spraying, particularly over any brown spots. Lawnmowers, edgers and weedwackers are notorious for damaging sprinkler heads so they don’t spray as intended. And sometimes the St Augustine grass just grows over the sprinkler head so it can’t pop up. Any sprinkler head not spraying correctly needs replaced.

If you don’t have the time or inclination to check out your own system, many of the local lawn management or sprinkler repair companies will conduct a free check of your system and all sprinkler heads. Replacement costs for non performing sprinkler heads is generally pretty low cost.

Any way you look at it, maintaining your sprinkler system for $35 – $50 now is better than resodding your yard for $1000 later

July Assessment Payment

Jim — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 15:16:57 +0000

The 3rd quarter assessment was due July 1st and is considered late if not paid by July 31st.
This assessment should be paid directly to House of Management, just llike all past assessments. House of Management remains our property manager of record until August 31st.

Our New property management company will be mailing out new coupon books for the 4th quarter assessment, due October 1st. late after Oct 31st

Astor Farms Real Estate Update – July 2010

Claudia — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 20:25:54 +0000

Since the last real estate sales update for The Preserve at Astor Farms on June 7th, 2010, there has only been one sale recorded in our neighborhood. 5098 Otters Den Trail sold on June 29th, 2010 for $335,000 (see all info below).

In order to keep you updated, we are also providing you with a list of homes currently under contract and scheduled to close in the next months. The final sales prices may vary from the list prices noted below.

The next real estate update will be sent out towards the end of August.

SOLD HOMES

5098 OTTERS DEN TRAIL

Sold Date: 6/29/10 – Short Sale
List Price: 349,900 – Sold Price: 335,000
Sold Price/Square Footage: 102.32
Bedrooms: 5 – Bathrooms: 3.5 – Square Footage: 3,274 – Year Built: 2004
Pool: Yes

HOMES UNDER CONTRACT

1642 ASTOR FARMS PLACE

Short Sale
List Price: $419,000
List Price/Square Footage: $114.67
Bedrooms: 5 – Bathrooms: 3 and 2 ½ baths – Square Footage: 3,654 – Year Built: 2002
Pool: Yes

4766 CAINS WREN TRAIL

Short Sale
List Price: $299,000
List Price/Square Footage: $102.29
Bedrooms: 4 – Bathrooms: 3.5 – Square Footage: 2,923 – Year Built: 2003
Pool: Yes

4883 CAINS WREN TRAIL

Short Sale
List Price: $279,000
List Price/Square Footage: $82.72
Bedrooms: 5 – Bathrooms: 3.5 – Square Footage: 3,373 – Year Built: 2006
Pool: No

1691 SWALLOWTAIL LANE

Short Sale
List Price: $260,000
List Price/Square Footage: $89.53
Bedrooms: 4 – Bathrooms: 3.5 – Square Footage: 2,904 – Year Built: 2006
Pool: No

1662 ASTOR FARMS PLACE

Short Sale
List Price: $249,999
List Price/Square Footage: $91.27
Bedrooms: 4 – Bathrooms: 2.5 – Square Footage: 2,739 – Year Built: 2006
Pool: Yes

4907 CAINS WREN TRAIL

Short Sale
List Price: $249,000
List Price/Square Footage: $75.29
Bedrooms: 5 – Bathrooms: 3.5 – Square Footage: 3,307 – Year Built: 2006
Pool: No

Information retrieved from Mid Florida Regional MLS on 07/22/2010

Click here for a list of homes currently listed for sale in The Preserve at Astor Farms.

July 19th Board Meeting Cancelled

Jim — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:31:19 +0000

Our bylaws require that we post a sign announcing any Board meetings 48 hours in advance. As President, I have that responsibility and usually post our large white sign at the entry way by Saturday morning , 72 hours ahead of any Monday meeting.
This past weekend I had a member of my immediate family in the hospital for the entire weekend and I spent considerable time there. With that on my mind, I just didn’t get the sign posted 48 hours prior to Monday’s meeting. We had 2 homeowners call House of Management and complain so we had no choice but to cancel the meeting on short notice.
I apologive for any inconvenience this may have caused anyone.
The next Board Meeting will be August 16th

James Tischler
President, Astor Farms HOA

Selection of a new Property Management Company

Jim — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:36:12 +0000

Several homeowners have asked about the recent additional Board meetings over the past two weeks. Allow me to explain.

Over the last 6 months, the Board had continued to lose confidence in our existing property management company, House of Management, in a variety of areas – providing accurate financial and management reports, an inability to control legal expenses, and general lack of follow through on regular activity as well as special projects. This culminated in a unanimous vote by the Board at the June meeting to terminate our contract with House of Management on a 60 day notice.

The Board had actually started a preliminary search for a new management company but once the vote was taken, we moved forward quickly and settled on 4 leading candidates for replacement. One was part of a large national company, one was associated with a large company covering all of Florida, one was a large company working in Central Florida, and the last was a medium sized company based in Sanford.

The Two Board meetings last week were to hear presentations from 2 companies each night. In addition to the Board, there were several homeowners in attendance. During the week after, the Board members exchanged emails and spoke one on one to discuss the pros and cons of each company.

The Board meeting Wednesday July 14th was called to take a formal vote and at that time the Board voted unanimously to select All About Management as our new property management company. While all 4 were solid companies and made good presentations, the Board felt All About Management was the best fit for our HOA for the following reasons:

1. Based in Sanford, they are very easily accessible to review records and activity on foreclosures, collections, liens and other financial review. While we tend to work and live in a digital world, there are times you cannot just beat sitting down at a table to review documents together
2. The owner, Angelia Gordon, will double as our Property Manager. Most property managers typically handle 8 – 12 properties. Angelia will personally handle only 2 – us and a Heathrow HOA and only because we are both so close to her office. This provides great stability, as there is typically a high rate of turnover among property managers.
3. There were a number of changes in Fl. statutes regulating collections and related activity that went into effect July 1st. All About Management has already started to implement these changes (which are favorable to HOAs) while the other 3 companies were still talking about them and analyzing them. This just seemed to prove they were really on top of their property management game and aggressive about protecting HOA interests.
4. They demonstrated strong expertise in providing the type of traditional financial and management reports the Board needs, as well as customized reports for our special needs. They also have an in house collections department that significantly lessens a need to use high priced attorneys for liens, assessments collections, etc.
5. They were actually less expensive than the competitors as well as less than our current company. The Board was certainly not looking to go with the least expensive company – you only get what you pay for and we were determined to select a company that provides the expertise and services we needed to make the best decisions regarding our community. It was unintended plus that the company we felt was the best choice for expertise and services was also nicely priced.

I’d like to publicly commend my fellow Board members for the commitment they showed by devoting extra time and effort over the last few weeks to make sure that our HOA is well managed, remains financially sound and does everything it can to protect your property values.

Our next regularly scheduled Board meeting will be held Monday, July 19th at 7:00PM at Lake Sylvan Park.

Regards,

James Tischler
President, Astor Farms HOA

Special Board Meetings, July 6th and 7th

Jim — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 20:51:28 +0000

The BOD has called for 2 special BOD meetings on July 6th and 7th. These are limited agenda meetings.
At the June BOD meeting, the Board voted 4 – 0 to terminate our contract with House of Management as our management company.
At the BOD meetings on the 6th and 7th of July, the Board is hearing presentations from 2 companies a night who are bidding on being our new management company.
At our next full agenda meeting on July 19th, the Board will vote to retian one of the 4 companies as our new management company