Your Homeowners Association (HOA) maintains the common areas, preserves a consistent look throughout the community, and can enhance the sense of community. An HOA may prevent your neighbors from making changes to their homes and using their property in ways that might negatively impact other homes.

An HOA is the way by which homeowners may maintain the pleasant, desirable lifestyle envisioned when they purchased a home. After transition, HOAs are wholly run by homeowners who volunteer to serve their community.

For more information about active committees in your community, please visit the "Committees" page of this website.

 

To get approval for any changes, you must submit a complete property improvement application to the HOA.

 

 

For more information and to obtain a PIC Application, please visit the Property Improvement page.

 

 

 

All HOAs are created by Covenants or CC&Rs. They are recorded on the title to every piece of property in a community; therefore, they are legally binding upon the entire community. CC&Rs grant the HOA and the HOA Board legal authority and are the source of restrictions that apply to all members.

CC&Rs may be amended only by the Declarant or a supermajority of homeowners (the percentage required in the Covenants, but more than 50%).

Other governing documents include the Bylaws, Articles of Incorporation and Community Rules or Guidelines. The Community Rules are made by the Board of Directors, and may change. They may not conflict with the CC&Rs, but should add helpful guidance to homeowners.  Please go to the "Documents" page of this website to download a copy of the governing documents and rules.

 

Homeowners have the right to use and enjoy the common areas owned by the HOA. Examples of common areas include parks, trails, mailboxes, detention ponds, play structures, sport courts, etc. In some communities, local jurisdictions or third parties may own certain common areas. Check the recorded plot map or call the community association manager to find out what your HOA owns.

2009 Annual Assessments for McCormick Woods is $450.00

New for 2009

Beginning January 2009, the HOA permits monthly payments of the annual assessment instead of the biannual payments of the past. This change offers homeowners the option to pay a smaller amount each month versus paying a lump sum twice a year.

The monthly assessment is $37.50

Choices and Due Dates

Homeowners asked us for more payment options. Billing Statements will be mailed each month to arrive before the due date, which is the first of each month. 

If you prefer, you may continue to pay the assessment biannually or annually as long it’s paid by the appropriate due date, January 1^st and July 1^st.

The monthly assessment is due the first day of each month and are considered late after the 15^th.  A Late fee of $10 will be assessed on the 16th of each month for any late payments.

Try Direct Debit

If you select the monthly payment plan, you may opt into the direct debit payment system (ACH).  The ACH form is here for you to print and follow the instruction to apply. 

Assessments (also referred to as “dues”) are each home’s share of the annual operating costs of the HOA. For example, assessments cover:

• Maintenance and repair of common areas
• Landscaping of common areas
• Community Association Management fees
• Insurance on the common areas
• Water and electricity for the common areas
• Contributions to long-term maintenance reserves
• Legal and accounting fees

In addition to assessments, all new home buyers pay an initial capital contribution. This set up fee is separate from advanced assessments. Instead, it goes into the HOA operating account that pays start up costs.

The Ridge at McCormick Woods 2008 Annual Asssessments is $400

If you have any questions regarding the billing process, please contact Morris Management.

The Declarant is usually the developer. It is a corporation that owns the land being developed in a community. The Declarant—sometimes Quadrant Homes—is responsible for managing the HOA during the development phase. As the initial owner of all property in the subdivision, the Declarant at first holds all voting rights in the HOA and appoints the first Board of Directors.

 

A PIC is a Property Improvement Committee.

 

The Property Improvement Comittee is appointed by the Board of Directors to assist them in maintaining a uniform high aesthetic design standard for your Community. It is the PIC's responsibility to review all applications for changes, additions or modifications to the exterior of any home.

 

The Board retains certain rights and discretions granted to it by the CC&Rs which it may delegate to the PIC. 

 

For more information about the Roles & Responsibilities of the PIC, please visit the Property Improvement page which contains the PIC Handbook for your review.

 

An HOA is a Washington State non-profit corporation. It owns and is responsible for maintenance and repair of common areas in a subdivision. All homeowners in that subdivision are members of the HOA. Membership is automatic when you purchase a home. 

To preserve consistency and make living in your community more pleasant, the CC&Rs include a list of uses that are prohibited or restricted in within the community. Examples of common use restrictions include limits on breeding animals, nuisances, and parking oversized vehicles.

Before transition of HOA to Homeowner Control:

Most Declarant-controlled HOAs also have use restrictions that—among other things—prohibit the following:

• Rentals during development period
• Businesses—homes are intended for residential use only
• Signs
• RV, trailer, and commercial vehicle parking

The HOA is turned over to the homeowners after the developer is done developing, selling, and building the community. After that period, a meeting is held when homeowners vote to elect members of the community to the board of directors. That meeting is called the "transition," and marks the transfer of full control to homeowners.

HOAs are governed by a board of directors. After transition, the board is elected by, and composed of, homeowners. The board hires and supervises the community association management firm, which is responsible for the day-to-day management of the HOA.