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| FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS |
Will I own the land? Yes, this is not a condominium. You will own the entire house and the 9000 sq.ft. lot that it sits on. You will also be a deeded member of the Second Branch Homeowners’ Assoc. which will own the remaining 12 acres of common land and improvements.Can I build anywhere on that lot? Yes, as long as you stay 10’ away from the side lot line and 20’ from the front lot line. And you shouldn’t build on your septic tank or field.Who takes care of sewer and water? Each home has its own septic tank and field, which the owner is responsible for. The community water system, located in the barn, is owned and operated by the Homeowners’ Association, which consists of 21 owners.What about plowing the road, cutting the grass? The Homeowners’ Assoc. is responsible for plowing, sanding and repairing the road and maintaining the common land. The individual owner is responsible for his/her lawn and parking area.How are those common expenses paid and how expensive? The Association is responsible for maintaining the common elements, namely road, common land and water system. The costs are divided equally among all owners. The exact monthly cost will depend upon what level of service the Association chooses. The major expense is maintaining the water system, which we estimate will cost homeowners $24/mo.; it seems reasonable that the rest of the common maintenance wouldn't cost more than $4000 per year, or another $16/mo. per home.How long will it take to build my house? About two months.Are these subsidized in any way? No, but there may be $15,000 tax credits coming out of Washington - stay tuned.What appliances are included? Energy Star refrigerator and dishwasher and LP gas range. Washer & dryer sets are available at the developer's cost plus installation.Will there be cable hookup for TV and internet? Yes, Comcast offers full digital packages with TV, phone and internet – starting at $100/month. Verizon offers land line and wireless phone service and, of course, satellite TV can be arranged with several vendors.Are there any rules about cars, boats, home business, Christmas lights, etc.? There are very few restrictions in the original Covenants & Restrictions prepared by the developer. The Association can change the rules; however for the first ten years, it must have a 2/3rds majority to pass new rules.Can I install solar heat? Yes, all homes have a south facing roof and the heating system is especially compatible with solar heated hot water. Solar electric is more complicated, but certainly possible.How much will utilities cost? There are several different parts to this question:Electricity – with Energy Star appliances and lighting and no electric heaters, your electric bill should be very modest, between $20 and $40 a month. Fuel – LP gas consumption for heating, hot water, cooking and clothes drying can vary greatly depending upon a family's’ habits; but because the homes are extremely well insulated and the equipment is efficient, a conserving family could reasonably limit their annual use to 1000 gallons. At a current price of about $1.40/gal that's $116/month. Efficiency Vermont has estimated the annual cost of the model at $1087 heating and $388 hot water. Sewer – each home has its own septic field, so excluding maintenance, monthly cost is zero. Water – is supplied by the Homeowners’ Association and will become part of quarterly dues. The estimated cost of operating the water system is $6000/yr, or $24 a month for each home. What about taxes? The Randolph tax rate is currently $1.79 per hundred; so if the home were valued at $150,000, the property taxes would be $2685 or $224 per month. It's important to note that Vermont has a significant prebate/rebate program for homeowners, which, depending on one's income, may reduce property taxes by $1000 or more.We have dogs. Are they allowed, and can we fence our yard? There are no restrictions in the Covenants regarding pets, and you can build a fence. |
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