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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
FAQ Categories:
About Houston Springs in general
Go to the Home FAQ answers
Go to the Fees & Financing FAQ answers
FAQs about the Houston Springs Community
Go to the Community FAQ answers
Return to main FAQ category listGo to the Local Area FAQ answers
Do you have to be 55 to purchase a home?
No, you do not have to be 55 or older to purchase the home. The age restrictions apply to the people living in the home. Unless an exception has been approved, at least one person in the home must be at least 55 years of age. In some cases one spouse will meet the age requirement while the other may be younger. By federal law, up to 10% of the population can be exceptions to the age requirement (but they must be a good fit in other ways, such as no children living in the home, and being over 25 years of age).
No, we do not build custom homes. To allow us to offer you these exceptional values in active adult resort living, we have standard models within each village. Each model has a rich set of features which will allow you to incorporate many of your personal choices into the home. Each village has a different housing style and a different set of models, so you are likely to find something you like in one of our villages!
How do I select options for my home?
You will meet with an options specialist in our design center here in Perry, where many of the choices are displayed (eventually, we hope to offer options selection over the internet for our long-distance buyers.)
Can I make changes to an existing model design?
No. To keep costs down, we do not deviate from our existing plans. However, we have a very rich set of personal preference choices, which often include changes such as enclosing or screening a porch, modifying for handicap access, different door and window choices, kitchen configuration choices, etc. We have taken the most often requested design changes and offer them as options in our homes. This allows a lot of room for making the model your own!
Are previously owned homes or leases available?
If you are interested in a pre-owned home or leasing a home within Houston Springs, please contact our sales office as these homes move quickly. We also have new homes that are completed or nearly completed, if you are looking for immediate occupancy.
What does low-maintenance exterior mean?
We know that when you move to Houston Springs, you are looking for a care-free lifestyle. To that end, we have designed our homes with durable, low-maintenance finishes such as brick, stone, and vinyl siding. No painting and scraping every few years! The other aspect of a care-free lifestyle is freedom from yard duties. Your homeowners fees include the yard maintenance, and each home is equipped with an automatic sprinkler system. For a small fee, the lawn care staff can also take care of occasional tasks like cleaning your gutters. This allows you to leave home on a moment's notice, knowing that your home and yard will look good when you return.
What maintenance am I responsible for?
Your homeowner's dues cover lawn care, including planting of new annuals twice a year. You are responsible for maintenance of the interior and exterior of the home structure itself.
What kind of warranty comes with my home?
Your home is fully warranted against defects in materials and workmanship for one year. Please see our Warranty page for details.
How long does it take to build my new home?
We have found that most homes are constructed in four to five months from the date construction actually starts.
How much are the homeowners' association dues?
To see the current dues, refer to the cost of living document. We do our best to keep the dues as low as possible.
- Cost-of-Living [PDF]
Includes Fairway Ridge, Live Oak Landing, Quail Run
What is included in the homeowners' dues? What is not included?
Dues include gates, streetlighting, common area maintenance, and lawn care. Reserves are also collected at closing for longer term needs the association may encounter in the future. Irrigation water is separate.
Maintenance of the golf course and amenity areas are not included in the dues. The association is not responsible for these areas as they are not owned by the association. Use of the golf course and amenities are covered separately by the golf course fees (optional) and the Social Club fees (required - allows use of the amenities).
All homes are equipped with an automatic sprinkler system, and water is supplyed to the sprinklers from our central irrigation system that also supplies the golf course with water. This is quite a bargain, as the fee is the same regardless of how much water is used. It is also makes budget planning much easier, as your home water bill does not soar during the summer months.
For current irrigation fees, see the Cost-of-Living document:
- Cost-of-Living [PDF]
Includes Fairway Ridge, Live Oak Landing, Quail Run
What is the Social Club membership fee?
The amenities, including pools, game courts, clubhouses, fitness rooms, etc., are owned by the developer. This means that the homeowners' association is not liable for the upkeep and maintenance of all the amenities, allowing us to keep the association dues as affordable as possible.
The Social Club dues allow you the use of all these amenities, with the exception of the golf course which has separate fees. Every household is required to pay these Social Club dues, as mandatory membership allows us to keep these dues as low as possible for everyone.
For current Social Club fees, see the Cost-of-Living document:
- Cost-of-Living [PDF]
Includes Fairway Ridge, Live Oak Landing, Quail Run
What is the cost-of-living in Perry? What should I budget for utility costs in my home?
The Cost-of-Living document for each village outlines the average monthly cost of utilities, property tax, and association dues.
- Cost-of-Living [PDF]
Includes Fairway Ridge, Live Oak Landing, Quail Run
Our Golf Club membership fees are extremely reasonable and can be paid annually or quarterly, with a big discount for couples. The cost to play without joining is also very reasonable. All fees include the use of a cart.
Do I have to join the Golf Club when purchasing my home?
No, you do not have to join the golf club unless you wish to do so. There are a couple of things to consider when deciding whether or not to join.
First, there are a set number of golf club memberships available for each village. This ensures that our last village will have as many memberships available as the first village. So as your village is building out, there may be golf memberships available in the contruction phase of the village that will not be available later on.
Second, when you sell your home, the new buyer will have the option to take over your club membership if offered, so they would not have to go on a waiting list. This means that once all the memberships are sold, having a membership could act as a sales incentive for your home.
Who can take care of my banking needs?
There are many excellent banks in Perry. We recommend CB&T - they have an office in downtown Perry and offer a full range of services and give you lots of personal attention. They also offer bridge loans - a special short-term, low-cost loan that is specially designed for the situation where you need to close on your Houston Springs home and have not yet sold your previous home.
If you prefer a larger national chain of banks, there is a Bank of America service outlet in Perry.
FAQs about the Houston Springs Community
Do you have rental homes in your community?
Yes we do. They are primarily rented out to contracted homeowners who are waiting for their own homes to be completed. Rest assured that tenants must meet the same qualifications as homeowners in order to live in Houston Springs.
We have a once-a-week curbside pick up, and the city provides oversized wheeled trash containers with hinged lids which make it easy to get the container out to the curb! All refuse must be in the container, with the exception of flattened cardboard boxes. The containers are large enough to meet regular needs, but should you need another can they are available from the city for a small monthly fee. Our covenants require that people keep their trash cans out of sight, so they are either outside in a lattice enclosure or stored in the garages. For average fees, see our cost-of-living documents:
- Cost-of-Living [PDF]
Includes Fairway Ridge, Live Oak Landing, Quail Run
What am I allowed to do with my yard?
We are a covenant community, so there are rules about yards. This ensures that homes in the community will have a consistant look. Lawn care is included in your dues, so you don't actually have to do anything with your yard unless you want to.
Your home will come with a beautiful landscape package that includes a sodded lawn with a tree, and mulched flower beds containing shrubs, and annuals that are replaced twice a year. To allow the lawn care team easy access for mowing, garden ornaments must be placed within the borders of existing flower beds. You can add plants to your flower beds if you wish. Fences are not allowed, again for ease of mowing.
Yes, we are a pet-friendly community, and most homeowners are pet owners too! Our master plan includes fenced pet parks - areas where you are able to let your dog off the leash to play. All pet droppings must be picked up immediately, and outside of the pet parks, all animals must be on a leash.
Yes, for a few hours. The covenants require that you park in your driveway or in your garage when parking overnight. This makes the neighborhood look much more attractive!
Are there any restrictions on grandchildren's visits?
Grandchildren may visit as often as you like, however overnight visits are restricted to ten nights every six months. Children below the age of five are not allowed in the pool, and children age 5 - 17 are only allowed in the pool during certain hours and must be accompanied by the resident. Any permanant visitors, such as an adult grandchild or child, must be at least 25 years of age.
What are the average temperatures in Perry, GA?
We have a wonderful, temperate 4-season climate. We have a long spring season adorned with flowering pear, cherry, and dogwood trees, a warm green summer, and a beautiful change of foliage colors in the fall. Unlike northern Georgia, we are below the snow belt with cool, crisp winters. And don't forget our best feature - no hurricanes - as our inland location protects us from severe coastal weather (yet the seashore is only two to three hours away for vacations). In general, nights are 25 degrees cooler than the days. You can check Perry's annual average temperatures and precipitation on weather.com.
Does Georgia have any tax breaks for seniors?
Yes! Seniors get a break on state income tax, and legislation is underway for a property tax exemption for seniors.
On state income tax, Georgia's tax law does allow for the exclusion of a portion of retirement income from state income tax as a benefit for all retirees age 62 or older, or for those who are permanently disabled. The exclusion amount, which is being phased in over three years, is $25,000 for tax year 2006, $30,000 for tax year 2007, and $35,000 for tax years beginning on or after Jan. 2008.
On property taxes, a vote will be coming up in November, 2006, to exempt seniors age 65 and older from the state portion of their property tax. County and/or city taxes would still apply.
What kind of healthcare facilities are available?
Perry Hospital, less than ten minutes away from Houston Springs, offers a 24-hour physician-staffed emergency room, imaging services, medical and surgery center, women's center, and 45 beds. Perry Hospital is a sister facility to the nearby Houston Medical Center.
The regional Houston Medical Center in neighboring Warner Robins offers full services including medical, surgical, imaging, trauma, cardiac care and behavioral health services at a 186-bed hospital.
State-of-the-art cardiac care is available at the Georgia Heart Center, part of the Medical Center of Central Georgia (MCCG) in Macon. They also have a level-one trauma center for emergencies, a Cancer Life Center, and are leaders in joint replacement. The MCCG is very experienced in coordinating patient care with the Perry Hospital and the larger regional Houston Medical Center in Warner Robins, particularly in emergency situations.
How close are shopping centers to your community?
Very close! Upon completion, Houston Springs will contain a "town square" area on the property with shopping and dining, all within golf cart distance of your home. In the mean time, you will find great shopping within 1.25 miles of Houston Springs, including a Super Wal-Mart shopping center. Perry also features many quaint antique and gift shops, clothing stores and boutiques, building supply centers, several grocery stores, auto parts stores, excellent furniture stores, and much more.
What is not offered in Perry is probably available in Warner Robins, only 15 minutes away, or Macon, less than 30 minutes away. Warner Robins has over 100 restaurants and most major chain stores. There are two malls nearby - the Galleria Mall in Warner Robins, and the larger Macon Mall.
What are the major roads in the area?
Perry has been called "The Crossroads of Georgia" and started way back when as a junction of several highways and a stagecoach inn! Perry is directly on I-75, and Houston Springs is only one mile from the interstate. US Highways 41, 341, and 11 also pass through town, and State Road 96 passes nearby. So in spite of being a small town, Perry is very well connected to the rest of the world! Many of our residents comment on the beauty of the surrounding country alongside the area highways. Roads pass through gentle rolling hills with wooded slopes, pecan groves, peach orchards, and cotton fields. Middle Georgia is truly a beautiful place.
What kind of churches and synagogues are in the area?
You will find many congregations to choose from in Perry. Denominations include Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Catholic, Episcopalian, Lutheran, Church of Christ, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Church of God, and more. You can view a list of Perry Churches in the Yahoo Yellow Pages (remember to check all the pages of the listing). For synagogues, there a Temple in Macon, about 25 minutes north along I-75.
Where are the nearest airports, and is transportation available to and from the airport?
The international airport in Atlanta is 1½ hours north of Perry on I-75. Several limosine services offer transportation, including door-to-door pickup. Two that we recommend are VIP Shuttle, based in Fort Valley, GA, for door-to-door service, and Groome Transportation, based in Macon, which offers a park and fly from nearby Warner Robins.
There is a regional airport in Macon, a half hour north on I-75. Some residents prefer to fly out of Macon, taking a short connecting flight to Atlanta. For flying enthusiasts, there is a small airport with a 5,000 ft. runway right here in Perry, about a mile from Houston Springs!
Where can I take my family and friends when visiting?
Please see our Local Links page for many nearby destinations, including destinations for some fascinating day-trips!
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