Quorum Article - November 2000
Sunrise
Country Club occupies 150 acres in the heart of Rancho Mirage.
Bob Hope Drive and Country Club Drive are at its East and North
boundaries. Construction was completed in 1974 and comprises 746 condominium
units and clubhouse facilities set amidst a 64-par 18-hole executive golf
course. Ted Robinson designed the course.
The one, two and three bedroom condominium units range in size from 870 square feet to 2,600 square feet. Prices for these homes during the past 12 months have ranged from $88,000 to $299,000. At the time of this writing there are only 4 units listed for sale.
Amenities enjoyed by residents and visitors include 21
swimming pools, 19 spas, 4 lakes and 13 tennis courts.
In most similar subdivisions, the developer retains
ownership of the golf course and clubhouse facilities as a profit center wholly
distinct from the homeowners association. Oftentimes, the developer will sell
these facilities to a third party. By contrast, Sunrise Country Club effectively
combines the Country Club with the Homeowners Association. Although
theoretically distinct, in practice the HOA and the Country Club’s equity
members are essentially the same people.
On one hand, there are only about 90 non–resident
equity members. On the other hand, all homeowners, regardless of their equity
status, are associate members of the club and support its operations through
modest monthly proprietary dues. This
results in a great sense of community and harmony at Sunrise, which both the
Club and the HOA boards of Directors are careful to foster. For example, there is a single membership directory and a
single combined billing for Homeowners and Club members alike.
Now in its 27th year, Sunrise is confronting
the issues associated with a maturing community. These include updating the
facilities to compete with new construction in the Coachella Valley and dealing
with maintenance problems associated with age.
Recent renovations on the Country Club side include outside dining and a
new stadium tennis court. This was
to encourage the Club’s very active tennis program, which feeds naturally into
its golf program. The golf course itself has stood the test of time well, with
only minor cosmetic changes.
Progress on the HOA side has included the reconstruction
of the gated entrance on Country Club drive and a new water feature, which were
aimed at improving overall “curb” appeal. This project was the culmination
of several years of discussion and was achieved through a small special
assessment per unit combined with contributions from the HOA’s reserves and
surplus operating funds.
The HOA is also tackling the age-related problem of
overgrown and overpopulated trees. As an aid to sales, a developer will almost
always plant too many trees in a subdivision. This means that the HOA will
eventually be faced with removing trees that threaten foundations, impact roofs
and obstruct sidewalks and streets. There
will also be potential threats to safety from dying trees and dead limbs.
The Sunrise HOA will soon announce a 4-year plan to deal
with this problem. The plan calls for the removal of some 350 trees over a
4-year period and replacing them with approximately 180 trees of indigenous
variety. The plan includes a 2-year
program to remove dead and dying oleander at the Club’s perimeter.
The oleander will be replaced with Bougainvillea.
The Sunrise HOA Board of Directors is dedicated to the
unglamorous but essential task of maintaining the association’s property
values and the financial integrity of a strong financial statement. With careful
planning the Board has been able to manage the HOA’s affairs with a $20 per
month reduction in monthly dues and with no increase in sight.
Reserves for streets, roofs and other replacements are adequately funded
and no special assessments anticipated. HOA dues range from $305 to $375 per
month, depending on the size of the unit.
While highly conservative with respect to financial
management, the Board is also forward looking. It has commissioned the
publishing of the Association’s web site, which will be available soon. The
site will feature community news, calendar of events, Board of Directors and
Committee Membership, member directories, Board minutes, rules and regulations
and online service orders.
Bob Timperio of the Monarch Group manages the HOA with the assistance of three office staff and four maintenance staff. Bill Athan manages the Club facilities assisted by 4 office staff, a complete food & beverage staff, four maintenance personnel, golf pro, tennis pro and a full landscaping staff.
Brunner & Associates 23-225 Tamyram Road Sky Valley CA 92241 Tel: 760-329-3650 Fax:760-329-1265Palm Springs Desert Area Homes, Condos & Real Estate are to be found in the Coachella Valley cities of Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells, Bermuda Dunes, La Quinta, Desert Hot Springs, Thousand Palms and Indio. These are the cities that form the Greater Palm Springs Desert Area and are home to some of the finest living and the best resort real estate in the world. If you want to sell or buy homes, condos, or real estate anywhere in the Coachella Valley, this site will provide the little known information you need and the solutions you seek.
Creative Real Estate for Sellers and Buyers