92...really?

Thanks Cheryl. I learned a great deal from your comments. I was wondering if you are seeing any kind of trend where folks are moving to Sun City because it is the cheapest safe place to live in the Phoenix area? My neighbors both fit that profile but there are many other folks who are snowbirds, full time residents or have other reasons for living here.

I am a huge proponent of requiring RCSC to hire an expert urban planner on a long-term basis for the next phase of Sun City's existence. We desperately need to get a member approved master plan in place and lack the expertise to do so. We have been on this new board new plan merry go round for way too long. Wouldn't it be a great sales tool to show perspective members that we have a member endorsed professionally developed plan in place?

Please encourage all you know to attend the Annual Membership meeting March 11 at Sun Dial. Registration begins at 5:00. There is a proxy collection drive going on to allow members to have their voices heard even if they cannot attend.

 

Hi Bill,
I too am concerned about the community turning into a large rental community. Without direct home ownership the community is being used as a large playground for those who come in and rent for 4 months. The reason why this is concerning is there is no true stake in the function and state of the community, as we know it as owners. The heavy usage of facilities without a financial commitment to the place, and also we need to address this, the many advanced seniors living on ss incomes only and not able to afford the increasing yearly fee. I am wondering if something needs to be addressed about this. The reason why this is on the increase is that SC had very cheap housing some 15 years ago. It allowed folks to move in on very modest incomes. Now, maybe there spouse is deceased and they are struggling to just maintain. I have neighbors living around me in this very place. I am concerned about these folks.
I do like very much your idea of publishing again maybe a 4 times a year magazine to really promote our strengths and the community in order to capture new money, homebuyers. We need actual home buyers to help keep the community viable. Have a great day!

 

Great comments Eileen and you'll be interested in my latest thread. One of the things we have failed to do is have and hold open forums where we talk candidly about our future and what we as a community should be doing. Everyone tends to get butt hurt when questions are asked when in fact blunt discussions aren't about how we got here, but where we are headed...and more importantly, how we get there.

It's why i have always maintained my focus on "big picture Sun City, not small picture RCSC.

 

Amen to the big picture and having a plan, Bill! I have been out talking to as many people as I can about whether they want the right to vote on the big stuff once a year at the annual membership meeting. Almost universally, members want the right to vote on the big picture stuff and don't care that much about the small stuff. Long ago I became a firm believer that a constituency is more committed to a cause if they are involved and informed. I believe the angry apathy I hear in many of my dialogue sessions may be a result of the members being told about the outcome the Board has arrived at and not involved in that outcome. Based on my Board experience I can see their point.

I say it is about time RCSC actively seek membership voting on the big stuff. It won't be perfect but that is not the goal. The goal is to be better.

 

"allow members to come to Rec centers and write down what they want to see"

This has been done. One of the top requests was a cyber cafe. I am not aware of a report has been done to let the members know what has been done for them in response to this survey. I believe the cost for this was in the $10k range.

ASU/RCSC Survey-Community Involvement – Recreation Centers of Sun City AZ

 

Yes, but 3 data points do!

Looks like it's an issue that definitely needs attention when compiling a budget.

 

Please tell anyone struggling to make the annual RCSC assessment to apply to the Sun City Foundation for help. We have streamlined the process so the paperwork is not as burdensome or intrusive.

 

I was at Fairway recently and looked over the vacated spot from the old reception desk. I think that would be a perfect spot for a cyber cafe and coffee shop. The outdoor patio is there, too.

John,
My advice, although unsolicited, is be careful what you ask for when recommending that the Members vote on large scale projects. While it sounds logical, I am afraid that we will end up never passing anything, resulting in the costs of maintenance increasing and our facilities continuing to deteriorate. My experience with bond issues are they are very hard to pass. People find every reason to vote against something - it is too much money, they should spend more, too many pickleball courts, not enough pickleball courts, etc.

Janet

 

Bill,
While the numbers you posted are intriguing, the five highest sales listed was the result of an extremely low interest rate, almost zero. The rates on home sales were about 1.5-3% which in today’s market would almost be free money. Currently the interest rate on houses is around 6.5%+. This is what is depressing the housing market, especially after down payment of 10% and then closing costs where everyone has their finger in the pie. Add to this that the Fed wants to keep discount rate where it is for the foreseeable future. Not a truly grim picture but not a happy one either.

 

I would love to see an average for each ten year period , say for the last 5 decades. Bill maybe your source could help with these numbers. For the data given for the last 10 years, the average is 1987.

 

Janet,

Good words to the wise. I have tried to craft the bylaw amendments, so the plan alternatives come somewhat unfiltered from an expert and the question is not whether to spend money but what to spend it on. I will keep this in mind as I refine the draft.

John

 

Excellent.

 

Thanks for the cleanup on my data Cheryl. Someone else noted it on FB, which i appreciate. Not sure how i overpriced the two PIF and CIF. I know when i was sitting in on the Budget and Finance committee meetings they were talking about $1000 to each. Turns out they put $1500 in CIF and $500 added to the PIF. And so that means that new buyer is only paying: $4000 PIF, $1500 CIF, $650 lot assessment, and $300 transfer fee for a total of $6,450.

 

Add closing costs and realtor commissions. I know SC does not control those fees, but they are part of purchasing a home and need to be considered when budgeting.