Why does Chesapeake Ranch Estates have such an awful repuation? I don't get it. Negative views are all over the place in SOMD forum and I've heard it from realtors too. Our family's been in CRE since the beginning.
GREAT LOCATION - If you work in St. Mary's, the commute could be tough but for military, the nice recreation center is on this side of the bridge. And a look at test scores show that the public schools are much better. Not a bad drive to other major places of employment like Prince Frederick. The new Cove Point pool/waterpark is 5 minutes away. Within 10 minutes are Flag Ponds Nature Park, Calvert Cliffs Park, and Solomons Island.
EXTRAS Non-public lake, bay beaches, use of clubhouse for small fee, airport (and jr. pilot program for teens), teen dances, adult social events. We had our wedding reception at the clubhouse and OK, it's not fancy, but it cost almost nothing, we had our own food catered (instead of paying for overpriced crappy hotel food) and had a beautiful day and view of the Bay. We hired our own entertainer with karaoke and feasted on steamed crabs. Top that for less than $4000.
LAKE - Our house is on a double lot on the lake with a beautiful, scenic view and an easy step to the water. OK, the lake has issues but so does every other body of water in MD including the Bay and Patuxent. I wouldn't swim in either of those either. But from our backyard I have seen plenty of eagles, great heron, osprey, geese, ducks, turtles, and even a rare to find in this area -- brown pelican. Lake must not be too bad and at least there are improvements being made.
CRIME - Whatever crime here is the usual for any community, I don't care where you live. Burglaries are rare because most people wouldn't find their way out of CRE before the police got them. Maybe that's a plus to the maze winding roads -- most crooks want a quick getaway.
LOWER CLASS RESIDENTS? - I'm sorry, but CRE is about as much mix of people as anywhere. Just people live in a more expensive home doesn't mean they are any classier. St. Mary's around the military base has some pretty rough people in my opinion - no offense.
HOUSES - The houses are not uniform but who wants to live in a "cookie-cutter" neighborhood anyway. Our area of CRE is mostly 2-story colonial single homes with 2 car garages. And they are not $600,000+++ like the quickly constructed pieces of junk in other areas. The quality varies but most homes are very affordable for what you get.
THE HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION - A lot of badmouthing seems to come from personal grievances. At least CRE has an active association that puts all the information out on the table in the newsletters and web site. Few associations will do that because they hide problems to protect property values. And the yearly fee is very minimal. I live on a out of the way side road and my road is quickly plowed the same day every year when it snows. Let's see the County perform that well. People who complain are just too lazy to get involved and be a part of the solution instead a part of the problem. Communities without Associations are the ones that tend to go downhill over time.
GREAT LOCATION - If you work in St. Mary's, the commute could be tough but for military, the nice recreation center is on this side of the bridge. And a look at test scores show that the public schools are much better. Not a bad drive to other major places of employment like Prince Frederick. The new Cove Point pool/waterpark is 5 minutes away. Within 10 minutes are Flag Ponds Nature Park, Calvert Cliffs Park, and Solomons Island.
EXTRAS Non-public lake, bay beaches, use of clubhouse for small fee, airport (and jr. pilot program for teens), teen dances, adult social events. We had our wedding reception at the clubhouse and OK, it's not fancy, but it cost almost nothing, we had our own food catered (instead of paying for overpriced crappy hotel food) and had a beautiful day and view of the Bay. We hired our own entertainer with karaoke and feasted on steamed crabs. Top that for less than $4000.
LAKE - Our house is on a double lot on the lake with a beautiful, scenic view and an easy step to the water. OK, the lake has issues but so does every other body of water in MD including the Bay and Patuxent. I wouldn't swim in either of those either. But from our backyard I have seen plenty of eagles, great heron, osprey, geese, ducks, turtles, and even a rare to find in this area -- brown pelican. Lake must not be too bad and at least there are improvements being made.
CRIME - Whatever crime here is the usual for any community, I don't care where you live. Burglaries are rare because most people wouldn't find their way out of CRE before the police got them. Maybe that's a plus to the maze winding roads -- most crooks want a quick getaway.
LOWER CLASS RESIDENTS? - I'm sorry, but CRE is about as much mix of people as anywhere. Just people live in a more expensive home doesn't mean they are any classier. St. Mary's around the military base has some pretty rough people in my opinion - no offense.
HOUSES - The houses are not uniform but who wants to live in a "cookie-cutter" neighborhood anyway. Our area of CRE is mostly 2-story colonial single homes with 2 car garages. And they are not $600,000+++ like the quickly constructed pieces of junk in other areas. The quality varies but most homes are very affordable for what you get.
THE HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION - A lot of badmouthing seems to come from personal grievances. At least CRE has an active association that puts all the information out on the table in the newsletters and web site. Few associations will do that because they hide problems to protect property values. And the yearly fee is very minimal. I live on a out of the way side road and my road is quickly plowed the same day every year when it snows. Let's see the County perform that well. People who complain are just too lazy to get involved and be a part of the solution instead a part of the problem. Communities without Associations are the ones that tend to go downhill over time.
I went swimming in the lake once... but I'm not crazy about lake swimming anyway. I never have been. 
that's not my mom's. Those damn steps are a killer...She could use an elevator 
