Chesapeake Ranch Estates - Great Place?

[Jbeckman]

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.

All info is not ON THE TABLE....and if you don't research...it makes you blind to any that exist.

Fees are well above many other locations...neighbors who moved away (great friend) pay under $200 a year, brand new clubhouse, roads taken care of by county, plowing in house....swimming pool....other neighbors moved here...said it was well over what they paid where they lived previously.

And I grew up in a NON-HOA area....and I loved it, love it still...wish the commute time (now gas) would allow us to live there.

I do want to say...all the good things people (and bad) about CRE (the RANCH ESTATES...NOT RANCH CLUB)...it has to do with your neighbors...not the HOA..

If you lived in another area with the same neighbors would it be different?

It is the connections you make...and I have some great ones where I live and alot of transient too...so in the same HOA...good and bad in my own area.

 

[exnodak]

[/B]


All info is not ON THE TABLE....and if you don't research...it makes you blind to any that exist.

Fees are well above many other locations...neighbors who moved away (great friend) pay under $200 a year, brand new clubhouse, roads taken care of by county, plowing in house....swimming pool....other neighbors moved here...said it was well over what they paid where they lived previously.

And I grew up in a NON-HOA area....and I loved it, love it still...wish the commute time (now gas) would allow us to live there.

I do want to say...all the good things people (and bad) about CRE (the RANCH ESTATES...NOT RANCH CLUB)...it has to do with your neighbors...not the HOA..

If you lived in another area with the same neighbors would it be different?

It is the connections you make...and I have some great ones where I live and alot of transient too...so in the same HOA...good and bad in my own area.

Well said. This place has beautiful geography and some really great people and very good schools, and very good house deals. The bad rap is entirely about the HOA.

The best thing about the HOA is that it is run by volunteers. The worst thing about the HOA is that it is run by volunteers.

Ignorance or corruption in governance each have the same effect on a population of innocent people. There are watch dog groups formed in response to the HOA's apparent acts of ignorance or corruption. They are called watch dogs because when they find something wrong they make a loud noise to alert the public.

The response to repeated inquiries for the release of budget and other public information has been a counter attack calling them whiners and complainers. The POACRE has suspended any community wide publications. There isn't any information available that is published, and what you do get when you inquire is often not the truth.

If you don't mind your money ($450/year and rising) being obviously wasted, and an uneven collection of accounts (more than 700 property owners out of 5400 don't pay maintenance fees), then you should love living here.

 

[residentofcre]

Well said. This place has beautiful geography and some really great people and very good schools, and very good house deals. The bad rap is entirely about the HOA.

The best thing about the HOA is that it is run by volunteers. The worst thing about the HOA is that it is run by volunteers.

Ignorance or corruption in governance each have the same effect on a population of innocent people. There are watch dog groups formed in response to the HOA's apparent acts of ignorance or corruption. They are called watch dogs because when they find something wrong they make a loud noise to alert the public.

The response to repeated inquiries for the release of budget and other public information has been a counter attack calling them whiners and complainers. The POACRE has suspended any community wide publications. There isn't any information available that is published, and what you do get when you inquire is often not the truth.

If you don't mind your money ($450/year and rising) being obviously wasted, and an uneven collection of accounts (more than 700 property owners out of 5400 don't pay maintenance fees), then you should love living here.

Well said... but I need to correct one little issue ... the Round Up Times is coming back... it'll be late this month because the ballot issues were re-written and that held up publication... and it is going to be cut back from 8 issues a year to 6 issues a year... and we will be accepting advertising again to cut down the cost... and there is an opt out if some would prefer not to get it.... the Quarterly Newletter will still be issued quarterly... so if you want to put an ad in the newletter... get it in quick because we have to mail them the last week of June....

 

[tommyjones]

Well said... but I need to correct one little issue ... the Round Up Times is coming back... it'll be late this month because the ballot issues were re-written and that held up publication... and it is going to be cut back from 8 issues a year to 6 issues a year... and we will be accepting advertising again to cut down the cost... and there is an opt out if some would prefer not to get it.... the Quarterly Newletter will still be issued quarterly... so if you want to put an ad in the newletter... get it in quick because we have to mail them the last week of June....

yet another thing the BoD is slacking on.....

First it was missing the deadline for covanent changes
then it was finding nominees for the BoD postitions that are up for reelection
then it was not anouncing and discussing the ballot issues according to the bylaws
now it is getting the ballots out just before the deadline.....

that is if that even happens.


I agree with the sentiment that the HOA is the biggest probelm with the ranch club.

 

[woogie]

If crime in CRE is so low, then WHY was it named a "CRIME HOT SPOT"
by the State of Maryland and Calvert County? You think maybe THAT
is why people are leery of buying or living in CRE? How many stories do
you see in the local papers and on the internet dealing with drugs, murder,
robberies and burglaries in CRE? How many threads right on this forum
about crack houses (MANY of them) in CRE? It's all a matter of public
record, but the Board tries to keep things quiet about their "awesome
community".

The reason that houses are cheaper in CRE is because of the PEOPLE
living there and the PROBLEMS in the Community, and the lack of a will
to FIX those problems. That, and the outrageous fee structure compared
to other surrounding private communities, and the corruption and ineptitude
of the Board who holds themselves out as the governing body for people
who "don't know what's good for themselves".

 

[doubt_me]

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.

answers all your questions.

 

[tommyjones]

answers all your questions.

i can tell you i have no personal grievances. I am only disturbed by the fact that the POACRE has a multi million dollar budget, yet all of the infrastructure is falling apart, all they can do is find ways to raise fees, and the BoD is so inept, they are having trouble even bringing ballot issues to the table in time for the deadline for the july elections......

 

[baseballmom]

HOA are abusive with our money and our rights. They are bullies that have a legalize scam!
300 homes for sell in the CRE. Wonder how many are moving on the mear fact of the DUES! the market is bad enough as it is and the HOA is not helping the value of our homes!

 

[woogie]

The crime problem is so bad in CRE that CRE is used as an
EXAMPLE STUDY CASE in criminal law curriculums in law
schools now in the region! Over the past 20 years there have
been MORE murders and major crimes in CRE than surrounding
REGIONS!

 

[residentofcre]

Woogie... please tell people that your house was broken into long ago and you have moved out of CRE

According to the information the Police are giving us at Neighborhood Watch, we have very little crime now.

Several years ago there were half as many houses as we have now. People could commit a crime and hide much easier than they can now.

There is crime. There are 12000 people in the community... so there is crime but according to Calvert County Sheriff's office it is not at all high.

Also... the reason people can buy a house for a lower cost in CRE is that fact the houses are on 1/4 acre lots... that make a difference....

CRE is a great place to live.

 

[woogie]

Again with the "spin" ... PARTIALLY CORRECT.

THE COMPLETE FACTS ARE ...

Home was broken into and a WEAPON was DISCHARGED by the
criminals in the commission of the crime. (And this was not the
first time I had been broken into.)

PROPERTY WAS STOLEN and DAMAGE was done to the home.

This constitutes a VIOLENT HOME INVASION resulting in the threat
to life and property.

This was later found upon investigation to ONE OF OVER A DOZEN
in the neighborhood that even though reported was NOT ACTED
UPON until a weapon was finally used. The "children" (it's all about
the 'kids') were basically set free and one was later incarcerated
when he tried to rundown a MD State Trooper who was trying to
apprehend him in the commission of yet ANOTHER home break-in.

These "children" were doing these crimes because they were financing
their DRUG habits!

The "child" who attempted to run down the Trooper was charged
with assault on a police officer, attemptd murder of a police officer,
as well as several other felony crimes and was FINALLY found guilty
(after MANY 'chances' and MUCH 'rehabilitaion') and was incarcerated.
He also turned in several of his accomplices.

It was ONLY after the involvement of the State Police that ANYTHING
was done to combat the crime problem. The County Sheriff Dept was
NOT interested in CRE at all and considered it "something to put up with".

This was ONLY a few years ago, and NOT 'long ago'. As is evidenced
by MANY posts right on this forum, the problem continues.

So, yes, to protect me and mine ... I got the h*** out of Dodge!
Because the "Free State" forbids its citizens to protect themselves,
their homes or their families.

If you're going to post "facts" ...then get them straight and post ALL
of them!

Oh! I'm sorry! You want to go into POLITICS! (A FACT that YOU have
posted on MANY forums!) Gotta keep the people happy. Don't tell them
the truth, tell them what they want to hear!

 

[Jbeckman]

Woogie... please tell people that your house was broken into long ago and you have moved out of CRE

According to the information the Police are giving us at Neighborhood Watch, we have very little crime now.

Several years ago there were half as many houses as we have now. People could commit a crime and hide much easier than they can now.

There is crime. There are 12000 people in the community... so there is crime but according to Calvert County Sheriff's office it is not at all high.

Also... the reason people can buy a house for a lower cost in CRE is that fact the houses are on 1/4 acre lots... that make a difference....

CRE is a great place to live.

Describe SEVERAL...cause it has been a long time since it was half.

 

[craberta]

This is the crime I experience NOW, 3 crack houses in this immediate area, 2 were raided a couple of weeks ago, the dealer from the third was found floating in lake "mercuryalgea", there was shooting that night after the floater was found, on that street, cars were flying around doing 40-50- mph, in the past couple of weeks 3 sheds were broken into, I now leave 3 exterior lights on, and pull guard duty all night long. Every day the deals are made up and down our road. The dealers and customers are always asking to come in and use the phone, when my husband walks the dogs, they stare at him with alot of hatred in their eyes, and I worry they may try to hurt us. They all live here, and would have if there was a gate or not. I am not moving because I almost have my house paid off, but if I knew back then what I know of this place now, there is no way in hell I would live in here. We need a police station in the ranch club.

 

[Jbeckman]

This is the crime I experience NOW, 3 crack houses in this immediate area, 2 were raided a couple of weeks ago, the dealer from the third was found floating in lake "mercuryalgea", there was shooting that night after the floater was found, on that street, cars were flying around doing 40-50- mph, in the past couple of weeks 3 sheds were broken into, I now leave 3 exterior lights on, and pull guard duty all night long. Every day the deals are made up and down our road. The dealers and customers are always asking to come in and use the phone, when my husband walks the dogs, they stare at him with alot of hatred in their eyes, and I worry they may try to hurt us. They all live here, and would have if there was a gate or not. I am not moving because I almost have my house paid off, but if I knew back then what I know of this place now, there is no way in hell I would live in here. We need a police station in the ranch club.

Couldn't agree with you more on the local police station. Heck, be willing to hook them up at my house to call their station. THough you sound like you need them thataway more. I am sorry to hear about your situation. I assume you have made the calls and now you just keep reporting and hope something changes. You're right...with or without gates...this was/is happening.

I have been fairly lucky thisaway...but we had squatters living in a house down the street that had been foreclosed...and not those who used to own it...I think these people just wandered around until they found an empty place...We weren't sure until much later...finally the bank was finalizing their paperwork to put on the market and had to have them removed. Across from them is a house with drug users, up-all-hours (hey look at the time) stealing stuff from the neighbors cars, asking for smokes from everyone (don't smoke sorry)...and people moving in and out.

It is a shame.

 

[residentofcre]

Describe SEVERAL...cause it has been a long time since it was half.

I don't know exactly when it happened.

I think I read this happened in the 90's .... right Woogie?

 

[johnjrval424]

Woogie... please tell people that your house was broken into long ago and you have moved out of CRE

According to the information the Police are giving us at Neighborhood Watch, we have very little crime now.

Several years ago there were half as many houses as we have now. People could commit a crime and hide much easier than they can now.

There is crime. There are 12000 people in the community... so there is crime but according to Calvert County Sheriff's office it is not at all high.

Also... the reason people can buy a house for a lower cost in CRE is that fact the houses are on 1/4 acre lots... that make a difference....

CRE is a great place to live.

Respectfully, I read the Calvert Recorder every week. The stats posted speak for themselves with regard to both crime and foreclosures. Better than 1/2 of the notices relate to homes being foreclosed in CRE - and we all know what people do when their house is being foreclosed (most of the time). I've heard of gun-commissioned crimes in CRE which is a pretty scary thing. There seems to have been a spike lately in crime down there and I'm not sure if it is the DC element moving in or Charles County overflow but it has increased - that's a fact.

We all want to think the best of our neighborhoods because no one wants to say they live in a crime area. However, sometimes we have to be realistic and admit that there is crime in CRE and it is above and beyond the "Calvert County average."

 

[residentofcre]

Respectfully, I read the Calvert Recorder every week. The stats posted speak for themselves with regard to both crime and foreclosures. Better than 1/2 of the notices relate to homes being foreclosed in CRE - and we all know what people do when their house is being foreclosed (most of the time). I've heard of gun-commissioned crimes in CRE which is a pretty scary thing. There seems to have been a spike lately in crime down there and I'm not sure if it is the DC element moving in or Charles County overflow but it has increased - that's a fact.

We all want to think the best of our neighborhoods because no one wants to say they live in a crime area. However, sometimes we have to be realistic and admit that there is crime in CRE and it is above and beyond the "Calvert County average."

Over 15% of the population of Calvert County lives in CRE.

I read the papers too and crime in the northern part of the county is higher per capita. We can twist this anyway we want to. The Sheriff's Office says it is safe. I would still encourage people to come to the Neighborhood Watch meetings. I would encourage people to rely on the actual reports which show the actual calls taken by the Sheriff's Office rather than hearsay and opinion.

 

[baydoll]

I've been in the CRE a little over 15 years and have seen it go downhill FAST.

The majority of the neighborhoods are dirty and unkempted. There is trash everywhere. Roads are a mess.

As for crime, a friend of mine's mother was raped in her home by a neighbor. This neighbor was a renter. Also most probably a crack user.

I've had two (separate) occassions when two (separate) individuals were 'hiding out' in the woods across from my house from the police, one I found out later had a gun on him at the time. One surprised my son while he was out walking our dog, the other walked up to him (from out of the woods) and asked him to 'come here, I want to talk to you'. We've had individuals obviously drunk (and most probably high as well) staggering around the neighborhood. These individuals have started trouble with my son and his friends as they were walking to and from their houses. And I'm not talking about young people but WAY OLDER individuals picking on YOUNG KIDS for pete's sake.

My son (and his friends) no longer walk around the CRE at night not even down the street.

The house next to me has been rented out for the majority of time I have been here. There's been some nice people who have moved in and then there's been some who totally wrecked the place including one couple who were definetly crack users (and most probably crack dealers) with strange individuals hanging out at all hours of the night.

I moved down here from Baltimore to get AWAY from the crime and run down conditions of living in the ghetto. Looks like it followed me down here.


YES there are some very nice neighborhoods in the CRE but they are slowly disappearing.

I see CRE becoming another White Sands if it isn't already.

 

[Jbeckman]

Not every crime makes it to the police briefs in the newspapers, just like every car crash doesn't. It would require actual data collection from both enforcement agencies.
You can look that up for PG and CH county but can't find for Calvert.

 

[residentofcre]

Not every crime makes it to the police briefs in the newspapers, just like every car crash doesn't. It would require actual data collection from both enforcement agencies.
You can look that up for PG and CH county but can't find for Calvert.

The list they distribute at the Neighborhood Watch meeting has every call on it and the scanner is available as well.