FAQs Edit page

ADMINISTRATION

What is a Property Owners Association (Association)?
It is a non-profit organization, similar to a small city government, which is chartered with the State of Texas.  The main responsibilities are to govern the community through the recorded rules and regulations Declaration of Residential Restrictions, levy and collect assessments to pay for the services and facilities/amenities owned by the Association, and provide the services that are listed in the governing documents for the owners within the community.

Do I have to join the Association?
Membership in the Association is mandatory and automatic to all property owners within Mystic Village.  When someone purchases a property in Mystic Village, their property is already encumbered by the recorded Deed Restrictions; therefore, all obligations cited in the restrictions, as well as any state statutes applicable to associations, automatically apply.

Who runs the Association?
Your Association is governed by a Board of Directors (Board); there are five directors who are elected by the membership through a nomination and election process.  Any member who has not been convicted of a felony or a crime of moral turpitude may run for a Board position.  The Board serves in a voluntary capacity and does not receive compensation for their service.  The Association contracts with a professional management company to perform the majority of the duties in the day-to-day operations of the association.  The management company is: 

Creative Management Company
8323 Southwest Freeway, Suite 330
Houston, TX 77074
713-772-4420
[email protected]

Kyle D'Souza is our Association Manager and his contact information is: [email protected] or 281-822-6302

How can I get involved in the Association?
All Board meetings are open to all residents of the community.  The meeting agendas are sent by email at least three days prior to each meeting and include a section for Resident Comment.  Residents are encouraged to attend the meetings and observe the business the Board transacts and to ask questions, voice opinions and state objections.  However, one does not need to wait for the Board meetings to contact the association.  You may contact the Association through the Contact Us feature and your question, suggestion or issue will be addressed.

How does the Association tell us what is going on?
The annual assessments and annual meeting notice are mailed to all property owners, as required by state statute.  All other community announcements, including Board meeting agendas, are sent via email through this website.  We ask all owners to register their email address/phone number with Creative Management Company (CMC).  All contact information for the members is kept confidential and not used for purposes other than association matters.

What if I rent or sell my house?
If you rent your home:
Update your contact and mailing information with CMC; otherwise, all notices, including annual assessment statements, will be mailed to your Mystic Village address.  Each owner is responsible for updating the association with their current mailing address, email address and preferably a phone number also.

• Provide your tenants with a copy of the Declaration of Residential Restrictions and state in your lease agreement that they are responsible for abiding by all community rules.

• If your tenant has a deed restriction violation, a letter will be sent to them and you. As the owner, you are ultimately responsible for the actions of your renters and any enforcement actions will be taken against you as the property owner.

• You still must pay your assessments.  The mortgage company should prorate your paid annual assessments as of the closing date and you should be refunded the prorated amount from the purchaser at the end of the year.
• The mortgage company will send CMC a copy of the top page of the conveyance documents to show the property was sold and when; CMC will then remove you as owner and add the new owner.
• Please email CMC at [email protected]  and ask to have your email address removed so you no longer receive email notifications

ASSESSMENTS

Why do I have to pay annual assessments?
Each owner is obligated to pay their annual assessments.  The assessments provide the operating income to manage the Association and maintain its assets.  The assessments are billed out in November and are due January 1st of the upcoming year and deemed delinquent if not received in the account by January 31st of that upcoming year.  Assessments are billed in advance for the upcoming year and not in arrears.

Doesn’t my mortgage company pay the assessments?
The vast majority of mortgage companies do not escrow for association assessments.  They do not spend the time to locate the information on behalf of their mortgage company.  If you believe your escrow includes your annual assessments, please confirm that with your mortgage company, provide them with the assessment bill you were sent and make sure they pay it on time on your behalf.

Can I set up a payment plan for my assessments?
Requests for payment plans are to be sent via email to [email protected] (put Mystic Village Payment Plan in the subject line).  The Collection Department at CMC will review your request and respond accordingly.  Anyone who had an approved payment plan in the past and defaulted on that plan is not eligible for a new payment plan.

How do I pay my assessments?
See the Pay HOA Fees page for detailed instructions.  To request your account/payment information, please contact CMC’s Collection Department at [email protected] and in the subject line put Mystic Village Assessment assistance and someone will be happy to assist you.  Email requests are more efficient to respond to then possible phone tag phone calls. If you do wish to call, please call Monique Gaza (713-772-4420), Collection Manager, who is handling accounts for Mystic Village.

If I don't use any of the amenities, do I still have to pay my assessments? 
The legal obligation to pay assessments, as cited in the recorded restrictions, is not tied to whether you use any of the Association’s amenities.  Everyone must pay the annual assessments.  They are not based on usage of amenities or services.

What happens if I don’t pay my assessments?
The Board has set forth a collection policy that is carried out by CMC.  Past due notices are sent to any delinquent account, a late fee is applied to the unpaid balance and continues to be added as long as the account remains unpaid.  If collection efforts are ignored, the account will be sent to the Association’s attorney for a legal demand letter and filing of an assessment lien.  If the account remains unpaid, it could result in legal action for a foreclosure suit.  All costs of collection are assessed onto the assessment account.

What are the services provided by the Association that my assessments go toward?

• Operating and maintaining all of the Association’s common areas
• Insurance for the Association’s common areas, physical property, general liability, Director and Officer Liability, Workers' Comp, Fidelity, etc.
• Landscape maintenance of all common areas
• Management company
• Legal services when needed for corporate matters, collections, and rules enforcement
• General administrative expenses
• Utilities for common areas – water, electricity
• Property taxes

AMENITIES

• Gazebo
• Fishing Dock

Who provides our trash and recycling services?
Trash and Recycling Services are provided by Waste Management through a contract with the City of Seabrook.  Residents pay for their service on their monthly water and sewer bill.  Mystic Village service days are Wednesdays and Saturdays.  Your trash and recycling containers should be put out the morning of trash day and returned to their concealed locations, not visible to the street from any viewpoint, the evening of trash day.  Any issues with their trash or recycling services should be reported by the resident directly to Waste Management’s Customer Service Department at 800-800-5804.  Requests for special pickup services should be requested directly to Waste Management by calling 800-449-7587 or emailing [email protected].  There is a fee for special pickups.  Repairs or replacements of your trash or recycling carts should be reported to Seabrook’s Maintenance Dept. at 281-291-5734.

DEED RESTRICTION TOPICS

Where can I get a copy of the deed restrictions? 
The Declaration of Residential Restrictions contain deed restrictions among other topics.  

How do I keep my property well maintained?
Yards and landscaping need to be maintained on a regular basis to promote an attractive, healthy condition. Exterior of homes need to be kept free of mold/algae buildup on brick and siding. Wood portions of the home’s exterior need to be maintained and rotted wood or deteriorating wood should be replaced immediately.  Driveways are not to be used for storing any items such as vehicles that are not driven on a regular basis, trash cans, miscellaneous items, toys, hoses, buckets, etc.  Picnic tables, large toys, etc. are not to be stored in the front yard – the back yard is the appropriate place for these types of items.

What types of vehicles can I park at my house?
Non-commercial vehicles that are currently licensed, street legal, and operable. No inoperable vehicles, trailers of any kind, RVs, boats, bicycles, motorcycles, etc. may be parked on the driveway or in the street or on the property unless in your garage or behind your wooden fence (and not visible above the fence).  Residents’ vehicles are not permitted to be parked on the street over-night. 

Landscaping – What needs to be approved?
Front yard landscaping plans require application and approval by the ACC prior to planting.  This includes changing the size or location of existing beds, removal of trees, shrubs and hedges and all must meet City of Seabrook code requirements.  The landscape plans should consider the effect of drainage so as not to affect adjoining lots. Landscaping in backyards does not need approval, however, evasive rooted plants and plants or trees should not be permitted to grow under or over shared fence lines onto adjoining residential or common area properties.

If my landscaping in the front yard beds has died, what do I need to do?
All homes are required to have a main landscape bed across the front slab area of their home and the plants need to be healthy, trimmed, and maintained along with keeping the beds free of weeds.  You should replace dead or missing plants and keep the beds weeded and mulched.  If you are merely replacing dead or missing plants and not changing the layout, you do not have to apply for approval.

Is Yard Art allowed?
Yes, but under specific guidelines as described in the recorded Architectural Guidelines, found on pp. 6-7 in Item #4.  

What are the rules on Holiday Decorations?
Holiday decorations are permitted and will not require approval.  They may be installed no sooner than 30 days prior to the holiday and must be removed within fifteen (15) days after the holiday for which they are intended.  The Board reserves the right to require the removal of decorations that either generate complaints or are deemed offensive.

What are the property fencing requirements for replacing my fence?

• If you are replacing your current fence with exactly the same new fence, not adding a rot board and not changing the picket material or adding or changing the gate location then an application is not required.
• All perimeter fencing shall be maintained in the color, location and materials identical to the original fencing. Perimeter fencing with any proposed change in material, location or appearance requires application to and approval by the ACC before any changes are permitted. Wood perimeter fences shall not be painted.
• Tubular steel fencing must be approved by the ACC, be painted black and not exceed four (4) feet in height.
• A non-decorative wrought iron driveway gate painted place, attached to the home, must be pre-approved by the ACC and will not be considered a privacy fence.
• Stone pillars may be constructed and used as gate anchors for wrought iron gate supports on driveways. These must be of a material to match the exterior of the home and not exceed eight (8) feet in height and require prior ACC approval.

Other Exterior Property Improvements
More details are provided in the Architectural Guidelines document, under Miscellaneous, pages 10-11.  

• Drainage cannot be changed as a result of any project or improvement and cannot affect drainage on an adjoining lot
• All of these projects require application to and approval by the ACC prior to any work commencing
• Decks – no deck can be more than three (3) foot off the ground
• Patio Covers – less than eight (8) feet in height is generally acceptable and a taller height can be considered by the ACC when the application shows that at least one side of the proposed cover is permanently attached to the residence
• Pools – no above ground pools are permitted. The wall cap and deck shall not extend more than one (1) foot above the surface grade of the lot and all pool equipment must be screened from street view
• Driveway widening requires prior approval
• No park benches are permitted in front yards
• Burglar bars on windows and doors are not permitted
• Awnings on front and side windows are not permitted. Awnings on the rear of the residence requires prior ACC approval as do sun and solar screens.
• Swing sets, playhouses, children’s forts and tree houses shall not exceed twelve (12) feet in height and require prior ACC approval
• 2 birdhouses per lot and must be within a fenced yard
• Storage sheds – only one per lot, maximum of 100 square feet and ten (10’) height and prior ACC approval for location, and color
• Gazebos – must be at least six (6) feet away from all property lines

How do I report a possible violation at another property?
Use Contact Us and report the suspected violation, including any details you have.  All reports are kept confidential and CMC will follow up on the matter as appropriate.

What can I do about barking dogs?
See the Report an Issue page to report it to City of Seabrook Animal Services as a Noise Violation.

Can I report a street parked vehicle that is blocking my driveway?
First report it online to the Seabrook City Police Department using the Report an Issue page. Seabrook PD enforces street rules and should come out, confirm vehicle ownership, and either talk to the owner or cite them for an applicable parking violation. Then report it to CMC by using the Contact Us page to send the details of what address it belongs to, make, model, and license plate # - the same as you reported to the Seabrook PD.