What Should You Know Before You Buy or Sell in Starwood in Frisco, Texas?

Starwood is a named, gated community in Frisco, Texas. Its own website says it covers 550 acres of rolling terrain and has more than 900 custom homes. Its mailing address is 6550 Starwood Drive, and the neighborhood sits near the Dallas North Tollway and Lebanon Road.

Hi, I'm Omega Mejia, a real estate agent with Simply Great Real Estate Group at OnDemand Realty in Frisco. I help buyers and sellers across Collin County, and I wrote this for anyone weighing a move into or out of Starwood. I'm sticking to what the community and the city publish, so you can check every point yourself.

If you want the bigger picture of the city first, start with my Frisco page.

The community describes its homes as custom. That tells you something useful right away: no two houses are guaranteed to compare neatly, so a quick online estimate rarely tells the full story.

Custom homes vary in size, layout, lot, finishes and how recently they were updated. Two houses on the same street can sit at widely different prices for good reasons. When I look at a Starwood home, I read the details: the floor plan, the condition of the big-ticket items, the updates and the lot.

That's also why I compare a home with its closest recent sales instead of a neighborhood average. For both buyers and sellers, a careful comparison beats a single number.

According to the community's own site, Starwood lists these amenities:

• a clubhouse
• a community pool
• tennis courts
• an exercise facility
• a playground
• a walking trail
• Arrowhead Pond

The site also says the community has three controlled-access entry gates, with a security guard at the main gate around the clock, and that community office staff are on site. It mentions year-round events such as barbecues, holiday parties, fitness classes and book clubs.

Amenities and hours can change, so confirm the current details with the HOA before you plan around them.

Starwood has a homeowners association, and its site calls it an active volunteer HOA. Property management is handled by a management company named on that site. Before you buy or list, get the facts in writing from the HOA or its manager.

Here are the questions I bring to any HOA community:

1. What are the current dues, and how are they billed? Amounts change, and I never quote one from memory.
2. What does the fee cover? Ask what the gates, the amenities and the common areas cost and who maintains them.
3. What are the rules for exterior changes? Pools, fences, paint and additions often need approval first.
4. Are there any special assessments? Ask whether any are planned or pending.
5. What documents come with a resale? Texas sellers provide HOA information to buyers, and the sooner we order it, the smoother the sale.

Sellers, I suggest requesting those documents before you list, so a buyer's option period doesn't start with a scramble.

Plenty, and a lot of it is a short walk or drive from the gates.

• Starwood Trail. The City of Frisco lists a 1.3 mile paved trail that follows the creek corridor through Starwood, running from Lebanon Road north to Stonebrook Parkway. It sits in a narrow public easement on private property, so stay on the paved trail. The city's page says that heading south will eventually take you to The Star.
• Starwood Park. This 2.2 acre city park at 6551 Starwood Drive has benches and a walking trail. It opens 30 minutes before sunrise and closes 30 minutes after sunset.
• The Shops at Starwood. Visit Frisco describes this Mediterranean-inspired center at 6959 Lebanon Road as a place for boutiques, services and restaurants, designed for strolling. The Frisco Chamber of Commerce named it Development of the Year in 2008.

Pick a nice evening, walk the trail and then see what you find at the shops. It's a good way to get a feel for the area before a showing.

The community's site lists Frisco ISD as its public school district. Attendance zones are set by address, and the district can change them, so I always tell buyers to confirm the district and campuses for the exact address with Frisco ISD before they make an offer.

I have a page that covers how this works across the county. See Collin County schools for where to look and how to check a boundary yourself.

Buyers, we start with a conversation. I want to know what the home needs to do for you before we tour anything. My buying process explains the steps, and my buying a home page covers what to expect. Coming from out of town? See my relocation page.

Sellers, we price with a Plan A, B and C before we list, and we compare your home with the closest recent sales, not a neighborhood average. My selling your home page walks through how I run a sale. To start with a number, request a free home value.

Because Starwood homes are custom, your plan should rest on the details of your house. Tell me about the home you're thinking of buying or selling, and I'll show you what I see.

This article describes my general approach and isn't legal, tax or lending advice. Check HOA details, school zoning and financing questions with the HOA, the school district and your lender.