Maples of Carmel HOA Monthly Newsletter

September 2026 Edition By: Jane Burwell

Building a safe, beautiful, and connected community.

Pre-Winter Condo Inspection:  Submit Your Work Orders! 🛠️

Fall is officially here, and winter weather is just around the corner.  To ensure our community stays warm, safe, and well maintained during the colder months, we need your help.  Please take a few minutes this week to walk around the exterior of your condo.  Look closely for any maintenance items that need attention before the first freeze.

What to Look For

• Gutters & Trim:  Look for loose pieces or blocked spouts.

• Lamp Lights :  Replace bulbs or report broken fixtures.

• Exterior Fixtures:  Note any broken siding, lights, or vents.

• Look for Foundation Gaps:  Report any shifting concrete.

• Check for Pest Entry Points:  Note holes near utility lines.

• Check Downspout Extensions:  Ensure they divert water away.

• Lawn Pop Up Covers for Downspout:  Report any missing green covers.  Check ground around pop ups and report any holes or soil erosion.

• Look for Loose Shingles:  Report visible roof debris.

Log into  portal.indyami.com submit work order by clicking on “Requests” or contact Danette at dmarkovich@indyami.com

Annual Doggie Dip:  Pool Party for Pups!  

As the season winds down, we are opening up the community pool exclusively for our four legged residents before we close it for the year.

Fully vaccinated:  Dogs must be up to date on shots.

Friendly Fidos:  Well-behaved socialized dogs only.

Leash required:  Keep pups leashed when out of water.

Coming Soon. 

Please be advised that the board is currently drafting a standard fine schedule. Violation letters have already been sent to homeowners who have failed to comply with the community covenants and restrictions. If you have received a violation letter, we strongly recommend you resolve the issue immediately. Once completed, please contact our property manager to let her know it has been resolved so you can avoid future fines.

🚗Garage Door Painting Update & Legal Compliance Notice

A huge thank you to board member Jennifer Ingram and her husband Bruce!  They have generously volunteered their time this summer to paint resident garage doors to the appropriate community standard color.  We are now down to just three garage doors that still need to be updated to community standard.  This service has been offered entirely free of charge this summer.

Important Notice to the Remaining Three Homeowners:  Under recent Indiana HOA legislature updates HEA 1115 the association is fully authorized to issue formal fines to residents who do not comply to community guidelines.  If these final three doors are not addressed, the board will be forced to transition this from a free volunteer project to a formal covenant violation, which will result in monetary fines assessed directly to your account based on our standard fine schedule (coming soon). Please contact the board immediately to take advantage of this free volunteer help before the painting season ends and fines are initiated.

Capital Repairs:  How your Board is Prioritizing Community Projects. 

As board members, our primary responsibility is to maintain our communities infrastructure, protect our property values, and ensure the safety of all residents while managing our shared budget responsibly. We currently have several “big ticket” items on our radar.  Because we can’t fund every major project at the exact same time, the board utilizes a standard strategic framework to prioritize projects.  Safety & Liability First, Structural Integrity Second, and Recreational/Cosmetic Upgrades Third.  Our immediate focus will be on eliminating hazards and preventing any costly structural damage.

Tree Trimming and Removal:  We are actively addressing high-liability areas.  This includes removing dead trees, trimming dangerous dead branches, and cutting back limbs hanging over our roofs.  This prevents roof damage and stops gutters from clogging and leaking.

Entrance Brick Wall Repair:  You may have noticed a structural crack in our main entrance brick wall.  Water seeping into this crack will freeze and expand this winter, which could cause the wall to collapse. We are prioritizing a masonry repair now to prevent  a much more expensive emergency rebuild later.

Entrance Sidewalk Erosion:  We are actively addressing severe soil erosion on the east side of our main entrance sidewalk.  To fix this permanently the board is looking into a long term solution.  This may involve a new retaining wall that mirrors the design on the opposite side, restoring the clean, symmetrical look of our front entrance.

Next Phase:  Walkway Lamp Light  Replacements, Pool Resurfacing and Tile, Pool House Remodel

We appreciate your patience and support as we work to keep our community safe, functional and beautiful.  If you have any questions please attend our next monthly board meeting.

Board Changes:  

Please join us in extending a heartfelt thank you to Mary Goldstein for her dedicated service on the HOA Board.  Mary has recently resigned from her position.  With Mary’s departure we are also excited to officially welcome Jeff Harper to the board.  Jeff has stepped up to serve as our new Treasurer.  We are thrilled to have his expertise and enthusiasm on the team.

🍁Prost, Neighbors!  Announcing our First Annual Oktoberfest Block party! 

Mark your calendars!  Our neighborhood is kicking off a brand-new tradition with our First Annual Oktoberfest Block Party.  Come out to meet your neighbors, enjoy some great food, and celebrate the start of fall with our community.

🗓️Event Details:

Date: Sunday September 27, 2026

Time:  5:00pm - 7:00pm

Location:  Sugar Maple Court Cul-de-sac

🥨Food & Drinks

To celebrate our inaugural party, the HOA will be grilling up hot dogs and traditional bratwursts.

Potluck Sides:  Please bring a side dish, appetizer, or dessert to share.

Beverages:  We will provide bottled water and soda.  Feel free to bring your own favorite beverage or cooler if you prefer.

Article VI Convenants & Restrictions

9. No clothes, sheets, blankets, laundry of any kind or other articles shall be hung out or exposed on any part of the Common Areas.  The Common Areas shall be kept free and clear of rubbish, debris and other unsightly materials which are not in receptacles provided for such purpose.

See Something Say Something!  Please contact Sharon Robinson, Community Improvement Chair at sharon.robinson@talktotucker.com

Recent Sales Data/Pricing Trends in the Neighborhood:

The Metropolitan Board of Realtors (MIBOR) reveal that activity in the Maples of Carmel remains very steady, with homes consistently selling right at or near full asking price.

🏠Recent Sold Transactions (Summer 2026)

3039 Bayberry Court W sold price $245,000 (closed September 1, 2026)

Layout: 2 Bedrooms & 2.5 Bathrooms (1,450 Sq. Ft.)

Originally listed at slightly higher, it eventually pended at a contracted $257,550 before settling at its final recorded cash/financed closing price.

3040 Bayberry Court W sold price $260,000 (closed on July 9, 2026)

Layout: 2 Bedrooms & 2 Bathrooms (1,250 Sq. Ft.)

3056 Crimson Court E sold price $252,000 (closed on June 9, 2026)

Layout:  2 Bedrooms & 2 Bathrooms (1,194 Sq. Ft.)

Neighborhood Pricing & Marketplace Trends

The $200k-$300k Stability:  Over the past 12 months, the neighborhood has maintained a solid floor.  The lowest-priced properties (often requiring cosmetic updates or smaller floor plans) trade hands at roughly $240,000 while premium, turnkey, or 3 bedroom variations sit right around $299,900 to $325,000

Price Per Square Foot:  Units in the community are trading at an average clip of $190 to $210 per square foot, representing exceptional value compared to the broader Housing Market, where the city wide median home price sits at $599,000 to $644,000

The Summer Soundtrack Fades:  The End of Cicada Season

If you noticed the trees along Buttonwood Drive getting a bit quieter, its not your  imagination.  We are officially at the end of the season for our annual “Dog Day” cicadas.  Unlike the massive 17 year periodical cicadas that take over in the spring, our late summer annual neighbors emerge in smaller numbers every year and naturally wind down throughout September.  Did you know it is only the male cicadas that make the loud buzzing noise. Males have two drum-like, ribbed membranes on the sides of their abdomen called tymbals.  They contract strong internal muscles to pop these membranes inward and outward hundreds of times per second. Every pop creates a sharp clicking sound.  The male's abdomen is mostly hollow. This large empty cavity acts like the body of an acoustic guitar, amplifying the clicks into a deafening roar.

Next Board Meeting:  4th Monday of each month at 6:15pm (virtual).  Meeting link emailed by Dannette at AMI four days prior to each meeting.