Many of you live in condominiums that have a “Master Association.” But what is a Master Association? Is it a condominium association? Is it a homeowner’s association? Is it neither? This question was recently addressed by the Third District Court of Appeal in Dimitri v. Commercial Center of Miami Master Association, Inc. Commercial Center…
Year: 2019
SAVE MONEY! APPEAL YOUR REAL ESTATE TAXES AS A GROUP
Do you believe that your real estate taxes too high? Why not appeal your tax bill as a group? Under Florida Law, a condominium association can file a property tax appeal petition on behalf of all of the unit owners in the condominium. Once a petition is filed, the Value Adjustment Board sets the case…
TRUST ME – THINGS CAN BE WORSE
Some of you have asked where I have been this week after not being reachable by phone, e-mail or even on the Condo Craze Radio Show. Well, I had an epiphany this week. I write this blog having gotten home from the hospital just a few hours ago. Last Sunday evening I was on vacation…
NO MORE FLAG FIGHTS PLEASE!
In three days it’s July 4th. Our country’s birthday USA flags will be flying everywhere, even in our community associations and even if the Board in that association says take it down. Why then are there fights ever year on the news about Boards attempting to force owners to take the flag down? The…
DON’T WAIT TO REPORT A CLAIM
Insurance is a very strange product. Everyone is scared to death to be without it, but when it’s time to put in a claim, everyone is scared to death to use it. Delay in reporting a claim to your insurance company can be a costly mistake. Every policy contains provisions that require the insured to…
OUT OF SIGHT DOESN’T MEAN OUT OF MIND – PART 2
I have written several blogs about a unit owner’s responsibility to look after their unit, even when they go away for the summer or back to their home in the northern part of the country. Does the same responsibility apply to members of the Board? I believe it does. Board members deserve breaks too. They…
WILL PARADISE SOON BE LOST?
As a result of higher taxes, out of control homelessness and crime, the news continues to report that people living in Northeastern states are moving out in droves and the beneficiary is Florida. Our population continues to explode. Who would ever have thought that the population of Florida would exceed the population of New York? …
LEGISLATIVE / FIRE SAFETY – UPDATE
So, The Florida Legislature wrapped up its 2019 session last week. In a word, when it came to community association law, the session was simply unproductive. Not a single community association law bill passed. There was one change that effects high-rise condominiums however. There was an attempt made to allow such condominiums to opt-out of…
THE FINE LINE OF BEING A GOOD BOARD MEMBER
I have always said that there is nothing worse than a Board member simply taking up a chair at Board meetings and refusing to participate or take a position on anything. They volunteered for the title but refuse to do much more than come to the occasional meeting. They won’t get bids, meet with contractors,…
when the management company goes too far
I previously wrote a column about how difficult it is to be a community association manager. The amount of hats that a community association manager often has to wear is amazing. Simultaneously, he or she needs to serve as the number cruncher, interior designer, police man, collection agency, master of ceremonies, complaint department, tech expert…