Plans for a new luxury condominium tower and a new single-family home development on Fisher Island would eliminate a third ferry landing used for emergencies, according to a recently filed lawsuit in Miami-Dade Circuit Court. Read the article…………………………….
Condominium election must follow statutorily mandated procedure (FL)
Q: The board president of our condominium didn’t send out any notices for the upcoming condo board elections. He did the same thing last year as well. Is it a violation of the condominium rules? Read the Q&A………………………………
Gated communities so far cut out from debris removal in Escambia County (FL)
Local government contractors can’t pick up debris from gated communities like Innerarity Island, which was hard hit from Hurricane Sally last month — a complication that is slowing down the debris removal process in Escambia County. Read the article……………………………………
Fort Myers couple looking for answers after HOA removes their chimney (FL)
A Fort Myers couple is looking for answers after they say their homeowners association removed part of their home without their approval. The couple is now desperately trying to figure out what they can do. Read the article……………………………..
Former Shady Oak Pines Homeowner Association President Arrested for Stealing $21,000 Over 3-Year Period (FL)
According to Titusville police spokesperson Amy Matthews, Rowen is suspected of stealing more than $21,000 from the Shady Oak Pines Homeowners Association over the span of three years, during which he was the association’s president. Read the article…………………………..
Condo living: What to do about feuding neighbors and a surplus operating budget (FL)
Q: Our condominium has been running with an operating surplus for a few months. The surplus is because we have experienced fewer operating expenses for amenities that have been closed due to COVID-19. That being said, we also expect insurance increases in 2021. Can we apply the 2020 surplus to 2021? Read the Q&A……………………………..
Federal Judge Slaps Delray’s Seven Bridges, Litigants LaGrasso and Tannenholz (FL)
Sometimes you don’t have to make a federal case out of a federal case. That’s more or less the loud message sent today by U.S. District Judge Donald Middlebrooks who denied a joint request by the Seven Bridges Homeowners Association, Deborah LaGrasso and Rachel Tannenholz to delay their three-way over claims of anti-semitism, harassment and […]
Condo Q&A: Amending Documents, Bylaws and Boards (FL)
Question: My cooperative dock association board of directors is exploring the ability to “self-insure” by cancelling the wind coverage on the docks and increasing the reserves. The present windstorm insurance is almost half of the annual budget and is effectively useless due to the deductible. The board thinks they can do this by amending the […]
Homeowners’ Association Documents Should Discuss Amendment (FL)
Q: My homeowners’ association is considering amendments to its governing documents. A question has come up concerning what membership vote is required to amend the documents. Can you please advise? Read the Q&A……………………………..
Association may amend bylaws to provide that only owners may serve on board (FL)
Q: Our governing documents say that anyone can be on the board — we would like to amend that, but the management company says it would cost thousands of dollars. Are they right? Read the Q&A………………………………
South Florida condo owners can’t get roof fixed due to cellular service antennas
It was a deal meant to bring in much-needed money to a Miami-Dade condo building, so why are homeowners now furious? Kevin Ozebek has tonight’s 7 Investigates. Summer in South Florida can bring intense storms, and for some owners in this condo building, when it rains, water can come right into their homes. Read the […]
Another community raises similar allegations of theft against former Turnberry Reserve property manager (FL)
9 Investigates uncovered similar allegations of theft from a different community against a former property manager now facing fraud charges. Channel 9 investigative reporter Karla Ray has taken you every step of the way through the turmoil at Turnberry Reserve in Kissimmee that led to property manager Sherry Raposo being arrested for allegedly stealing HOA […]
Condo and HOA questions: Is the one pet rule overridden when it’s an emotional support pet? (FL)
Q: We recently received a request for two emotional support animals. Our documents only allow one pet per unit and the potential purchaser is threatening to file a discrimination complaint if we do not allow the dogs. When we asked for documentation, the owner only provided a registration certificate with a national support animal registration. […]
Can proxy vote be changed? (FL)
Q: My homeowners association recently conducted a vote of the owners concerning a design change for the clubhouse, along with a proposed special assessment to pay for the change? I initially voted “in favor” of the proposal and submitted my proxy. I later had a change of heart and submitted another proxy and voted “opposed” […]
Housing for older persons community may amend declaration to further restrict residents (FL)
Q: I am a unit owner in a 26-unit, over-55 condominium. A notice was posted for a board meeting six days before it was to take place. On the agenda was a proposed amendment to the bylaws, and transfer of some of board member duties to owners. Read the Q&A……………………………………
HOA president accused of using community funds to bail out boyfriend (FL)
An HOA president and manager used community funds to bail her boyfriend out of jail in North Carolina, according to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies said they arrested Sherry Maycumber Raposo, 42, on Thursday after financial crimes unit detectives discovered that she used money from the Turnberry Reserve HOA fund to post her boyfriend’s […]
Former Turnberry Reserve property manager arrested on fraud-related charges (FL)
The former property manager of a troubled homeowners association was arrested for the second time on Thursday following a series of 9 Investigates reports. Sherry Raposo was arrested earlier this year on charges related to running an unlicensed security firm and hiring her ex-cop-turned-felon boyfriend to patrol the Turnberry Reserve community. Read the article……………………………..
Opera Tower condo association sues Airbnb amid short-term rental crackdown (FL)
Opera Tower’s status as a short-term rental hotspot appears to be coming to an end. Amid a crackdown on tenants making money off subletting units on a nightly basis, the Miami tower’s condo association is suing Airbnb and two individuals who allegedly refused to stop renting to out-of-town guests. Read the article……………………………..
Ask a real estate pro: Who should fix water line to a townhouse?
Q: I live in a townhouse where the water meters are near the parking lot. Who is responsible for repairing the water line from the meter to the individual townhouse unit? Is it the townhouse unit owner, or is it the association because the water line is in the common area? Read the Q&A………………………………….
Miami Beach condo residents pay more than $900K per year for pool they can’t currently use — under lease that lasts until 2070 (FL)
Residents of a South Florida condo building have a pool problem, and it could take 50 years — yes, 50 years — to fix. Karen Hensel explains in tonight’s 7 Investigates. The pool at the Maison Grande Condominium on Miami Beach is currently closed for repairs. It may even have to be replaced, but once […]
Assessment ledgers are available for inspection (FL)
Q: I am an owner in a condominium. I have made a request to see the individual unit owner assessment ledgers for owners who are delinquent in the payment of assessments. The board has denied my request and they claim I am not allowed to see this information. Is this true? Read the Q&A……………………………
Here’s a switch: West Boca golf club won’t be bulldozed for homes (FL)
As golf courses in South Florida become obituary listings, their land turned into housing, one community in West Boca has bucked the trend. The 18-hole Boca Greens Country Club will remain a golf course after a fight of more than a decade. Read the article………………………..
Change of exterior paint color requires HOA membership vote in condo (FL)
I am the president of our association. We are a community of 88 one-story townhouses, 26 duplexes and 12 triplexes. We are classified as a condominium. We will start to repaint all buildings starting Oct. 1 this year. For 30 years these homes have been painted several shades of beige. Our board would like to […]
Root of bizarre dueling residential lawsuits at west of Boca community – tennis court time (FL)
Things are downright catty these days at Seven Bridges, an upscale, gated west of Boca Raton development of 701 single-family homes. From last November through May, there have been a number of incidents, Read the article…………………………
Marquis vs. ‘The King of Miami Real Estate’: Condo tower seeks to evict agent for not wearing face mask (FL)
Amid local mandates for face masks, a Miami real estate agent faces eviction from a downtown condo tower for allegedly appearing maskless in the common areas. Read the article………………………….
A matter of principle: Who runs the Bear’s Club, Jack Nicklaus or community residents? (FL)
Earlier this year, residents of the exclusive Bear’s Club community, built by golf great Jack Nicklaus, overwhelmingly approved a measure pitched as giving homeowners more control over their Jupiter community. The move came after two years of litigation between the club and two Bear’s Club residents who said the golf club had too much power […]
Miami River condo association alleges $10M in defects: lawsuit (FL)
The condo association for a Miami River project is suing a group of developers and subcontractors, alleging $10 million in design and construction defects. Terrazas Riverpark Village Condominium Association filed suit last month in Miami-Dade Circuit Court against more than 80 parties. The association alleges that unit owners only discovered the defects in the 328-unit […]
Condo questions: Amending governing documents, bylaws and board member requirements (FL)
Q: My cooperative dock association board of directors is exploring the ability to “self-insure” by cancelling the wind coverage on the docks and increasing the reserves. The present windstorm insurance is almost half of the annual budget and is effectively useless due to the deductible. The board thinks they can do this by amending the […]
Mondrian South Beach unit owners sue condo association and companies tied to Russell Galbut, alleging securities fraud (FL)
A group of unit owners at the Mondrian South Beach sued the condo association and companies tied to developer Russell Galbut, alleging securities fraud. Read the article………………………………….
Palm Beach County is Moving to Incremental Phase 2 Re-opening: What Does This Mean For My Association? (FL)
It is widely anticipated that beginning September 8, 2020, Palm Beach County will move to incremental phase 2 re-opening. We have had a flood of questions from property managers and board members, and are happy to address as many concerns as we are able to with the information we have available. There has not yet […]
Condominium Associations can Purchase Property (FL)
Q: The board of directors of my condominium association have been discussing purchasing an adjacent parcel of land. There is a question in the community as to whether this is allowed. Can a condominium association purchase additional property? Read the Q&A…………………………..
Homeowner Tells Court She Wasn’t All That Bad (FL)
The drama over the federal lawsuits in the Delray Beach community of Seven Bridges continues to unfold through federal filings. One homeowner is suing another — and the HOA — in federal court, while a separate suit has been filed in state court. Read the article…………………………….
Loud guests? Condo rules may be enforced several ways (FL)
Q: Our governing documents clearly state that there are to be no visitors for more than 30 days per year. We have one condominium owner who has his girlfriend living with him, without board approval, for well over 30 days. They scream, yell and use foul language on a regular basis, disturbing everyone in the […]
Former all-pro NFL lineman faces lawsuit alleging his 2 dogs terrorized Delray residents (FL)
Pahokee native Ray McDonald, 35, an all-pro NFL lineman whose career was cut short by allegations of domestic violence, is now facing a lawsuit alleging his two 115-pound Corso dogs terrorized a number of residents at the Foxe Chase development. Read the article………………………………
Is a Community Association Responsible for the Acts of Its Volunteers? (FL)
Community associations can be a great place for community involvement. It is always nice to see members get involved and help with operating the association. However, should the association be concerned about the actions of these volunteers? Read the Q&A………………………………………..
Opera Tower sues Airbnb, claims short term rentals have turned Miami condo building into ‘unlicensed hotel’ (FL)
Just a month after a 7News investigation into pandemic parties at Miami condos, one building is taking action. 7’s Karen Hensel investigates A DJ playing pulsating music, colorful lights and no social distancing. The video, posted on Instagram in late July, is not from inside a club but inside a condo unit at Opera Tower […]
Country Club HOA could split from town hall model (FL)
Board members of the Country Club Edgewater Village Association hope to save money on property management services, though others worry a change could increase costs to residents outside CEVA’s boundaries. Read the article…………………………………
Condo questions: Don’t enter into a contract without proper protections (FL)
Q: We signed a contract for a landscape vendor to install various trees and shrubs throughout the community. The contract is simply an estimate of $50,000 with no content other than a price and a description of the plant materials. Our president signed the estimate and now the contractor claims he can’t get the materials. […]
Volusia condo complex reopens 4 years after Hurricane Matthew (FL)
Four years after being severely damaged by Hurricane Matthew, a condominium complex received the OK to reopen. Peck Plaza stands tall, despite being hit by Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and then Hurricane Irma in 2017. It’s been a long four-year journey for the 100 or so owners of condominiums in the 29-story landmark property. Read […]
Birds ousted by condo board may return home (FL)
Two colorful macaws and an African gray bird that have lived for more than a decade in the outdoor courtyard at Duval Square, just outside New York Pasta Garden restaurant, may be able to return. Read the article…………………………….
Removing Officers and Directors Require Different Procedures (FL)
Q: Our homeowners’ association board president has not been responsive. He is also over two months overdue on assessments. Can he be replaced and what are the steps for that process? Read the Q&A……………………………..
Florida residents worried about quarantine rules in 55-plus community
Q: We live in Florida in a 55-plus condominium development. Do residents who visit out-of-state folks need to quarantine themselves upon return? And, what about residents who have out-of-state guests staying in their home? It is the community swimming pool (where everyone tends to congregate) that makes me nervous. Read the Q&A……………………………….
Ex-St. Pete condo property manager vacationed at Disney on company dime (FL)
A former property manager of Parkshore Plaza, a high-end condominium building in downtown St. Petersburg, was sentenced to two years in prison this week after authorities say she used company money to buy vacations to Disney, book personal flights to Maryland, pay for expensive trips to the salon and cover her home water bill. Read […]
Judge says lawsuit claiming Fairway Oaks homes built on dump debris was filed too late (FL)
When Shirley Dempsey and her neighbors rallied to press their claims that Habitat for Humanity of Jacksonville sold them defective houses on an unstable trash dump, she would tell newcomers about her dream. Dempsey said the dream, where an angel touched the ground and the land opened up, led to her discovering that her home […]
Melo’s Aria on the Bay allegedly plagued with construction defects: lawsuit (FL)
Aria on the Bay may be the Melo Group’s signature project near Edgewater and the Arts & Entertainment District, where the developer has built most of its residential buildings in Miami. Designed by Arquitectonica, the 53-story luxury tower features units with floor-to-ceiling glass walls that offer expansive views of Biscayne Bay and downtown Miami’s skyline. […]
HOA Files Response To Federal Lawsuit: Homeowner Claims Discrimination For NOT Being Jewish, HOA-Required Censorship On Facebook (FL)
The Seven Bridges (Delray Beach) Homeowners Association has submitted its response to a federal lawsuit filed by a homeowner claiming that she was discriminated against for not being Jewish, that her children were verbally assaulted by a group of women who claimed priority in using a tennis court, that she was harassed by a neighbor, […]
Stuart man accused of using condo association’s credit card information to buy Home Depot gift cards (FL)
A Stuart man was accused of fraudulently using a condo association’s credit card information to buy over $1,200 in gift cards. Donald Francis Keal, 44, of the 4400 block of Southeast Hamilton Lane in Stuart was arrested Thursday on charges of fraudulent use of a credit card and grand theft. Read the article……………………………
Video shows Amazon driver hitting Miami Beach condo resident over mask argument (FL)
A resident at a Miami Beach condominium is demanding accountability weeks after, he said, he was struck by an Amazon delivery driver he had confronted for not wearing a face mask. Read the article……………………………
Condo may be obligated to give disabled owner closer parking spot (FL)
Q: My mother has lived in and owned a condominium unit for 18 years. The association recently changed her parking spot without her knowledge or consent. Her new parking spot has been moved two spots over. Is it legal to move a parking spot someone has been assigned to for 18 years without their consent […]
Condo Q&A: Should Monthly Fees Drop If Amenities Are Closed? (FL)
Question: Our HOA board has decided to change the trim color of all 108 homes. The buildings are off white, and the trim has been a variation of light blue since they were built in 1990. They now want to paint turquoise, peach, yellow, lime green or gray. The CC&R’s state the HOA maintains the […]