There’s a cautious sign of optimism at the Green Terrace Condominiums, as the HOA has made its first deposit to try and clear its multimillion-dollar debt with the city of West Palm Beach. This is a story WPTV’s Joel Lopez has been tracking since mid-April, when residents had two weeks until the city of West […]
Sewage spills into Escambia Bay continue as infrastructure improvement plans progress (FL)
Residents in a neighborhood off Scenic Highway estimate nearly a million gallons of sewage has been leaked into the Escambia Bay. They say it happened over several years. Residents say it’s the same story every time. “Tens of thousands of gallons of sewage are being dumped into Escambia Bay,” said Paul Seghers with the Cypress […]
Flagpole sparks lawsuit between Volusia County HOA and homeowner (FL)
Volusia County homeowner is facing legal action from his homeowners association after erecting a flagpole in his yard, without what the HOA says was the proper approval. The Countryside Homeowners Association filed a lawsuit in April, claiming the homeowner violated community rules by installing the pole without permission. The flagpole, located along the 900 block […]
Association Security Liability Questioned (FL)
Q: My condominium association recently hired a security service to post guards at our gated community’s entrance and patrol the grounds. The board’s goal in hiring them was to address owners’ concerns about the rising number of crimes in our area and to reduce the likelihood of crimes happening in our community by having a […]
If a homeowner sends an inquiry, does the condo board need to respond? Here the answer. (FL)
Q: I serve on the board of my condominium association, and we recently received statutory inquiry requests from a homeowner. What is this? Read the Q&A………………………………..
West Palm Beach steps in as condo complex faces $1.4M water bill, bankruptcy proceedings (FL)
There are new developments in a story we first brought you earlier this month. The city of West Palm Beach had notified residents at a local community that their condominium association had not been paying their water bill and the city would turn off the water on Monday, April 28. That situation has now changed. […]
Florida HOA laws: What to know about making a deal with a security company
Q: My condominium association recently hired a security service to post guards at our gated community’s entrance and patrol the grounds. The board’s goal in hiring them was to address owners’ concerns about the rising number of crimes in our area and to reduce the likelihood of crimes happening in our community by having a […]
Residents need to get involved to protect our lifestyle in The Villages (FL)
One of my goals as a Resident Advocate is to create a knowledgeable group of diverse, skilled candidates for resident boards and committees who understand The Villages Governance Process from all perspectives, are resident-focused, and are committed to raising the level of professionalism of elected boards and committees in The Villages. Read the article…………………………….
‘Why so much?’: These Florida condo owners fear losing their homes after being handed a shocking $3.5 million assessment
Like many condo owners in Florida, residents at the Heron Condominiums in West Kendall were expecting to receive a special assessment of some kind. The mandatory 40-year recertification inspection is the result of new regulations for condominiums in the state following the deadly 2021 condo collapse in Surfside, Florida. Read the article…………………………….
Homeowners association wants to charge rental fee, demand background checks. Is that legal? (FL)
Question: Recently our HOA board instituted a $250 fee to those owners who rent, $500 if they rent to more than one tenant during the year. Can they institute a charge to only a select segment of the community? I suspect most, if not all, board members do not rent. I have asked if there […]
City Charter Committee Recommendation May Force Coconut Creek Mayor to Make Tough Choice (FL)
A 15-word proposed change to the Coconut Creek City Charter that would prohibit city commissioners from serving on a homeowner or condominium association set off an impassioned defense from Mayor Jackie Railey at Thursday’s city commission meeting. Read the article…………………………….
HOA Q&A: Can the Board increase the reserve assessment to account for increases is costs? (FL)
Q: We recently discovered that the replacement costs for some of our common elements are much higher due to material shortages and labor costs. Now that we know the reserves are not correct, can the Board notify the owners and increase the reserve assessment to account for the increases? Read the Q&A………………………………..
Florida Condo Law Revision Seeks Affordability, But At What Risk?
Florida lawmakers are trying to balance safety and solvency by reshaping one of the state’s most sweeping post-disaster building reforms. This week, Governor Ron DeSantis announced plans to sign House Bill 913, a measure that rewrites parts of the state’s landmark condo safety legislation passed after the deadly 2021 Surfside collapse. Read the article…………………………….
Condo inspection law found problems on the Treasure Coast. We’re safer for it (FL)
Inspectors found ‘substantial structural deterioration’ in 18 condominium complexes on the Treasure Coast — 11 in St. Lucie County, six in Martin County and one in Indian River County. It may not happen as often as we would like, but once in a while, the Florida Legislature gets something right. Read the article…………………………….
‘Too little, too late’ Florida condo owners react to new condo reform legislation
For more than a year, we have listened to the stories from condo owners across Tampa Bay and the State of Florida about how crippling HOA fees and sky-high insurance continue to crush the condo market, pushing many out of paradise. “I’ve seen my condo HOAs at $450, double in two years to $900 and […]
Condo sensors and real estate deals: What to know about changes in Miami (FL)
In Miami, wireless sensor systems now track building movement and provide real-time safety data for condos facing ground sinking and new construction. Sellers are offering incentives beyond flashy perks, such as mortgage rate buy-downs, covering closing costs, or including HOA dues, to help buyers decide in a hesitant market. Read the article…………………………….
How housing challenges and condo pressures affect Miami’s real estate world (FL)
Condo owners struggle with steeply rising association fees and repairs, worsened by state-mandated reserves after the Surfside collapse and nearly half of Florida’s Fannie Mae-ineligible condos located in Miami. The secretive Fannie Mae condo blacklist now covers hundreds of Miami buildings, blocking access to mortgages and repair funding. Read the article…………………………….
How much condo owners are being paid to help developers build 18-story tower across from Mar-a-Lago (FL)
Residents of a condominium complex are moving out after being offered substantial buyouts from developers, as they try to reshape the landscape across from Mar-a-Lago. The buyouts are only a part of the payments developers are proposing if West Palm Beach city commissioners approve zoning changes and waivers on rules Read the article…………………………….
Hurricane damaged Navarre Beach condo slated for demolition (FL)
Built in 1985, the Sandollar Condominium complex on Gulf Boulevard in Navarre Beach wasn’t painted in gaudy colors to stand out like the yellow residence to its immediate east or the turquoise structure to its immediate west. But these days even the muted green-gray facade that it wore in its heyday looks washed out, faded […]
DeSantis to sign bill to change condo safety laws passed after Surfside collapse (FL)
The wide-ranging bill (HB 913), approved unanimously by the House and Senate, has not been formally sent to DeSantis, who made revising condo laws one of his top priorities of this year’s legislative session Read the article…………………………….
Palm Beach condo association allegedly scammed out of $100k by Michigan man (FL)
A Palm Beach condominium association’s bank account was drained by nearly $100,000 in unauthorized transactions, leading investigators to a Michigan man who stands accused of money laundering and grand theft. The Palm Beach Police Department (PBPD) said that on January 9, 2024, a property manager reported suspicious transactions on the condominium association’s bank account, Read […]
Tampa Bay housing, condo prices continue to fall (FL)
Home and condo prices in Tampa Bay fell in April, continuing a steady downturn from just a year ago. According to the real estate research firm Homes.com, the average median home price in the market declined by 2.7% over this time last year to $365,000. Read the article…………………………….
Naples, Florida community association Q&A: Can an HOA conduct a 50/50 raffle? What to know
Q: Our community plans to have a social event with a 50/50 raffle. The winner gets 50 percent of the money collected and the social committee retains the rest. Is this legal? Read the Q&A………………………………..
Condo Board Spending Limits Examined (FL)
Q: I was unable to find any information on spending limits in our condominium documents for discretionary projects not included in the budget. I also did not find a process in place for presenting these projects to owners for approval. How can owners effectively control the board’s spending on non-budgeted items? Read the Q&A………………………………..
Our condo board refuses to erect a flagpole. Can owners petition to override the decision? (FL)
Question: I have resided in an HOA for the past 16 years. I suggested to our board of directors that we install a flagpole so we can fly the American flag. My suggestion was never presented to the homeowners for a vote, but it was discussed at a board meeting and was voted down by […]
Clearwater condo residents to be allowed back into their homes (FL)
Residents of the South Beach III condo in Clearwater have been given the green light from engineers to return to the building, exactly one week after they were evacuated when a cracked column was discovered in the parking garage. Read the article…………………………….
HOA Q&A: Is a structural integrity reserve study required for 2-story condominiums? (FL)
Q: Although a 2-story condominium community is not subject to the milestone inspection report or the structural integrity reserve study, we are still required to have reserve for pavement resurfacing, exterior painting, the roof, and any other item that has a deferred maintenance expense or replacement cost that exceeds $10,000. Is there a requirement to […]
Large alligator wrangled, relocated from condo community (FL)
A 7-foot gator was caught in a condo complex, according to the Temple Terrace Police Department. Video news report……………………..
Brickell condo owners push Miami to crack down on illegal short-term rentals (FL)
Condo owners in Miami’s Brickell neighborhood are calling on city officials to step up enforcement against short-term rentals, which they say are disrupting their high-rise communities and violating local rules. Read the article…………………………….
The rich flocked to Florida. Then property taxes and condo assessments caught them by surprise
In recent years, an influx of ultra-wealthy individuals have decamped to Florida in search of warmer weather and a smaller tax bill. From Jeff Bezos to Bethenny Frankel, celebrities and billionaires alike have made the move, spurred by the lack of state and estate taxes and the promise of a sunnier lifestyle. But in many […]
Electronic sensors could detect the next condo collapse. But will Florida building codes require them?
Could modern technology predict or prevent the next major structural collapse in Florida? A case study presented by RADISE International founder Kumar Allady showed attendees of Florida TaxWatch’s Spring meeting how sensors embedded in concrete could detect and track corrosion of cement. Read the article…………………………….
‘It’s sad’: Florida’s condo fee crisis could trigger the ‘next wave of homeless people’ in the state, says one representative
A new building safety law that was passed in the wake of the Surfside tragedy in Florida has resulted in a tremendous amount of financial pressure on condo owners. Now, one state lawmaker warns it could prompt the “next wave of homeless people,” with elderly residents living on fixed incomes at the forefront. Read the […]
Inspectors said Sand Key condo was safe months before it was evacuated (FL)
Residents of a Sand Key condominium tower were evacuated May 6 due to “potential structural issues” in the building, officials said. But months before, engineers who inspected the building said they had not “observed any conditions that would compromise the safety of the building.” Read the article…………………………….
Condo Crisis: Communities approved for safety inspections can’t count on state grants yet (FL)
Their roof is aging and members have been battered with multiple years of gargantuan insurance increases, so a Pembroke Pines condominium association made sure they were among the first in an avalanche of applications for state condo-hardening grants. Read the article…………………………….
Majority of Clearwater condo evacuees allowed to go back home almost a week later (FL)
The wait is over for some residents who will be returning home almost a week after evacuating from a Clearwater condo due to structural concerns. Residents at The South Beach III Condominiums on Gulf Boulevard received a notice Monday night that said they would be allowed to return to their units, “effective immediately.” Read the […]
Green Terrace condo residents scramble to move as HOA files for bankruptcy (FL)
WFLX is looking into the Green Terrace Condominium complex that was set to have its water shut off on Monday after being millions of dollars in debt with the city of West Palm Beach. The city said once the water was shut off, it would look into condemning the building, forcing residents out due to […]
Florida condo owners getting a break
It hasn’t been pretty for condo owners in the Sunshine State since the collapse of the Champlain Towers South in 2021. After this tragedy, laws were passed requiring “milestone inspections” of older buildings and “structural integrity reserve studies” to determine how much money should be saved for future major repairs. Read the article…………………………….
Condo dwellers push back on concerns about electric vehicle fire hazards (FL)
First this week, our recent question regarding the requirement to install charging stations for electric vehicles sparked a lot of interest and responses from EV owners (some nicer than others), particularly concerning the relative risk of electric vehicles when compared to traditional gas and diesel-fueled vehicles. Read the article…………………………….
Clearwater condo residents to get more access to their homes (FL)
Residents in the Clearwater condo building evacuated last week will have another chance to access their homes. They were evacuated last week when a support beam at the South Beach III condo complex was found damaged. Residents were able to return briefly to grab their things over the weekend. But it was only for 15-minute […]
Preserving Government Documents Questioned (FL)
Q: In the back of my mind, I recall the board, about 10 years ago, filed some sort of “affirmation” of the governing documents. I cannot seem to find the law that tells how often this happens. Is it every 10 years? 30 years? Some other interval? In 2015, when this was done before, the […]
Condo crisis: HOA’s level of insurance can block owners from refinancing. This man’s did
Anticipating a refinancing offer that could save him $647 a month, Dave Mayers of Jupiter instead got a jolt of reality: The deal was nixed after lenders saw the level of insurance his condominium association was carrying. Inadequate insurance is the most oft-cited reason that more condominium associations are on federal mortgage guarantor Fannie Mae’s […]
Update: Engineer Report Showed Clearwater Condo in Good Condition Last Fall (FL)
A recent engineering report on a 46-year-old condominium building in Clearwater found no significant structural problems before cracks were found in a concrete support column this week, according to local news reports. Read the article…………………………….
State Rep. Vicki Lopez on why changes were needed to condo reform laws following Surfside collapse (FL)
After the Champlain Towers collapsed in 2021, killing 98 people in Surfside, the Florida legislature passed some of the strictest rules anywhere in the country to make sure buildings were being inspected, structural tests were done and repairs would be made. The costs passed on to condo owners has left many facing the loss of […]
Mystic Woods condo residents continue recovering from May 10 tornadoes one year later (FL)
Recovery efforts are continuing one year after the May 10 tornadoes tore through Tallahassee. At Mystic Woods Condos in West Tallahassee, the mark the tornadoes had on the complex remains clear. Blue tarps are thrown over the roofs of some buildings, and residents say mold is becoming an increasing problem. Read the article…………………………….
Clearwater condo residents allowed ‘limited, one-time access’ to units as repairs continue (FL)
Dozens of residents have been unable to return to their homes after being evacuated from a Clearwater condo earlier this week due to structural concerns. However, on Friday, the condo association sent out a notice to residents of The South Beach III Condominiums on Gulf Boulevard, saying they would be allowed a “very limited, one-time […]
HOA Q&A: Are the ledgers of our association subject to privacy concerns? (FL)
Q: I live in a condominium association. One of the owners has requested to see the ledgers for two homes that we believe are delinquent in the payment of assessments. Our Board has cited privacy concerns and has refused to provide access to the ledgers. Is the Board’s position correct? Read the Q&A………………………………..
Construction crews continued to stabilize condo on Sand Key after crack found in parking garage (FL)
Construction crews continued to stabilize the condo building on Sand Key after it was evacuated after a crack was found in the parking garage. Read the article…………………………….
165 Florida condo properties OK’d for grant program face tougher new hurdles
A Pembroke Pines condominium’s governing board thought it moved quickly to get in line for a roof replacement grant when the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program opened to applications last November. Read the article…………………………….
Engineering expert weighs in on structural concerns at Clearwater condominium (FL)
About sixty people must wait for another three days until they can return to their Clearwater condominium after concerns over its structural integrity. Cracks were found in a support column Tuesday prompting dozens to be evacuated from the building. 10 Tampa Bay turned to a forensics engineering expert to share more about what goes on […]