Director Compensation Questioned (FL)

Q: Can directors of a homeowners’ association get paid for their services? As a board member, I do all the administrative tasks for free and think I should be paid for it.   Read the Q&A………………………………..

ICE Agents Knocking on Your Community Association Door? Here Are What Questions to Ask (FL)

. . . CAI’s guidance, which was developed based on consultations with highly qualified professionals, is designed to help associations navigate their interactions with ICE agents and avoid infringing on the rights of residents, employees, and association leadership. The organization notes that requests from ICE involve legal rights, privacy obligations, and the role of associations […]

Abandoned Lake Worth House Becomes Snake Paradise; Neighbors Seek Help (FL)

That’s what happened after residents in a Lake Worth neighborhood contacted the newsroom about a case of blight on their street – a broken-down house that had been slowly decaying before their eyes for more than a decade. Ground zero for a snake invasion. Despite constant complaints to the HOA, management, and county officials, nothing […]

Miami Insurance Broker Sentenced to 3.5 Years in Condo Premium Finance Scheme

A federal judge on Wednesday sentenced a Miami insurance broker to 41 months in prison and more than $5 million in restitution for defrauding a Georgia credit union by obtaining loans for condominium associations’ premium financing, then using the loans for personal gain.   Read the article…………………………….

Judge rules in favor of Riverstone condos and the county (FL)

After two years of litigation, Nassau County Judge Marianne Aho has granted summary judgment in favor of Riverstone Properties and Nassau County, against the Sanctuary Property Owners’ Association and Amelia Tree Conservancy.   Read the article…………………………….

Florida lawmakers move to weaken condo owner protections | Opinion

Florida condo owners face renewed challenges with a proposed bill in the Florida Legislature threatening to roll back recent protections, as a back-and-forth battle between the developers’ lobby, condo associations and owners appears to be helping builders gain ground.    Read the article…………………………….

A condo bill in the Senate seeks to provide more financial flexibility, safety (FL)

A key Senate committee on Tuesday gave initial approval to a measure that would build on laws requiring safety inspections of older condominium buildings and adequate financial reserves for repairs. The bill (SB 1742) is aimed at “providing condo owners a smoother, more flexible financial path forward without compromising safety,” Senate Regulated Industries Chairwoman Jennifer […]

Check your insurance coverage (FL)

After a story on an $8k special assessment from an HOA, Steve On Your Side urges you to check your insurance policy.   Video news report……………………..

Condo owners facing insurance hikes that are not your fault (FL)

A homicide at a condo complex. A slip and fall at another one. Do the owners who had nothing to do with those incidents have to pay? One South Florida man turned to Help Me Howard with Patrick Fraser to find out. In the condo world, Bonaire at Woodmont is a nice place. Quiet, not […]

The Top Complaints Florida Homeowners Have with Their HOA’s

While the intention of HOAs is designed to maintain property values and ensure well-managed communities for the benefit of their residents, they can also become expensive and cause frustration. Recent data suggests that 70% of homeowners say if they were to buy a new home in the future, they would prefer a community without an […]

State Senator Files Bill to Allow Condo Boards to Invest Reserve Funds (FL)

Legislation aimed at helping condo boards manage large amounts of reserve cash is moving forward in Tallahassee.  State Senator Jennifer Bradley is sponsoring the bill that allows boards to invest the mandatory reserve money needed for repairs to prevent another Surfside collapse……SB 1742 would set parameters on hiring an investment firm and for making “prudent” […]

Tallahassee apartment owner pays city $100K for late utilities after city threatens to cut off water (FL)

WCTV obtained water bills from Whispering Pines residents, showing they pay a Jacksonville-based company called Oates Energy, Inc. Staci Inez spoke with a representative from the company, and they emailed a statement about their services. Oates Energy wrote, “Our function is to allocate utility bills among residents, collect individual payments from those residents, and then […]

Controversial proposal to withhold Citizens insurance is part of condo bill impasse (FL)

Florida lawmakers pushing for adjustments to condo safety laws have hit an early impasse over two proposals: one that would allow condo associations to invest funds that have been saved for future building repairs, and another barring associations that shirk the law from getting insurance under the state-run Citizens program.   Read the article…………………………….

Florida condo bill seeks financial flexibility, safety

A key Senate committee on Tuesday gave initial approval to a measure that would build on laws requiring safety inspections of older condominium buildings and adequate financial reserves for repairs. The bill is aimed at “providing condo owners a smoother, more flexible financial path forward without compromising safety,” Senate Regulated Industries Chairwoman Jennifer Bradley said […]

‘It’s sad’: Florida’s condo fee crisis could trigger the ‘next wave of homeless people’ in the state, says one representative — with seniors on fixed incomes at highest risk

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 […]

Condo Con on the Coast shares valuable resources (FL)

This isn’t your typical convention, Condo Con on the Coast is a must-attend event for anyone looking to break into the condo market. The event is this Friday, March 28 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fort Walton Beach and is free for those who want to attend.   Video news report……………………..

HOA, Polk County mother at odds over safety concerns at school bus stop (FL)

A judge has temporarily blocked a Polk County mother from parking her car at the entrance of her subdivision while dropping off and picking up her children from the school bus.  This follows a lawsuit filed against the woman, Joy Hitchcock, by her homeowners’ association, Morgan Creek Preserve Residents Association, which alleges the action violates […]

Residents at Miami condo protest upcoming assessment (FL)

A group of residents at a Miami condo took to the streets in protest after they found out they were being asked to pay hundreds more a month for a special assessment. Consumer investigator Sasha Jones is digging into why the condo board says the assessment is needed. There were honks of support for protesters […]

Florida’s condo market is in turmoil. What’s next for owners?

Time is up for condo owners across Florida to meet safety guidelines passed in the wake of 2021’s deadly Champlain Towers collapse.  Condo associations had until Dec. 31 to inspect aging buildings and come up with a plan to save for routine maintenance.  The market took a nosedive in the lead up to that deadline […]

Residents at Miami condo protest upcoming assessment (FL)

A group of residents at a Miami condo took to the streets in protest after they found out they were being asked to pay hundreds more a month for a special assessment. Consumer investigator Sasha Jones is digging into why the condo board says the assessment is needed. There were honks of support for protesters […]

Mandatory Condo Rules In Effect, Palm Beach County Launches New Website (FL)

New mandatory rules in place for condominium building inspections following the Champlain Towers disaster are causing confusion for some condo owners, associations, and building management firms in Palm Beach County. To help explain what is required, Palm Beach County just launched a website with vital information.   Read the article…………………………….    Palm Beach County web page…………..

Q&A: Can HOA Require a Fence and New Plants? (FL)

Question: My fiancé lives on the main road in a community of single-family homes. He received a violation letter from the association saying he needs to put up a fence, remove the current bushes and plant different ones. The section of the bylaw they sent over discusses maintenance of existing fences, docks, etc., but does […]

Miami-Dade launches platform to report fraudulent activities in condominium associations (FL)

A new resource has emerged for South Florida residents to combat fraud. The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office has launched an online platform to facilitate reporting fraudulent incidents involving homeowners’ associations and condominiums in the county. This program is a response to growing concerns from community members who have reported financial misconduct and corruption within their associations’ […]

Lawmakers looking for ways to cut down costs to condo owners (FL)

State lawmakers are looking at a number of bills aimed at providing relief for condo owners and associations across the state.  It would most notably ease a mandate for reserve funds that caused many to raise fees to make up the cash.  Condo owners the past two years say they are shocked by the fees […]

South Florida’s Soaring Condo Costs Are Pricing Out Retirees on Fixed Incomes

South Florida, long a beacon for retirees chasing sun-soaked golden years, is turning into a financial nightmare for those on fixed incomes. Skyrocketing home prices, ballooning condo fees and a barrage of new regulations are squeezing retirees out of their dream homes, sending grave implications through the retirement housing market.    Read the article…………………………….

State Protection for Condos May Be Costly (FL)

Champlain Towers South Condominium collapsed in 2021, killing 98 people. It did not take Florida’s legislature long to enact broad statutory requirements for structural inspections and funding reserve accounts for Florida condominiums.  Read the article…………………………….

The End of the South Florida Dream

The Lake Clarke Gardens condominiums in Lake Worth, Florida, are among many places across the Sunshine State selling Americans the much-coveted dream of retiring in a place in the sun. With 855 units in 24 separate residential buildings only a few miles from the ocean and featuring a clubhouse, swimming pools and many more amenities […]

Could change be coming to how HOAs operate in Florida?

WFLX is looking into what impact homeowners association fees have on people in Palm Beach County. On Friday, we visited the Sandalwood Lakes neighborhoods, where we met Sharon Siebert. “My mom bought this house in the ’80s, so first owners,” said Siebert. “I live here with my sister so there’s only been three of us […]

Florida’s condo market is in turmoil. What’s next for owners?

Time is up for condo owners across Florida to meet safety guidelines passed in the wake of 2021’s deadly Champlain Towers collapse. Condo associations had until Dec. 31 to inspect aging buildings and come up with a plan to save for routine maintenance.   Read the article…………………………….

Florida Court Rejects Insurer’s Bid For Coverage In $8.5M Condo Defect Case

A federal judge in Florida’s Middle District ruled Monday that Amerisure Insurance Company, the insurer for contractor The Auchter Co., can’t tap third-party insurers to offset an $8.5 million judgment tied to shoddy workmanship on a 2005 Jacksonville condo project. U.S. District Judge Anne C. Conway held that a prior settlement freed those insurers from […]

Collier commissioners agree not to alter golf conversion rules (FL)

Collier commissioners opted not to amend controversial rules that allowed developers to convert golf course properties into residential.  Commissioners voted unanimously March 11 to let the 2017 rules stand.  “I don’t even know why we’re here,” said Vice Chair Dan Kowal, whose district had two conversions that prompted Bert Harris claim lawsuits. “It’s already Bert […]