The Latest News on Real Estate, Insurance and Community Law
What Can Condo Association Reserve Funds Be Used For?
Your condo association has this stash of money set aside called the reserves. You and many other members think that money should go toward a new paint color in the fitness center. That old pea green just isn’t doing it for you. You should be able to use those reserve...
Can a Condo Association Borrow Money Without a Membership Vote?
You just got a notice that renovation is going to begin on the lobby and pool. You don’t remember seeing any notice about that and you definitely don’t remember voting for it. Did you miss something? Or did the Board of Directors (BOD) just decide without owner...
What Happens When a Covenant Expires?
HOA covenants form the rules and regulations of a community association that must be adhered to by members and the BOD. They are referred to as the community’s Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, & Restrictions, or CC&Rs. When you purchase a home in a...
How Much Should Association Fees Be?
Many people simply want the bottom line when they’re joining an HOA, condo association or other community association. How much will my fees be? We’d love to give you a straightforward answer to this, but (bet you saw this one coming) the answer is that it all...
7 Things to Know about Community Associations in Florida
If you’re moving into a planned development you’ll most likely be required to join the HOA, condo association or community association. The association is all about the community, but it’s managed by an overseeing body called the board of directors (BOD). The BOD...
How Much Can an HOA Raise Dues Each Year in Florida?
It’s a tale as old as time (at least as long as HOAs have been around): year by year, the dues gradually increase until what you were originally paying has doubled or tripled. Some people are dismayed at this, while others understand it’s just the nature of inflation...
Can You Refuse to Join Your HOA?
If you’re looking to buy a new home you already have so many concerns on your plate. But at the top of your list, if it’s not there already, you may want to add in whether or not your new home will be in an HOA. Florida has the most HOAs of any state, so if you’re...
How Much Should an HOA Keep in Reserves?
Saving for a rainy day. It’s what our parents and grandparents always taught us. For HOAs those “rainy day” savings are not just about having a nest egg for some distant future, they’re critical to the operation and proper management of any community organization....
What Happens When an HOA Runs out of Money?
There are signs and whispers around your community that all is not well in your HOA. Your next door neighbor is saying she heard from one of the board members that the reserve fund is almost gone. You notice that the pool has been closed for several months with no...