Become our Member : JOIN SFPMA TODAY LogIn / Register: LOGIN/REGISTER
Find Blog Articles for Florida’s Condo, HOA and the Management Industry.
Gain insights on selecting the right contractor for your property management needs.
Our online education program is designed to give you the knowledge and skills needed to excel in this field.
Don’t miss this opportunity to earn your license and boost your career!
To become licensed in Florida, you need to first meet the requirements to enter an approved educational program. Once you’ve completed the program successfully, you apply for a license.
After being electronically fingerprinted, you’ll need to take and pass the licensing exam. You don’t need a license if you are only managing personally owned properties. Some rental properties, however, need a licensing by the Division of Hotels and Restaurants.
If a property owner hires a salaried employee to manage the property no broker’s license is required, but if they are paid by commission or transactional basis they must have a license.
Community Association Managers (CAMs) differ from property managers. CAMs must hold a valid Community Association Manager license. Obtaining this FREC license follows a similar process, but requires a different educational program.
If you need to verify a License in Florida:
Check each applicant’s license status before hiring any person. Use the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s Licensee Search webpage to determine their licensing.
State of Florida Requires; Property Managers to be Registered with the DPBR
Are you tired of the deteriorating condition of the roadways in your community?
Planning and executing site improvement projects can be a complex process. From roadway resurfacing to tennis court replacement, these projects require careful planning and development.
Now is the perfect time to start planning for the upcoming construction season.
At Falcon, we understand the challenges communities face when it comes to site improvements. That’s why we offer comprehensive engineering services to help you tackle these projects effectively.
Our team can assist you with feasibility studies, design plans, construction documents, bidding, and even construction management services.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Take advantage of the construction off-season to plan your site improvement project.
Tax planning is one of the best ways we know to reduce your tax bill, and at RMS Accounting we take a proactive approach to helping clients pay the lowest amount of tax allowed by law.
We do this through a two-step process. Step 1 requires us to keep up to date with the latest changes to the tax laws, and tax savings strategies. Step 2 is all about you our clients, it requires us to keep you updated on just what steps you can take to ensure that you can take advantage of ever tax saving strategy that will help you.
Since everyone’s situation is different the only way, we can assist you is to be available when you have questions and prior to year-end to review your situation with you, so that you can take the steps required to maximize your tax savings.
That is why every tax preparation engagement includes year-round access to our tax professionals and year-end tax planning, free when we have prepared your tax return for the prior year.
Below are links to this year’s tax planning letter which is mailed to all our clients along with links to planning worksheets for individuals and business. You can use these documents to help you get the most out of your tax planning consultation.
Tags: Accounting Articles, Management Tools
4 “Tricks” to a Healthier Lake!
Regularly test the water quality.
The first step in keeping your lake healthy is regularly testing the water quality. Ensure that your lake management company is testing the water before treatments.
Use algae control.
Algae is a common problem in Florida lakes, but there are methods you can use to control it. Partnering with a professional lake company is key! A lake maintenance company can put together a comprehensive plan designed specifically for your lake. Each lake is different and each HOA property might have specific goals and aesthetics they want to achieve.
Use aeration to promote healthy oxygen levels.
Aeration is essential for maintaining healthy oxygen levels in your lake. The water can become stagnant without adequate aeration, leading to low oxygen levels and an unhealthy lake ecosystem. Use a lake aerator to keep the water moving and to promote healthy oxygen levels.
Control invasive plant species.
Invasive plant species, such as cattails or water hyacinths, can quickly take over your lake and create an unhealthy environment for aquatic life. Let our lake specialists work with your HOA to help control and eradicate invasive plants/
Contact us today:
info@allstatemanagement.com or 954-382-9766
Tags: Lake Management Articles
Winter seems to be the time of year that we all think about goals. Whether it’s assessing how successful we were at achieving previously made goals or setting new milestones to achieve, the long cold nights seem to make us all reflect a little more. This time of year is also perfect for evaluating and setting long-term goals for lakes, ponds, and stormwater facilities. As aquatic resource management consultants, these goals are critical to deciding the who, what, when, where, why and how of managing each client’s waterbody.
Setting and exceeding long-term goals for freshwater resources requires the understanding and discussion of many factors. Each waterbody is unique, and each client is unique. In order not to get lost, focusing on the following five factors can make your goals measurable and, ultimately, achievable:
This question seems to be very simple, but it is deceptively complicated. For example, some people live in communities with stormwater management ponds that are the focal point of the community. Even in cases like this where pond aesthetics are important, pond maintenance services still must focus on ensuring that stormwater functions are working properly. Alternately, a drinking water reservoir is going to be managed much differently, as is a recreational lake or mill pond.
A bio-swale in a retirement community and a 300-acre lake with public access are going to have different stakeholders and decision makers. Making sure the correct people are involved in goal setting is important to consider before a pond management plan is designed. Often, there are many stakeholders with different goals for the same waterbody, so it’s important to take into account each group’s expectations when developing a lake management plan.
Just as there are different types of waterbodies, there are many different uses of waterbodies. A private farm pond can be managed for waterfowl and fish habitat. A lake association may want swimming and recreation to be the primary use of their waterbody. Deciding the primary uses of the lake, pond or stormwater facility is another primary driver of successful goal setting.
Each jurisdiction has a unique set of regulations. In order for a long-term pond management plan to work, understanding which strategies can and cannot be used is fundamental to goal setting. For example, triploid grass carp are an excellent natural aquatic vegetation management option in some states, but are illegal to stock in others. Working with a professional lake manager will help ensure that you are in compliance with any local, state or federal regulations.
Budget is often the factor in the speed at which certain goals can be attained, but it does not have to be the limiting factor in success or failure of a goal. A smaller budget can be used creatively to systematically tackle the small hurdles on the way to those bigger milestones. As a rule of thumb, practicing proactive pond management is much more cost effective than addressing water quality problems that have gotten out of hand.
A professional lake management company understands the importance of collaborating with clients to address and answer these five questions early on in the management process. From there, long-term goals that are measurable and achievable can be set. With time and patience, goals like reducing phytoplankton algae cell counts or phosphorous levels by a specified amount can be achieved.
Goal setting should begin with the first conversation. Through planning and communication, a diverse lake and pond management firm works with each client to create goals that guide the strategies and techniques applied to their unique aquatic ecosystem. Ultimately, a successful pond management program considers attainable goals, as well as the ever-changing variability of Mother Nature and our human impact.
Presented by GRS Management | Provided by Kaye Bender Rembaum (0005092) | Course # 9630140 | Instructor: Alan Schwartzseid, Esq.
This webinar covers the essentials of HOA board membership, and is updated regularly to remain current with Florida legislative amendments. In addition, this webinar satisfies Florida’s requirement for new HOA board members. It also serves as an excellent refresher course. Licensed CAMS will receive two (2) CE credits as IFM or ELE.
Enroll for free HERE.
When a unit owner wants to sell their home, the buyer wants to make sure that the seller does not owe the association money. You see, if the buyer buys the property without making sure the condo, co-op or HOA isn’t owed any money, the new buyer will be stuck with the unpaid bill if there is one. So, the new buyer wants to get what’s called an “estoppel certificate” from the association stating precisely what is owed to the association on that unit. This will be paid at the time of closing and the buyer can now sleep well, knowing they are up to date with assessments owed to the association.
So the question is……..who gets paid to prepare this “estoppel letter” for the new buyer and how much does it cost? Well, for condominiums, HOAs and co-ops, there is a current statute that addresses this. Florida Statute 718.116, 719.108 and 720.30851 respectively.
The statutes state that the estoppel certificate must contain all of the following information and must be substantially in the following form:
1. Date of issuance:
2. Name(s) of the unit owner(s) as reflected in the books and records of the association:
3. Unit designation and address:
4. Parking or garage space number, as reflected in the books and records of the association:
5. Attorney’s name and contact information if the account is delinquent and has been turned over to an attorney for collection. No fee may be charged for this information.
6. Fee for the preparation and delivery of the estoppel certificate:
7. Name of the requestor:
8. Assessment information and other information:
ASSESSMENT INFORMATION:
a. The regular periodic assessment levied against the unit is $ per (insert frequency of payment) .
b. The regular periodic assessment is paid through (insert date paid through) .
c. The next installment of the regular periodic assessment is due (insert due date) in the amount of $ .
d. An itemized list of all assessments, special assessments, and other moneys owed on the date of issuance to the association by the unit owner for a specific unit is provided.
e. An itemized list of any additional assessments, special assessments, and other moneys that are scheduled to become due for each day after the date of issuance for the effective period of the estoppel certificate is provided. In calculating the amounts that are scheduled to become due, the association may assume that any delinquent amounts will remain delinquent during the effective period of the estoppel certificate.
OTHER INFORMATION:
f. Is there a capital contribution fee, resale fee, transfer fee, or other fee due? (Yes) (No). If yes, specify the type and the amount of the fee.
g. Is there any open violation of rule or regulation noticed to the unit owner in the association official records? (Yes) (No).
h. Do the rules and regulations of the association applicable to the unit require approval by the board of directors of the association for the transfer of the unit? (Yes) (No). If yes, has the board approved the transfer of the unit? (Yes) (No).
i. Is there a right of first refusal provided to the members or the association? (Yes) (No). If yes, have the members or the association exercised that right of first refusal? (Yes) (No).
j. Provide a list of, and contact information for, all other associations of which the unit is a member.
k. Provide contact information for all insurance maintained by the association.
l. Provide the signature of an officer or authorized agent of the association.
SO HOW MUCH CAN YOU CHARGE TO PREPARE AN ESTOPPEL LETTER?
An association or its authorized agent may charge a reasonable fee for the preparation and delivery of an estoppel certificate, which may not exceed $250, if, on the date the certificate is issued, no delinquent amounts are owed to the association for the applicable unit. If an estoppel certificate is requested on an expedited basis and delivered within 3 business days after the request, the association may charge an additional fee of $100. If a delinquent amount is owed to the association for the applicable unit, an additional fee for the estoppel certificate may not exceed $150.
So, as you can see, someone preparing an estoppel certificate can charge in some cases up to $500.00. This fee is typically paid for by the seller of the unit or home. Management companies and law firms both say ka-ching when they are asked to prepare an estoppel certificate.
Well, if that sounds unfair to you, it also sounds unfair to Florida Senator Jonathan Martin and Representative Persons Mulicka. Each of them have now filed bills which would preclude associations from charging for estoppel letters whatsoever. It has resulted in massive pushback from management companies and law firms alike, each of whom are the ones normally getting paid to prepare these estoppel certificates.
On the one hand, attorneys and management companies say that they deserve to get paid for preparing estoppel certificates because there are a lot of questions to answer and there is potential liability if they prepare it incorrectly. Moreover, they take the position that only the seller should pay for the estoppel certificate because only the seller is trying to sell their unit. Why should that cost be put on every other owner in the community?
On the other hand, there is an argument that management companies are already paid to keep the ledgers of every owner. It shouldn’t take more than a few minutes to let someone know what a unit owes. Therefore, they shouldn’t receive an extra penny for preparing an estoppel certificate.
So which side is right? I think there are good arguments on both sides and we can debate this forever. You have to wonder though that if the fees that you’re allowed to charge were half of what they are now, would this ever have become a fight? I don’t think so. I do think a compromise wouldn’t be bad here.
What do you guys think?
Written by Eric Glazer
Condominium Association Board Member Certification webinar
Wednesday (Jan. 17) afternoon at 2pm Est.
Alan Schwartzseid, Esq. will teach the class that provides the certification required for new board members.
ALSO offers two (2) IFM credits for licensed CAMS in Florida. Here is the link to enroll for free:This webinar covers the essentials of condominium board membership, and is updated regularly to remain current with legislative amendments to Florida’s Condominium Act. In addition, this webinar satisfies Florida’s requirement for new condominium board members. It also serves as an excellent refresher course. Licensed CAMS will receive two (2) CE credits as IFM or ELE.
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_umc0gbrIQDuT-pqj0fSWgQ#/registration
A few other events this week.
|
|
|
SFPMA works throughout the State of Florida, we are a multi-member organization for the Condo, HOA and Property Management industry. Through knowledge based Articles, Events and our Members Directory, Clients find the right information to make an informed decisions for their Florida properties.
