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Condo HOA Loans / Your Trusted Community Association Financial Resource

Condo HOA Loans / Your Trusted Community Association Financial Resource

  • Posted: Oct 17, 2022
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Condo HOA Loans

Your Trusted Community Association Financial Resource

 

 

Don’t go it alone. Whether your Community requires Conventional or Private Lending, CondoHOALoans can assist you in obtaining the necessary funds for Projects, Reserves, or Cash Flow.

When your Community Association works with our Law Firm to facilitate and secure financing, your Community will also have the optional benefit of receiving 100% FREE Delinquent Account Collection Services.

Not sure if financing is right for your Association? Download the Association Funding Options Infographic and take our Free Financial Health Survey to find out.

Click on the Ad below and Download the pdf.

 

 

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IF THERE EVER WAS A TIME TO GET EDUCATED – Update

IF THERE EVER WAS A TIME TO GET EDUCATED – Update

  • Posted: Oct 10, 2022
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Update:  Eric Glazer, Esq.
Published October 10, 2022

Rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated.

I just spent a week in the hospital — again with kidney stone issues.  This is I believe the 5th time I needed some sort of surgery for this never ending painful problem.  I left the hospital with a tube coming out of my right side.  I still need a lithotripsy procedure.  That’s the one where you lay down in water and they zap your kidney stones hoping to break them up.  I’m guessing I have another week or two of this insanity.

I want to apologize to the wonderful people at the L&L Condo and HOA Expos.  As all of you know, I always attend all of their shows all around the state and have the honor of kicking off the event by doing my board certification course.  Unfortunately I won’t be able to attend the events In Palm Beach and in Broward.  I am desperately hoping to attend the events in Orlando and Tampa.  I think all of you know that I love nothing more than being with all of you, teaching you, and answering your questions.  It’s simply my favorite part of being an attorney.  It’s killing me that I can’t teach the classes that so many of you attend each and every year.  However, L&L will be finding another well qualified attorney from another law firm to teach and certify you.  I urge you to attend and continue to make the L&L shows the success that they always are.

I’m taking two weeks off from the radio show.  I expect to do the show October 16th — with or without a tube coming out of my side.  BY THE WAY……THAT’S THE SAME DAY I WILL BE ON 60 MINUTES — AS THEY ARE DOING A SHOW ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT GRANDMA AND GRANDPA CAN STILL MOVE TO A FLORIDA CONDOMINIUM IF THEIR SOLE INCOME IS SOCIAL SECURITY.  I think we all know the answer.   This really should be an amazing show which shines the spotlight on Florida condominiums but truly needs to be watched by the entire country as every state better follow Florida’s lead when it comes to mandating safety.

In any event, I hope to be back at my desk in a week or two and look forward to speaking with all of you again.  In the mean time, please get in touch with Rich, Pennie or Paul if you need immediate help.

PS: The nurse told me that the epidural was not invented to relieve pain from child birth.  It was invented to relieve pain from kidney stones!

 

We know everyone is wishing Eric Glazer a full recovery and well wishes.  Ouch

 


In light of the tragedy at The Champlain Towers in Surfside last year, The Florida Legislature, to its credit, passed massive condominium reform regarding safety, inspections and reserves.  These laws are confusing to those who work in the industry every day, never mind to those who serve on condo Boards throughout the state.


 

Stay up to date with the new law -FLORIDA BUILDING INSPECTIONS (SB-4D)

Florida Condo Building Inspections (SB4d)

http://FLBuildingInspections.com  a division of SFPMA

The State of Florida Property Management Association with Legal & Engineering Members are here to help you understand the new laws and how to take the correct action now to ensure you are in full compliance. 

 


The Florida Legislature thought that it was so important for condo boards to enforce these laws that they included a provision which considers a breach of these laws a breach of the director’s fiduciary duty.  Imagine, personal liability can be imposed against a director who fails to enforce these new laws.

Once again, I drafted legislation which would require Board members to learn these new laws in order to get certified and once again this requirement was removed from the statute.  It’s hard to believe, but The Florida Legislature drafted a law which imposes personal liability against those directors who fail to follow these new laws yet removed the requirement to learn these new laws.  In any event, I will again try to make learning these new laws a condition of becoming certified in the next legislative session.

As far as condominium Board members go…….there can be no more important time than the present to learn these new laws.  They are designed to keep you and your fellow unit owners alive.

Don’t dare get certified by signing that dumb, silly form that says I read my governing docs and promise to enforce them.  Even if you read your governing documents from cover to cover, you still wouldn’t learn any of the new condo laws.  What a disgrace that you can still become certified this way.

I am teaching at the following times and locations this month.  It is more imperative than ever to attend an educational course.  In fact, if you don’t learn the new laws and don’t apply the new laws on your condo board, you can face personal liability.  Moreover, any condo Board member who can’t find a few hours to take an educational course is not worthy of a single vote.  So what do you say?  Please register for any of the free following Condo Craze and HOAs Board Certification Classes offered around the state

Find the Condo & HOA Event Dates

 

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Roof Maxx of N Fort Lauderdale, FL

Roof Maxx of N Fort Lauderdale, FL

  • Posted: Sep 22, 2022
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Roof Maxx of N Fort Lauderdale, FL

Contact Mark at (954) 493-0003 or mcucharale@roofmaxx.com

The daily beating of the sun on an asphalt shingle roof bakes at a quicker rate than the same roof type in northern states. I want my customers to understand that the demise of this asphalt shingles is “dry” and “brittleness.” The best and easiest way to explain it to you is the “burnt toast” analogy. If you take a fresh slice of bread and leave it in the toaster for too long, it will come out black and burnt. If you bend it, it will crunch or break in half. Now if you spread butter on that same piece of toast and let it sit for 20-30 minutes, you would be able to bend it without breaking in half. Very simple to understand. This is the condition of your asphalt shingle. You will pay more money for a roof replacement, more frequently, because less asphalt is used in the shingle.
Insurance has been difficult with homeowners here in the Tri-County area and it was tougher to sell the service here because of that. Now that SB-2D was passed into law (May 2022) by the Florida state legislators, we now have a much better opportunity to help those older roofs qualify for at least FIVE more years of life (if not longer), thus helping those property owners save their money and their roofs.
We won’t do repairs because of our limits with state licensing, but we offer minor maintenance, such as painting rusted vents, caulking some exposed nail heads, which are common, or replacing a missing shingle tab or two. This roof tune-up is a $499 value, usually done as a courtesy if a Roof Maxx treatment is done with us. We also offer discounts on such things as seniors, veterans and civil employees (like police and fire or first responders). We also give discounts to repeat customers and discounts base on volume (like commercial jobs).
Contact Mark at (954) 493-0003 or mcucharale@roofmaxx.com
View our Members Page on sfpma.
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Schedule Your Fall Fish Stocking Discover the benefits of professional fall fish stocking and how to set your fishery up for success.

Schedule Your Fall Fish Stocking Discover the benefits of professional fall fish stocking and how to set your fishery up for success.

  • Posted: Sep 18, 2022
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Schedule Your Fall Fish Stocking

Discover the benefits of professional fall fish stocking and how to set your fishery up for success.

Are you ready to build a community fishery or grow trophy fish in your private lake? Fish stocking is an important step of fisheries management. Fall is an excellent time to stock your lake. Learn how strategic fish stocking can help you build your dream fishery!

BOOK YOUR FISH STOCKING

Why a Professional Is Needed for Fish Stocking

A diverse and productive fish population is essential to creating an ecologically balanced lake or pond. Fish stocking has clear benefits – from plant and mosquito management to exciting fishing opportunities – but many property owners are unaware of the sheer number of fish species to choose from, making it very easy to get confused.

There is more to fish stocking than the act of adding fish to a pond. Rushing the process by stocking the wrong fish, or doing so at the wrong time, can result in unhealthy population conditions and ecosystems. A key part of lake and pond management is making sure the fish population is well-balanced and best equipped to help achieve your specific goals for the aquatic ecosystem. That’s where a professional comes in.

Each body of water is different, so there are no one-size-fits-all solutions. A customized plan created by experts will ensure that your lake or pond has the right fish population to endure its health and your continued enjoyment. Based on the state of the ecosystem in your lake or pond, a professional will recommend whether or not you should add fish, what species are best suited for your waterbody, what time of year to stock, and how many.

SOLitude Lake Management | Proudly Serving Clients Nationwide

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Event: Condominium and HOA Board Member Certification taught by Lisa A. Magill, Esq. of KBR Legal

Event: Condominium and HOA Board Member Certification taught by Lisa A. Magill, Esq. of KBR Legal

  • Posted: Sep 06, 2022
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RealManage invites you to this Condominium and HOA Board Member Certification taught by Lisa A. Magill, Esq., Board Certified Specialist in Condominium & Planned Development Law, from Kaye Bender Rembaum.

The program will be moderated by Jonathan Louis of RealManage, and will cover the essentials of board membership.
This webinar is updated regularly to remain current with amendments to Florida legislation. In addition, it satisfies Florida’s requirement for new condominium and HOA board members.
Though CE credit is not offered for this webinar, CAMS are welcome to attend for an excellent review. Provider: 0005092 (KBR Legal).

Sep 8, 2022 12:00 PM

REGISTER NOW

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Maus Law Firm is devoted to assisting people with insurance claims.

Maus Law Firm is devoted to assisting people with insurance claims.

  • Posted: Aug 31, 2022
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Maus Law Firm is devoted to assisting people with insurance claims.

Our Fort Lauderdale attorneys handle claims involving accidents and injuries as well as property damage.

 

Homeowner Condo and Business, Property Damage Claims and Personal Injury Claims.

A home or office building is the most significant purchase most of us will make during our lifetime. Most of us buy insurance coverage – windstorm, liability, flood, homeowners, and business interruption – to protect our homes and businesses. Yet, today’s insurance policies are lengthy, complex contracts full of exceptions, exclusions, deductibles, and conditions that make the policy difficult to read, and sometimes even more difficult to recover from for your damage.

The Maus Law Firm has the best attorneys to handle property damage claims. These are just a few of the questions you may deal with after suffering a house water damage claim, plumbing backup, or a broken pipe above your condominium unit:

In addition to these questions, there are several different types of policies offered by homeowner insurance companies that contain various types of coverage. There is a policy used for owner occupied properties, one for properties that are rented out, and yet another type policy used for condo units. Where do you turn to get help?

The Maus Law Firm has been successfully handling insurance related claims since 1993. The Firm is “AV” rated by Martindale Hubbell, the highest ranking for legal ability and ethics. The Maus Law Firm has been recognized continuously since 2011 by Florida Trend Magazine’s “Legal Elite” ranking, and named a “SuperLawer” by West Thompson Publishing. The attorneys at The Maus Law Firm will competently and aggressively represent you in your homeowner property damage insurance claim, or commercial business insurance claim.

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OTHER NEW CONDO LAWS TO KNOW – PART ONE

OTHER NEW CONDO LAWS TO KNOW – PART ONE

  • Posted: Jul 26, 2022
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SOME OTHER NEW LAWS CONDOS MUST FOLLOW – PART ONE

By Eric Glazer, Esq.

We all know by now the myriad of new safety laws condos that are 3 stories or more are required to follow.  They include mandatory fire sprinklers or an engineered life safety system (for buildings 75 feet or higher only), a Phase One Milestone Inspection after 30 years and every ten years thereafter (25 years if the building is on the coast), a likely Phase Two Inspection which will result in required repairs to the structure and of course structural integrity reserve studies performed by an architect or engineer and the mandatory full funding of reserve accounts.

There’s actually more to know.

OFFICIAL RECORDS TO INCLUDE  AND BE POSTED ON THE ASSOCIATION’S WEBSITE:

  1. All audits, reviews, accounting statements,structural  integrity reserve studies, and financial reports of the association or condominium. Structural integrity reserve studies  must be maintained for at least 15 years after the study is completed.

 

A copy of the inspection reports for the milestone inspections and the structural integrity reserve studies  and any other inspection report relating to a structural or life safety inspection of the condominium property. Such record must be maintained by the association for 15 years after receipt of the report.

NO LONGER IS THERE THE ABILITY

TO WAIVE RESERVES OR USE THEM FOR OTHER PURPOSES

 

It was always ridiculously easy to waive the funding of the reserve account.  All it took was a lousy majority of a quorum.  Those days are now over and reserve accounts must be fully funded, like it or not.

The same rule finally applies to developers.  Before turnover of control of an association by a developer to unit owners other than a developer under 718.301, the developer-controlled association developer may not vote the voting interests allocated to its units to waive the reserves or reduce the funding of the reserves.

You can no longer vote to use reserves set aside for one category to be used to repair another category.  Effective December 31, 2024, members of a unit-owner controlled association may not vote to use reserve funds, or any interest accruing thereon, that are reserved for items listed in paragraph (g) for any other purpose other than their intended purpose.

(g) Structural integrity reserve study.

  1. An association must have a structural integrity reserve study completed at least every 10 years after the condominium’s creation for each building on the condominium property that is three stories or higher in height which includes, at a minimum,  a study of the following items as related to the structural integrity and safety of the building:
  2. Roof. 
  3. Load-bearing walls or other primary structural members.
  4. Floor. 
  5. Foundation.
  6. Fireproofing and fire protection systems. 
  7. Plumbing. 
  8. Electrical systems. 
  9. Waterproofing and exterior painting. 
  10. Windows.
  11. Any other item that has a deferred maintenance expense or replacement cost that exceeds $10,000 and the failure to replace or maintain such item negatively affects the items listed in subparagraphs a.-i., as determined by the licensed engineer or architect performing the visual inspection portion of the structural integrity reserve study.
  12. Before a developer turns over control of an association  to unit owners other than the developer, the developer must have a structural integrity reserve study completed for each building on the condominium property that is three stories or higher in height.

 

  1. Associations existing on or before July 1, 2022, which are controlled by unit owners other than the developer, must have a structural integrity reserve study completed by December 31, 2024, for each building on the condominium property that is three stories or higher in height.

BREACH OF FIDUCIARY DUTY – THIS IS SCARY

 

  1. If an association fails to complete a structural integrity reserve study pursuant to this paragraph,such failure is a breach of an officer’s and director’s fiduciary relationship to the unit owners under s. 718.111(1).  If you’re an officer or director, this new law should scare you to death.  If you fail to do the reserve study, you have automatically breached your fiduciary duty.  This could potentially result in individual liability against a director should the failure to do the reserve study result in collapse or injury.

 

(h) Mandatory milestone inspections.—If an association is required to have a milestone inspection performed pursuant to s. 553.899, the association must arrange for the milestone inspection to be performed and is responsible for ensuring compliance with the requirements of s. 553.899. The association is responsible for all costs associated with the inspection. If the officers or directors of an association willfully and knowingly fail to have a milestone inspection performed pursuant to s. 553.899, such failure is a breach of the officers’ and directors’ fiduciary relationship to the unit owners under s. 718.111(1)(a).  Again, If you’re an officer or director, this new law should scare you to death.  If you fail to do the milestone inspection, you have automatically breached your fiduciary duty.  This could potentially result in individual liability against a director should the failure to do the reserve study result in collapse or injury.

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What is an Estoppel Certificate and Why do you need one when buying a Condo or Home in an HOA?

What is an Estoppel Certificate and Why do you need one when buying a Condo or Home in an HOA?

  • Posted: Jul 20, 2022
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Generic legal definition that you should IGNORE: A legal principle that bars a party from denying or alleging a certain fact owing to that party’s previous conduct, allegation, or denial.

Layman’s description (not a legal description) of what estoppel means in a condo or homeowners association: an estoppel certificate is a document which describes outstanding fees that an owner owes to his/her association as of a certain date.

When a home is sold, the new owner and the old owner are “jointly and severally liable” for any amounts owed to the association. What this means in practice, is that any debt to the association stays with the property when a title transfers. These debts include: maintenance dues, late fees, fines, interest, legal fees and special assessments outstanding at the time of the transfer.

If the new owner does not obtain an estoppel certificate they will not be aware of any amounts owed to the association by the prior owner and they may be inheriting a huge debt which they are responsible for. This is why it is necessary to make sure any outstanding debt (or acknowledgement that no money is owed) is properly disclosed, via an estoppel certificate as a protection to the new owner. Often the title company will request an estoppel certificate on the owner’s behalf and any amounts owed will be paid off at closing.

Why does it cost money to get an estoppel? Someone has to take the time to do the research and prepare the certificate for the sale to happen. It is critical that the information is correct since the estoppel is legal proof of the amount owed. The owner (not the association) has to pay for this document, which is typically prepared by the management company, association staff, association attorney or bookkeeping company.

Estoppels are rarely as simple as providing an amount owed. In addition to listing any amounts owed to the association, the estoppel often contains other critical information such as:

  • Are there any outstanding violations on the property?
  • In addition to the regular maintenance, is there a special assessment ongoing?
  • Are there any pending special assessments that may not have been billed yet?
  • Is a capital contribution required?
  • Are there any other associations this property owner may owe money to?

These are just a few of the dozens of questions that are often asked by title companies on estoppel requests, which can become very time consuming.

Here is a short article that describes the law around estoppels.

Legal disclaimer: I am not an attorney. This should not be considered legal advice.

Thank You to Campbell Property Management


 

If you need help with an Estoppel Certificate and or Collection of outstanding Monies owed by an Owner for a Condo and or HOA:

Search our Directory: SFPMA Members Directory over 70 categories for everything you will need for your Florida properties.   Attorneys HOA Condo Associations   Accountants & Collections

 

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Director Compensation: Do I Get Paid for This?” – by Becker for the – Naples Daily News

Director Compensation: Do I Get Paid for This?” – by Becker for the – Naples Daily News

  • Posted: Jul 05, 2022
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Q: I am considering running for the board of my condominium association. However, there is a lot of work involved in being on the Board. It can be a thankless position, which discourages many owners from volunteering. Can we compensate the members of the board as a way to encourage people to serve?

A:  The Florida Condominium Act states that unless otherwise provided in the bylaws, the officers and the directors shall serve without compensation. So, unless your association’s bylaws provide for such compensation, compensation is prohibited.

The Florida Homeowners’ Association Act contains similar language.

While your sentiments are spot on, boards being paid for their service is very rare in the community association realm. I do think there would be some basis for concern as to whether paid directors would be held to higher standards of legal liability, as well as whether the typical nonprofit Directors and Officers Liability Insurance Policy written to cover association directors would be available.

Q:  I received the first notice of my condominium association’s annual meeting just over a month ago. The first notice included a “Notice of Intent” form that had to be submitted by any owner wishing to run for the board of directors by the stated deadline. One of the owners that submitted a Notice of Intent is behind on the payment of her assessments. However, she told our association manager that she would pay her assessments in full before the election. Can she run for the board as long as she pays her assessments before the election?

A:  A unit owner desiring to be a candidate for the board must give written notice of his or her intent to be a candidate to the association not less than 40 days before a scheduled election. The law states that an owner must be eligible to be a candidate to serve on the board at the time of the deadline for submitting a notice of intent.

The Florida Condominium Act contains a number of eligibility requirements for candidates, one of which is that the candidate must not be delinquent in paying any assessment to the association. According to changes in the Act that became effective on July 1, 2021, a person is considered “delinquent” if a payment is not made by the due date of the assessment as specifically identified in the declaration of condominium, bylaws, or articles of incorporation.

Prior to the July 1, 2021 changes, an individual was not eligible if they were delinquent in the payment of any “monetary obligation” to the Association (as opposed to the current version of the law which states delinquent in the payment of assessments). For example, someone who had not paid a fine would be ineligible under the old law, the new law limits eligibility to assessment payment.

If the candidate in your community was delinquent on the 40th day before the election, this individual would not be eligible to be a candidate and cannot be listed on the ballot.

Q:  Most of the members of our board will be leaving our condominium soon to go back to their Northern residences, making it very difficult for us to have in-person board meetings. Can our condominium board vote via e-mail? (M.J.)

A:  The Florida Condominium Act specifically provides that members of the board may use e-mail as a means of communication but may not cast a vote on an association matter via e-mail. Although there may be certain day-to-day decisions that do not require a vote of the board that can be discussed via e-mail, any action that requires approval of the board under your condominium documents or the Act must be done at a duly noticed and open board meeting.

The good news is that the Condominium Act does allow board members to participate in a meeting via telephone or real-time videoconferencing. If a director participates via videoconference, for example, the director’s participation counts towards a quorum, and the member can vote as if physically present.

Jennifer Biletnikoff is a Board Certified Specialist in Condominium and Planned Development Law and represents condominium, cooperative, mobile home and homeowners’ associations located throughout Southwest Florida including Collier, Lee, Sarasota and Charlotte Counties. She has particular experience in covenant enforcement and foreclosure law, and has also practiced in the areas of commercial, business and tort litigation.

 

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THEY DID NOT DIE IN VAIN

THEY DID NOT DIE IN VAIN

  • Posted: Jun 30, 2022
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When The Florida Legislature went home after the 2021 Legislative Session without passing a single change to Florida condominium safety laws, it was a slap in the face to the victims and their families. This firm was relentless and refused to give up.

We wrote the Governor’s Office demanding that this be corrected, we kept blasting Florida’s legislators on Television and of course on the Condo Craze and HOAs radio and YouTube show. We kept fighting the fight.
After all, we warned every member of The Florida Legislature in May of 2018, of the pending disaster that faces The State of Florida if mandatory reserves are not passed. It took the loss of 98 lives to get the laws changed, but this firm is so proud to say after massive public pressure, The Florida Legislature passed and The Governor signed the most dramatic changes to Florida Condominium Safety Laws ever passed in the history of the state.

This issue is devoted to teach all of you the massive changes to the laws that each and every condominium unit owner and especially, every single board must immediately learn and have respect for. No doubt that these laws will make it financially more difficult for many to purchase and many to even remain living in their condominium unit. Nonetheless, The Florida Legislature did the right thing and put lives and safety ahead of finances.

The face of Florida condominiums have changed forever. If you have questions or concerns, call us.

OUR BOARD CERTIFICATION COURSE IS BACK!!!

The law now provides that within 90 days of getting elected to a condominium or homeowner’s association Board
of Directors, you must get certified or you are removed from the Board. One way to get certified is by attending a
state approved course. Attorney Eric Glazer has designed a course that was approved by The DBPR, which allows
him to certify attendees as eligible to serve on a Florida condominium or HOA Board of Directors. See the list
below of classes you may register for. Eric is proud to have certified over 20,000 directors throughout the state.

Other Board Certification Classes –for Condos and HOAs
AUGUST 25TH – ON-LINE BY ZOOM — 6:00 P.M.

As to the Following, All Starting Times are 9:00 a.m. at the L&L Condo and HOA Expo:

October 4th – Palm Beach, The Palm Beach Convention Center
October 11th – Broward at The Signature Grand
October 12th –Brandenton, at The Bradenton Convention Center
October 17th – Orlando at The Orange County Convention Center
October 27th – Tampa at the Tampa Convention Center

Eric Glazer: Eric is a graduate of NYU and The University of Miami School of Law in 1992. Our firm is proud to announce that as of June 1st, 2018 Eric was part of the first ever group of attorneys in the state to
become Board Certified in Condominium and Planned Development Law. Out of over 100,000 attorneys in the state, approximately 195 are Board Certified in this area. Eric was also certified by The Florida Supreme Court as a Circuit Court Mediator in 2007. He is also a member of the New York, Washington D.C. and Tennessee Bar. Eric is also a Florida Supreme Court Certified Arbitrator.

Richard Sachs has been practicing since 1994. He has been certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a Circuit Court mediator since 2002. He is also a Florida Supreme Court Qualified Arbitrator. Richard received the distinguished “AV” rating from Martindale-Hubbell in 2000 and has maintained that rating throughout his career. He is well respected by
his peers as demonstrated by his being named to the list of Florida Super Lawyers and the list of the South Florida Legal Guide’s Top Lawyers, both since 2011.

Pennie Mays is Board Certified in Construction Law by The Florida
Bar. Pennie was admitted to The Florida Bar in 2005. She has spent her
16 year career representing associations against developers and
contractors and other commercial litigation.

Paul Kim is practicing since 2007. He devotes much of his time to
litigation in state and federal court and arbitration including but not
limited to service and emotional support animal issues, disability and
discrimination law, rule compliance and complex bankruptcy issues.
Our firm prides itself on our ability to represent associations
and their owners on all legal matters that come their way.

Whether it’s representation in the courtroom, in administrative hearings, attending your meetings, answering your calls, speaking with you on the radio or teaching you at our seminars, it is always an honor and a pleasure to serve
you.
Eric M. Glazer, Esquire

 

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How to Become a More Efficient Community Association Board Member, By Concierge Plus

How to Become a More Efficient Community Association Board Member, By Concierge Plus

  • Posted: May 25, 2022
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How to Become a More Efficient Community Association Board Member

Whether you are an experienced board member or thinking about becoming one, having a foundation for effective community association board leadership is important.

By becoming a community association board member, you step up to take on positions of service and responsibility. You’re now expected to anticipate issues, solve problems, meet the expectations of residents, and protect property values.

 

Here are five important skills to possess as a board member:

  1. Governing Documents and Roles & Responsibilities. To start you on the right path, you must understand the legal authority for your association. You must have a thorough understanding of the duties and responsibilities of each board member and the professionals who are available to assist you.
  2. Communications, Meetings and Volunteerism. You should also learn how to maximize volunteer involvement in your community association by improving board communications, conducting effective meetings, and building community spirit.
  3. Fundamentals of Financial Management. As a minimum, you should learn the fundamentals of association financial management, including guidelines for protecting your association’s assets, preparing a budget, planning for the future, and collecting assessments. Since the tragic condo collapse in Miami, many board members have realized the importance of risk mitigation and reserve studies.
  4. Professional Advisors and Service Providers. Because putting together the right team to support your association can be challenging, you should seek practical tips on finding, evaluating, and hiring qualified professional advisors and service providers. Visiting CAI’s forum for Community Associations is a good tool for such information.
  5. Association Rules and Conflict Resolution. You should learn the guidelines for making reasonable association rules, enforcing rules fairly and resolving conflict effectively.

Since the tragic Surfside condo collapse, residents are asking for more transparency from their elected board members. Board members can use Concierge Plus as a platform for keeping residents in the loop with regards to anything related to their community.

 

Below are few Concierge Plus features that can help you become a transparent board member:

  • Resident Announcements
    You can send out notices of upcoming meetings using our Announcements module (as well as posting those events on the Community Calendar). Concierge Plus announcements can be delivered to residents by email, SMS, or even through an automated phone call based on the resident’s opt-in preferences. This will save you from having to slip printed materials under your residents’ doors.
  • File Sharing
    You can share important documents such as a Reserve Study with unit owners using our File Sharing feature. This is a password-protected repository for important documents and is a great place to store articles of incorporation, meeting minutes, rules and regulations.
  • Discussion Forum
    Our Discussion Forum feature allows residents and staff to discuss various topics. The forum increases resident engagement by allowing residents to pitch-in with their views on any topic related to their community.
  • Virtual Owner Meetings & AGMs
    As the pandemic eases and we resume in-person gatherings, hybrid meetings are slowly becoming a permanent part of how community associations function.
    Via our all-in-one virtual meeting platform integration with GetQuorum, you can easily add HD web conferencing, automate attendance, enable eligible attendees to vote online, and much more.

 


Concierge Plus

Community association board members should serve with the best interests of their communities in mind. The law imposes a level of care and loyalty, owed by board members to their associations. It is vital that you receive proper education and training in order to understand your obligations and fulfill your fiduciary duty to the association.

Book a meeting with our experts today, and see for yourself how thousands of board members across North America have become more informed and effective using our platform.

 

 

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