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Florida Condo Owners Dump Units Over Six-Figure Special Assessments
Mishtalk ^ | 5-13-24 | Mike Shedlock

Posted on 05/16/2024 2:48:21 PM PDT by dynachrome

Have a Florida condo? Can you afford a $100,000 or higher special assessment for new safety standards?

After the collapse of a Surfside Building on June 24, 2021that killed 98 people, the state passed a structural safety law that is now biting owners.

Not only are insurance rates soaring, but owners are hit with huge special assessments topping $100,000.

(Excerpt) Read more at mishtalk.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Education; Society
KEYWORDS: condo; florida; hugeincrease; surfside; surfsidebuilding
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To: Alberta's Child

“”When you buy a condominium, you are surrendering much of the control over your property to a governing body””

That is just one reason I would never buy a condo.


21 posted on 05/16/2024 3:33:18 PM PDT by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: RainMan
One of my clients owns 15 units in an aging 100-unit condominium complex. To a layperson his situation seems untenable because he’s getting close to that “unimproved air” scenario.

But he’s a very astute investor who is sitting on these assets because he knows that leveling the building is the best thing that can happen. The land itself is so valuable that owning a 15% stake in it puts him in an excellent financial position.

22 posted on 05/16/2024 3:37:52 PM PDT by Alberta's Child (If something in government doesn’t make sense, you can be sure it makes dollars.)
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To: dragnet2

I understand the sentiment, but in many areas it’s no worse than owning a home in a town with a municipal government. You already surrender a lot of control over your property in that case.


23 posted on 05/16/2024 3:39:15 PM PDT by Alberta's Child (If something in government doesn’t make sense, you can be sure it makes dollars.)
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To: Alberta's Child

Unfortunately for his, it is only 15% of the value of the land, not any improvements created. He will still probably make money with land valuation increases, but the “new” condos will require venture funding, and he will get none of the value of what they build.


24 posted on 05/16/2024 3:41:23 PM PDT by RainMan ((Democrats ... making war against America since April 12, 1861))
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To: Maskot
I've had a condo for years and have had pretty good luck. You do need to choose your condo community carefully and do your homework before buying in. For example, a condo community with a lot of open listings is likely a red flag. Drive through that community several times to see if there are plenty of people using the common areas (such as pool, community center, etc.). Scope out the landscaping and the general condition of the exteriors of the buildings. Also make sure the HOA has plenty of reserves for unexpected expenses.

Just keep in mind that it is generally bored old biddies who will serve on the HOA board and they are always looking to make up new rules. They walk around with clipboards to make sure you are not letting your dog poop on the grass or having too many plants on your balcony. Yes, that is the drawback of condo living.

The upside is that I never have to mow grass, rake leaves, or shovel snow.

25 posted on 05/16/2024 3:42:00 PM PDT by SamAdams76 (6,575,474 Truth | 87,429,044 Twitter)
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To: dragnet2

Some of these buildings aren’t safe to live in... it’s not a minor thing in Florida.


26 posted on 05/16/2024 3:43:31 PM PDT by GOPJ ( MSNBC ghouls pretend their 'base' is elites - it's why Biden won't campaign in the black community.)
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To: Alberta's Child

I would not buy into anything that was controlled or regulated by some condo/HOA association.


27 posted on 05/16/2024 3:44:45 PM PDT by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: RainMan

He bought into this development years ago when the condos were cheap, and has been renting them to tenants since then. The town has since become a very hot, trendy area for real estate … and the property is now zoned to allow for a much larger building on the site. He’ll make a fortune when the building is eventually demolished. If he wasn’t such an honest guy he’d probably be tempted to burn it down now. LOL.


28 posted on 05/16/2024 3:47:30 PM PDT by Alberta's Child (If something in government doesn’t make sense, you can be sure it makes dollars.)
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To: dragnet2

I hear ya.


29 posted on 05/16/2024 3:48:04 PM PDT by Alberta's Child (If something in government doesn’t make sense, you can be sure it makes dollars.)
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To: dynachrome

My brother sold his condo in central Florida a couple of months ago. He was on the board for his association. He predicted this to me some time back. Also, this has created huge liability problems for condo association board members. He said it is now very unwise to be on a condo board. What will the associations do when no one will do that job?

This is a long way from bottom.


30 posted on 05/16/2024 3:48:43 PM PDT by ChildOfThe60s ("If you can remember the 60s....you weren't really there")
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To: GOPJ

Are you kidding, even new construction, with the right hurricane can be totally blown away For those who opt to live in hurricane zones I would suggest one story reinforced concrete homes.


31 posted on 05/16/2024 3:50:42 PM PDT by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: Alberta's Child

True dat


32 posted on 05/16/2024 3:51:11 PM PDT by Ge0ffrey
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To: dragnet2

“government is always concerned with your safety.”

Is that you, Dr. Fauci? sarc of course.


33 posted on 05/16/2024 3:55:13 PM PDT by dynachrome ("God grant I don't outlive my wits.")
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To: Alberta's Child

“There’s nothing worse than a condo development filled with old people who are hell-bent on running the place as cheap as possible because they’re 70+ years old and have no interest in paying to replace building elements that will last for 40-50 years. I suspect this scenario is far more common in Florida than in most other states.”

hence, the new florida legislation that mandates inspection and maintenance to prevent seaside condo towers from collapsing from lack of maintenance ...


34 posted on 05/16/2024 3:57:28 PM PDT by catnipman (A Vote For The Lesser Of Two Evils Still Counts As A Vote For Evil)
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To: dynachrome

You bet, when that large apartment building fell down in Florida the state attorneys and those in the insurance biz were licking their chops.


35 posted on 05/16/2024 3:58:38 PM PDT by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: ChildOfThe60s
Also, this has created huge liability problems for condo association board members. He said it is now very unwise to be on a condo board.

I believe Florida law gives a lot of protection to condo board members. Basically, the board members and other volunteers acting on behalf of the condo association are indemnified against lawsuits except in cases where it can be proven they were acting in bad faith. This is why the insurance carrier for the HOA in the Trayvon Martin case paid out a large settlement to the mutant’s family. George Zimmerman was covered under the HOA’s indemnification rules because he was acting as a “neighborhood watch” volunteer.

36 posted on 05/16/2024 3:59:03 PM PDT by Alberta's Child (If something in government doesn’t make sense, you can be sure it makes dollars.)
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To: catnipman

Exactly. The new law is basically there to protect morons from themselves.


37 posted on 05/16/2024 3:59:48 PM PDT by Alberta's Child (If something in government doesn’t make sense, you can be sure it makes dollars.)
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To: dynachrome

They cheated out and neglected the structures for decades. Time to pay the piper.


38 posted on 05/16/2024 4:00:27 PM PDT by glorgau
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To: dragnet2
It’s all to ensure your safety. The government is always concerned with your safety.

Of course they are, of course they are. 👎

39 posted on 05/16/2024 4:07:42 PM PDT by Mark17 (Retired USAF air traffic controller. Father of Air Force pilot. Both bitten by the aviation bug)
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To: Alberta's Child

He was on a board and worked with the association attorney. I’m taking his word on it. He’s a smart guy with a lot of experience in the area.


40 posted on 05/16/2024 4:08:10 PM PDT by ChildOfThe60s ("If you can remember the 60s....you weren't really there")
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