Work in any business long enough, and chances are nothing will surprise you anymore. This is especially true of co-op and condo lawyers. Along with property managers, attorneys are keepers of some of the best stories to come out of South F…

In South Africa, it’s called a “sectional title.” In Quebec, it’s a copropriété divise or “divided co-property.” In Italy, they call it “condominio,” derived from Latin. Regardless of location, a condominium—commonly referred to as “condo”…

When you’re up to your earlobes in alligators, it’s hard to recall that your initial objective was to drain the swamp. —Old Florida Proverb A long-standing annual rite in the Florida Legislature is passage of an omnibus shared-owners…

My husband and I were not allowed to vote on a special assessment for a non-emergency sea wall. I believe this is in violation of Homeowner's Covenant and Florida Statutes 720.303. In 2011, the majority of our five-member board, who represe…

Q I am the board president of a condo association in Miami, Florida. I think it’s a great idea and fiscally prudent, as well, to have a reserve fund to take care of any unexpected expenditures that might arise. However, the residents in o…

When it comes to offering social programs and amenities to a community, residents' wants, needs and preferences can run the gamut. For board members and property managers, having programs in place that cater to the collective—toddlers to o…

These days, buying a new condominium might mean access not only to your dream home but also to the kind of high-end amenities that can transform a beautiful home into a spectacular one. At least that is the goal of developers and boards se…

South Florida’s seasons, with the exception of summer, don’t really resemble the spring, summer, autumn, and winter observed by most areas of the United States. Those traditional seasons are governed by both the weather, and to a certain d…

There are many reasons why people choose to live in a condo building or homeowner’s association. It might be the building’s close proximity to a job or family, or maybe the resident would prefer for someone else to mow the lawn, fix the ro…

I am a property manager and I manage a smaller-sized condo association in South Florida. Unfortunately, there happens to be one owner who is several months behind in paying their assessment. The board has followed the proper standard protoc…