2013 September
Focus on... Energy & Enviroment

There are two ways—and only two ways—to balance a budget: increase revenue, or decrease spending. Whether you’re the treasurer of a co-op or condo board or the President of the United States, those are the only two levers at your disposa…

 It's hard to believe that not so long ago, recycling was a pretty novel concept, especially for cities and municipalities. In the 1970s and '80s, local governments started to establish recycling programs due to rising energy prices and a …

With today’s condo and HOA residents much more conscious of their impact on the environment and looking for ways to reduce it, smart boards and property managers are looking to help. Simple tasks like turning down thermostats, shutting off…

To celebrate The South Florida Cooperator’s Condo, HOA & Co-op Expo’s second year of serving South Florida’s building and condominium communities, we’ll be drawing one lucky board member’s name for the $2,500 Grand Prize when the Expo ret…

 Every year the state of Florida experiences an ebb and flow of full-time and  part time residents; as the seasons change, so does the population. Part-time  residents from the northern United States and Canada live and work in Florida  fo…

A glance at a chart of average temperatures in South Florida during the summer months reveals only that it gets into the 90s during the daytime in July, August and September, and cools off at night. This belies the reality—that this “av…

It’s no secret that lawsuits are expensive, acrimonious undertakings that can severely erode both the finances and morale of building communities. When a disagreement between a resident and the board escalates into a serious dispute an…

Since the beginning of 2013, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation has been making front page news regularly. The year started out with Governor Rick Scott making good on a campaign promise to push through reforms of the insurance co…

Pembroke Pines, the second most populous city in Broward County, and tenth most populous in Florida, grew up around agricultural land once occupied by dairy farms. Progressive in nature, today’s Pembroke Pines consists of a mi…

With video/audio conferencing available, I'm wondering if association meetings can be held via telephone conferencing. I'm wondering if there are any parameters for this, or if there are any legal restrictions. Where can I find the gui…

My mother had a stroke recently and now requires a wheelchair, and she lives on the second floor of a building with no elevator. We're looking to get a lift installed for her, but a board member said the association may not cover it. I…