KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

By Jan Bergemann

Published August 25, 2017

 

I know, I nearly sound like at TV-station – nothing but repeats. But I can’t say it often enough: Life is easier if you know the facts – in this case the rules and statutes.

 

Most of us worked most of their lives in order to buy our dream home. Shouldn’t you take the time to know what community associations are all about?

 

You wouldn’t believe the telephone calls and/or e-mails I’m getting daily. The questions and statements made in some of these calls or e-mails are clearly showing that these owners don’t have the faintest idea what these associations are all about.

 

How about an example from last month: “I get all kinds of foreclosure notices from my HOA. I consider it harassment since my home is homesteaded and they can’t really foreclose on it. How do I stop these letters from the HOA attorney and notices from the court?”

 

The caller didn’t believe me when I told him that the HOA can foreclose on his home and make him and his family homeless if he doesn’t take care of paying the demanded amount or find some sort of settlement.

 

Obviously some folks contact me in order hear their totally wrong opinion confirmed. If I don’t do them this favor they normally start cursing – or telling me that I don’t know what I am talking about.

 

I sincerely suggest that not only board members should take the time to learn what the laws and rules of associations are all about. Every person who buys a home in a community association should attend one of these seminars.


One of these 3-hour seminars can easily make the difference between a dream home or a home from hell.

 

Well: “HOW ABOUT IT? SEE YOU THERE?


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Jan Bergemann Jan Bergemann is president of Cyber Citizens For Justice, Florida 's largest state-wide property owners' advocacy group. CCFJ works on legislation to help owners living in community  

associations. He moved to Florida in 1995 - hoping to retire. He moved into a HOA, where the developer cheated the homeowners and used the association dues for his own purposes. End of retirement!

 

CCFJ was born in the year 2000, when some owners met in Tallahassee - finding out that power is only in numbers. Bergemann was a member of Governor Jeb Bush's HOA Task force in 2003/2004.

 

The organization has two websites to inform interested Florida homeowners and condo owners:

News Website: http://www.ccfj.net/.

Educational Website: http://www.ccfjfoundation.net/.

   
We think that only owners can really represent owners, since all service providers surely have a different interest! We are trying to create owner-friendly laws, but the best laws are useless without enforcement. And enforcement is totally lacking in Florida !


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