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HOA REFORM BILL IMPERATIVE FOR
FLORIDA'S
ECONOMY!
By
Jan Bergemann
Published
December 14, 2012
Yes,
homeowners living and owning property in
Florida
’s homeowners’ associations desperately need consumer
protection, but HOA REFORMS are even more
important for
Florida's economy and real estate market.
Florida's media just reported yesterday that 7 (seven) of
Florida
’s counties are among the Top
Ten leading the charts for most new foreclosure filings in
the nation.
In
order to recover it is imperative for
Florida's economy and real estate market to get the steady flow
of new retirees, snowbirds and investors coming again.
Florida
was
for a long time the Number One destination in the nation for
retirees and snowbirds. We still have the same sun, the same
white beaches and the same low taxes, but we are now only Number
Three on the list.
To
make a full recovery of our real estate market, we need to be
aware of what is happening in HOAs in
Florida
and how it is affecting new retirees, snowbirds and investors,
all of whom are needed to again create a healthy real estate
market.
But
the many media reports about the nightmare of living in an
Florida HOA is hurting our state's image, keeping retirees from
moving to
Florida
to live the hassle-free lifestyle that we have known for years.
We need again retirees and snowbirds buying property in
Florida
. Building new homes will not attract them; neither will the
estimated 400,000 empty homes and condos. They won’t come to
Florida, as long as the media tells the stories of neighbors
having to pay special assessments, caused by a high percentage
of owners no longer paying their dues driving even more families
to default on their payments as well, causing them to lose their
homes. Who wants to risk his/her life-savings in a state with
such a horrible reputation?
We
have to make
Florida
again attractive for retirees and snowbirds. Being Number Three
behind
Arizona
and the
Carolinas
is definitely not what we want and not what our economy needs.
An
HOA
REFORM BILL will not cost the State of
Florida
a dime, but it will surely help to rebuild the great reputation
our state once had: Being The Sunshine State where retirees and snowbirds
can live happily in warm temperatures, enjoying sunshine, white
beaches and many attractions.
Two
important bills will be sponsored for the 2013 legislative
session and will contain these provisions:
1.)
Regulatory Agency
2.)
Election Regulations
3.)
Board Member Certification
4.)
Board Member Eligibility
5.)
Developer Turnover Control
6.)
Prohibit directors from receiving any kind of
“kickbacks”
7.)
Director’s Vote – Conflict of Interest
8.)
Removal of directors charged with crimes
9.)
Disallow unfair fees for photocopying requested
records
The
most important part of these bills: EASY
ENFORCEMENT! We all know that the best law is useless
without enforcement. Over the years many provisions were added
to Florida Statutes 720, but it seems that nobody ever cared
about the fact that the enforcement of many of these provisions
was nearly impossible.
It
is definitely not fair that 1.4 million condo owners can call an
800 number and get their complaint handled, while about 2.5
million owners of properties located in HOAs must hire a lawyer
and go to court for even the simplest of complaints. Many
associations have to waste outrageous legal fees in lengthy
court battles, money that would be needed to cover regular
bills.
But
it will take the active help of many board members and
homeowners to make these bills a reality. So, as the saying goes
in
Tallahassee: “Let’s get
to work!”
See you tomorrow in
Orlando
??
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