2022
NEW LAWS – WILL THEY AGAIN BE
IGNORED BY MANY BOARDS?
By
Jan Bergemann
Published August
12, 2022
Year for year we
see new community association bills passed, claiming to close more
loopholes in laws that have ...
Read more...
DON’T BE AFRAID TO
ASK FOR HELP…
By
Rafael Aquino
Published August 10, 2022
For the past three weeks, the blog has
been focused on all the changes that recently came into effect;
however, it's not ...
Read more...
OTHER
NEW CONDO LAWS TO KNOW – PART THREE
By
Eric Glazer, Esq.
Published August 8, 2022
Today, we finally conclude
all off the new condominium laws that were passed in 2022 by The
Florida Legislature...
Read more...
MORE LAWS WITHOUT TEETH?
By
Jan Bergemann
Published August 5, 2022
The so-called
CONDO SAFETY REFORM BILL (SB
4-D) contains a lot more provisions, but as usual without
real ...
Read more...
PARTNERSHIPS ARE
CRUCIAL…
By
Rafael Aquino
Published August 3, 2022
Challenges are part of leadership and
sitting on a board or being a community association manager; whether
you like ...
Read more ...
SOME OTHER NEW LAWS CONDOS MUST FOLLOW – PART TWO
By
Eric Glazer, Esq.
Published August 1, 2022
DISTRIBUTION OF THE INSPECTION REPORTS:
Upon completion of a phase one or phase two milestone inspection and receipt
of the inspector-prepared summary of ...
Read more...
MORE LAWS – NO ENFORCEMENT!
By
Jan Bergemann
Published July
29, 2022
Let’s face it: The recently enacted CONDO SAFETY REFORM BILL
(SB 4-D) is definitely well intended, trying ...
Read more...
INVEST IN YOUR
ASSOCIATIONS FUTURE
By
Rafael Aquino
Published July 27, 2022
This year will be very interesting for
associations that don't have reserves or have minimal reserves. I
say this because...
Read more...
SOME OTHER NEW LAWS CONDOS MUST
FOLLOW – PART ONE
By
Eric Glazer, Esq.
Published July 25, 2022
We all know by now the myriad of new safety laws condos that are
3 stories or more are required to follow. They ...
Read more...
DIVERSITY CREATES PROBLEMS!
By
Jan Bergemann
Published July 22, 2022
In his Blog on
Monday Eric named 5 European Countries that are – so far – not
overrun by immigration. Denmark ...
Read more...
HOW TO BE A GOOD
NEIGHBOR
By
Rafael Aquino
Published July 20, 2022
A little consideration goes a long way.
Read the following tips from eHow.com on how to be a good neighbor
beyond...
Read more...
OUR COMMUNITIES ARE THE MOST DIVERSE ON EARTH
By
Eric Glazer, Esq.
Published July 18, 2022
I’m lucky and privileged. Over the past few summers, I
have had the opportunity to travel to so many of those countries
...
Read more...
FINANCIAL CHAOS?
By
Jan Bergemann
Published July 15, 2022
I don’t think
there is any doubt that the provisions contained in the
CONDO SAFETY REFORM BILL SB 4-D were ...
Read more...
HOW TO TERMINATE YOUR
CONDO?
By
Rafael Aquino
Published July 13, 2022
Termination may be at the top of
mind for many condo boards and associations that don't have the
money to follow...
Read more...
WILL THE NEW
LAWS BE DEVASTATING FINANCIALLY
TO SOME FLORIDA RESIDENTS?
By
Eric Glazer, Esq.
Published July 11, 2022
In a word
--- YES. Are all these new laws really necessary? In a word
–YES. This is all happening due to a complete ...
246th BIRTHDAY – SHOULDN’T WE
ALL HAVE CELEBRATED?
By
Jan Bergemann
Published July
8, 2022
Well, normally a
birthday is a day to celebrate, a day to have fun and enjoy. But in
all reality I think our Founding Fathers...
Read more...
TIME IS NO LONGER ON YOUR SIDE
By
Rafael Aquino
Published July 6, 2022
The second half of the year is over,
and the talks of the United States being or going into recession are
intensifying. ..
Read more...
FOR ONE DAY……………
By
Eric Glazer, Esq.
Published July 4, 2022
For the past 364 days we have all been labeled at one time
or another as either Democrat, Republican, Independent, ...
MANDATORY RESERVES
By
Jan Bergemann
Published July
1, 2022
Finally the
Florida Legislature got the message they should have gotten 20 years
ago: FULLY FUNDED RESERVES...
Read more...
CAM’S BUSY SEASON IS
HERE…
By
Rafael Aquino
Published June 29, 2022
Tomorrow is the last day of June, and
we will start the year's second half. While many enjoy their
summers, community...
Read more...
FLORIDA’S NEW CONDO RESERVE and FIRE SAFETY LAWS – PART TWO
By
Eric Glazer, Esq.
Published June 27, 2022
THE
BIG CHANGE: NO LONGER IS THERE THE ABILITY TO WAIVE RESERVES
OR USE THEM ...
RESERVE STUDY REQUIRED!!!!
By
Jan Bergemann
Published June 24, 2022
It is now in the statutes: STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY RESERVE STUDIES
ARE REQUIRED for condominiums...
Read more...
WHAT NOW IF I HAVE A
RESERVE STUDY?
By
Rafael Aquino
Published June 22, 2022
Reserve studies are an essential tool
every association should have. I've written about its importance
many times ...
Read more...
THE NEW CONDO RESERVE LAWS – PART
ONE - GET READY
By
Eric Glazer, Esq.
Published June 20, 2022
Over the last few weeks, I
blogged about every condominium in every county now needing a
“milestone ...
Read more...
MANDATORY BUILDING INSPECTIONS?
By
Jan Bergemann
Published June 17, 2022
The new Condo
Safety Bill, just signed by Governor Ron DeSantis into law, will
require mandatory inspections for
...
Read more...
THREE SIMPLE STEPS TO GET THROUGH IT ALL
By
Rafael Aquino
Published June 15, 2022
Many
buildings in South Florida are finding themselves in a challenging
situation. Many of the standard services within...
Read more...
MANDATORY BUILDING INSPECTIONS –
PART TWO
By
Eric Glazer, Esq.
Published June 13, 2022
So last week
we discussed the fact that the change in the law will now
require every condominium building in the state ...
Read more...
SB 4D – ARE WE SEEING THE FINAL VERSION?
By
Jan Bergemann
Published June 10, 2022
The ink of the Governor’s signature under the Condo Safety Bill
isn’t even dry yet – and we already see the so-called ...
Read more...
DON’T SAY WE DIDN’T WARN
YOU
By
Rafael Aquino
Published June 8, 2022
The changes that came to our industry
via SB-4D have been our industry's talk since it passed. I've had so
many ...
Read more...
THE NEW CONDO LAWS ---- MANDATORY
INSPECTIONS – PART ONE
By
Eric Glazer, Esq.
Published June 6, 2022
Let’s start discussing the
new condominium laws that go into effect on July 1st.
We won’t cover them all in one week, ...
WILL THESE BILLS REALLY HELP?
By
Jan Bergemann
Published
June 3, 2022
During the
special session the Florida Legislature passed two bills that were
quickly signed into law by Governor ...
Read more...
MUCH NEEDED CHANGE ARRIVED…
By
Rafael Aquino
Published June 1, 2022
Change finally came for condos and
cooperative associations, and no one expected it to happen at a
special ...
Read more...
A DIFFERENT KIND OF MEMORIAL DAY – AT LEAST FOR ME
By
Eric Glazer, Esq.
Published May 30, 2022
I know that the intent of Memorial Day is to honor those who
have previously fought and died for this country. I certainly...
Read more...
PROXY VOTING?
By
Jan Bergemann
Published May
27, 2022
LET’S FACE IT: THIS COUNTRY HAS A
SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH ELECTIONS! No matter what system is ...
Read more...
WHAT’S A MOTION?
By
Rafael Aquino
Published May 25, 2022
A motion is a proposal that the
association’s membership take action or a position on a specific
topic or issue. The ...
Read
more...
PROXIES: WHAT ARE THEY AND WHEN CAN
WE USE THEM?
By
Eric Glazer, Esq.
Published May 23, 2022
The term “proxy” is often thrown around incorrectly. In simple
English, if you can’t make it to a meeting to actually ...
Read more...
LAST CHANCE?
By
Jan Bergemann
Published May
20, 2022
Next week’s
special session will be the last chance for Florida’s legislators to
get things right -- a chance they ...
Read more...
HOW WILL YOU PREPARE?
By
Rafael Aquino
Published May 18, 2022
This year has turned out to be
interesting thus far, and we still aren't even halfway. The overall
market has seen losses...
Read more...
THE HOUSING NUMBERS JUST DON’T ADD
UP
By
Eric Glazer, Esq.
Published May 16, 2022
I really hate
to be a Debbie Downer, but I have never been more afraid of an
economic collapse in Florida, especially...
Read more...
LEAVE KEYS? BUT BEWARE!!!
By
Jan Bergemann
Published May
13, 2022
There is a lot to
consider if you’re leaving your unit for a longer period of time –
like our so-called “snow-birds” do...
Read more...
5 TIPS BEFORE YOU GO BACK HOME…
By
Rafael Aquino
Published May 11, 2022
In today's blog, I wanted to provide
five tips that snowbirds should follow before leaving home. ...
Read
more...
OUT OF SIGHT DOES NOT MEAN OUT OF
MIND
By
Eric Glazer, Esq.
Published May 9, 2022I like to re-publish this article every few
years because it is so important. As we get closer to ...
Read more...
EASY LIVING? WHAT A JOKE!
By
Jan Bergemann
Published May 6, 2022
Eric talked on Monday about “FALSE ADVERTISING ON CONDO
LIVING” that dated many, many years ago. Don’t...
Read more...
IF I HAD ONE WISH…
By
Rafael Aquino
Published May 4, 2022
Problems are part of life and business;
however, it's how we deal with the problems that separate those that
move on to ...
Read more...
WERE WE SUCKERED IN BY FALSE
ADVERTISING?
By
Eric Glazer, Esq.
Published May 2, 2022
I remember as a kid growing up
in Brooklyn, Red Buttons would do a commercial that aired in New
York, promoting...
Read more...
FIRE SAFETY SYSTEM -- FAIR WARNING?
By
Jan Bergemann
Published April 29, 2022
A serious DEADLINE (January 1,
2024) is creating another serious expense for Condo owners
in the near future: FS 718.112 (l) --
Firesafety.—Any
high-rise association ...
Read more...
EXTINGUISHING THE FLAMES
By
Rafael Aquino
Published April 27, 2022
Most
in-home fires are caused by ordinary things like a stove burner,
candle, or extension cord. Mental lapses, poor ...
Read more...
ANOTHER FIRESTORM IS JUST AROUND THE
CORNER
By
Eric Glazer, Esq.
Published April 25, 2022
As we know,
The Florida Legislature is having trouble fixing the problems of
allowing condominium buildings to ...
Read more...
FINANCES = UPROAR!
By
Jan Bergemann
Published April
22, 2022
Apathy is rampant
in community associations. Participation at board meetings – or even
annual meetings with elections...
Read more...
WHICH REPORT DO YOU
NEED?
By
Rafael Aquino
Published April 20, 2022
Financial Reporting requirements are
outlined in the Florida Statutes for both Condos and HOA’s with the
specific ...
Read more...
THE TAX MAN COMETH TODAY
By
Eric Glazer, Esq.
Published April 18, 2022
We got three
extra days this year to pay up. Three extra days to turn in our
income tax forms and pay Uncle Sam. Instead...
Read more...
WHEN BOARD PRESIDENTS THINK THEY ARE
DICTATORS!
By
Jan Bergemann
Published April 15, 2022
In earlier posts
I had already pointed out that there are quite a few board
presidents who think their names are Adolf, Joseph ...
Read more...
5 TRAITS OF A GREAT BOARD MEMBER
By
Rafael Aquino
Published April 13, 2022
Do you have what it takes to be a good
board member? Chances are you do. If you have a mix of some of the
...
Read more...
WHEN THE PRESIDENT THINKS THEY’RE
THE KING
By
Eric Glazer, Esq.
Published April 11, 2022
(We blogged about this nearly 3 years ago, but in light of
recent events, it bears repeating.) Here’s an issue that ...
Read more...
BOARD OFFICERS = DEEDED OWNERS?
By
Jan Bergemann
Published April
8, 2022
When reading the Florida statutes in regards to meetings and
elections you will find that the word “MEMBERS” can
be...
Read more...
WHAT YOUR ASSOCIATION
BOARD DOES FOR YOU
By
Rafael Aquino
Published April 6, 2022
Community Association Board Members
help associations run smoothly. The board consists of volunteers who
execute ,,,
Read more...
ELECTION CONFUSION – WHO CAN BE A
DIRECTOR AND/OR AN OFFICER?
By
Eric Glazer, Esq.
Published April 4, 2022
Now that
Covid is basically and finally in the rear view mirror, most
associations are having their annual elections in ...
Read more...
HOUSE LEADERSHIP – SPROWLS + PEREZ
-- FAILED CONDO OWNERS
By
Jan Bergemann
Published April 1, 2022
After looking into all the details and the excuses made to
explain the failure of the CONDO SAFETY BILL it’s pretty obvious
...
Read more...
PAY NOW OR LATER…
By
Rafael Aquino
Published March 30, 2022
The use of associations funds is one of
the most critical roles a board of directors manages on behalf of
its members. Many times ...
Read more...
SO NOW THAT THE LEGISLATURE DID NOTHING WHERE DO WE STAND?
By
Eric Glazer, Esq.
Published March 28, 2022
I always thought that the dry part of the Board Certification
Course was teaching about budgets and reserves. The material
...
Read more...
NECESSARY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION BILL
By
Jan Bergemann
Published March 25, 2022
After many not-so-good experiences I’m not really a fan of
Advisory Councils or Task Forces any more. The HOA Task ...
Read more...
HOW WILL YOU MANAGE
THROUGH INFLATION?
By
Rafael Aquino
Published March 23, 2022
The topic of reserves is so important,
and it's one that is needed to be had even more so in today's
environment. With...
Read more...
MAYBE
IT’S TIME TO BRING BACK AND OLD LAW
By
Eric Glazer, Esq.
Published March 21, 2022
Even after the death of 98 innocent people at The Champlain
Towers in Surfside, the fact is…….The Florida Legislature ...
Read more...
DID 98 PEOPLE DIE IN VAIN?
By
Jan Bergemann
Published March
18, 2022
After the
collapse of the Champlain Towers South condominium in Surfside on
June 24, 2021 about everybody ...
Read more...
WHICH SIDE ARE YOU
ON?
By
Rafael Aquino
Published March 16, 2022
Many industry leaders thought this
would be the year of change. After the tragedy at Surfside, we all
believed that ...
Read more...
MY APOLOGIES TO THE FAMILIES OF THE
VICTIMS
By
Eric Glazer, Esq.
Published March 14, 2022
Today, I feel
sadness for the victims in Surfside and their families. I said
a million times on the air and in columns ...
Read more...
PROBLEMATIC PROVISIONS OR
OWNER-PROTECTION?
By
Jan Bergemann
Published March 11, 2022
As Eric stated in
his blog on Monday enforcement of unpaid dues has been made a lot
more difficult by the Florida ...
Read more...
STAY AGGRESSIVE...
By
Rafael Aquino
Published March 9, 2022
Staying on top of your association
receivable should always be top of mind for any Board Member,
especially the ...
Read more...
IT’S GETTING TOUGHER TO COLLECT
THOSE UNPAID ASSESSMENTS
By
Eric Glazer, Esq.
Published March 7, 2022 W
hen I started
practicing law in 1992, condominiums and HOAs had it a lot
easier when it came to collecting their ...
Read more...
HOA PROPERTY OWNERS: STEPCHILDREN OF
THE LEGISLATURE?
By
Jan Bergemann
Published
March 4, 2022
Well, the 2022 Legislative Session
is nearly over and no matter what condo laws will pass one thing is
obvious: The...
Read more...
GETTING EDUCATED IS
KEY…
By
Rafael Aquino
Published March 2, 2022
In this
coming year, we can expect many changes to our industry. Some of the
changes that are expected are: ...
Read more...
WHERE WE ARE AT FOR THE MOMENT AND THANK
YOU SENATOR BRADLEY
By
Eric Glazer, Esq.
Published February 28, 2022
I first want
to give you some good news. On the more broad scale, I want you
to know that the listeners and viewers of ...
Read more...
WAITING FOR THE CHALLENGE?
By
Jan Bergemann
Published February 25, 2022
The fight over e-mails among board members being “PUBLIC
RECORDS” or not has gone in the next round ...
Read more...
EMAIL TIPS
By
Rafael Aquino
Published February 23, 2022
Emails have become a necessary evil
throughout the years. While it has helped us communicate, speed up
response ...
Read more...
BEFORE YOU HIT THAT “SEND” BUTTON
By
Eric Glazer, Esq.
Published February 21, 2022
Florida Statute states: 120.565 Declaratory statement by
agencies.— (1) Any substantially affected person may ...
Read more...
THINGS CAN CHANGE QUICKLY!
By
Jan Bergemann
Published February 18, 2022
Remember last year
in January? Our government changed – and things quickly began to
unravel. Remember the gas ...
Read more...
PROACTIVE VS REACTIVE
By
Rafael Aquino
Published February 16, 2022
Much has changed in our condo and
homeowners associations over the past year. As Eric mentioned on ...
Read more...
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES
By
Eric Glazer, Esq.
Published February 14, 2022
It’s almost a
dream, but a year ago things were certainly different in the
condo world than they are today. I was ...
Read more...
BILLS ON THE MOVE?
By
Jan Bergemann
Published February 11, 2022
We are past half-time of the 2022
Legislative Session and so far the only owner-friendly bill
on the move is
SB 394 ...
Read more...
WHAT IS ALTERNATIVE
FUNDING?
By
Rafael Aquino
Published February 9, 2022
It seems as if we are moving toward
reserves being required within our communities or, at a minimum,
associations have ...
Read more...
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
By
Eric Glazer, Esq.
Published February 7, 2022
The Florida Legislature is in full swing. Each year lots of
bills get filed, but few make it to the finish line and ...
Read more...
WILL CONDO OWNERS EVER LEARN?
By
Jan Bergemann
Published February 4, 2022
Anybody who
thought that the collapse of the Champlain Towers South would be a
wake-up call for condo owners ...
Read more...
THE TIME IS NOW…
By
Rafael Aquino
Published February 2, 2022
Many within our industry understand the
challenges associations face; however, no challenge is more
prominent...
Read more...
HOW IN THE WORLD DID WE GET
HERE?
By
Eric Glazer, Esq.
Published January 31, 2022
So, I get a call a few weeks ago from a reporter at The New York
Times. He was doing a story about the incredible ...
Read more...
LOANS AND MORTGAGES FOR CONDOS?
By
Jan Bergemann
Published January
28, 2022
The collapse of the
Champlain Towers South has changed a lot in the condo world. New
laws, new insurance policies ...
Read more...
CHANGE IS COMING… ARE YOU
READY?
By
Rafael Aquino
Published January 26, 2022
Changes are coming to condo
associations, and this recent update by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
to its underwriting...
Read more...
IT MAY BECOME IMPOSSIBLE TO GET A NEW
MORTGAGE IN MANY CONDOS
By
Eric Glazer, Esq.
Published January 24, 2022
As if condos
didn’t have enough problems, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have
just come out with new guidelines that ...
Read more...
NEW SHERIFFS IN TOWN?
By
Jan Bergemann
Published January
21, 2022
On Monday Eric
talked in his blog about
Senate Bill 274, a bill filed by Senator Ana Maria
Rodriguez (R-Miami). To be ...
Read more...
THESE INFRACTIONS NEED TO
END
By
Rafael Aquino
Published January 19, 2022
I'm all for the proper policing for our
community associations. The funds within community associations ...
Read more...
THERE MAY BE LOTS OF NEW SHERIFFS IN
TOWN IF THIS BILL PASSES
By
Eric Glazer, Esq.
Published January 17, 2022
Senator Anna Maria Rodriguez
filed our mandatory condo education bill in Florida’s Senate.
But if you think she’s ...
Read more...
LOTS OF COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION BILLS ARE
FILED!
By
Jan Bergemann
Published
January 14, 2022
It will be a busy
legislative session this year. Just look at all the owner-friendly
community association bills are filed. I ...
Read more...
CHANGE IS NEEDED NOW
By
Rafael Aquino
Published January 12, 2022
Over the next few months, we will see
how much change will be coming to our condominium associations.
Multiple...
Read more...
ANOTHER STUNNING GRAND JURY REPORT
ABOUT FLORIDA CONDOMINIUMS
By
Eric Glazer, Esq.
Published January 10, 2022
I’ll tell you something – I give a lot of credit to Kathy
Fernandez Rundle, The State Attorney for Miami-Dade County...
Read more...
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About
HOA & Condo Blog
 |
Eric Glazer graduated from the University
of Miami School of Law in 1992 after receiving a B.A.
from NYU. He has practiced community association law for
three decades and is the owner of Glazer and Sachs, P.A.
a five attorney law firm with offices in Fort Lauderdale
and Orlando.
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Eric is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in
Condominium and Planned Development Law.
Since 2009, Eric has been the host of Condo Craze
and HOAs, a weekly one hour radio show that airs at 11:00 a.m.
each Sunday on 850 WFTL.
See:
www.condocrazeandhoas.com.
Eric is the first attorney in the State of
Florida that designed a course that certifies condominium and
HOA residents as eligible to serve on a Board of Directors and
has now certified more than 20,000 Floridians all across the
state. He is certified as a Circuit Court Mediator by The
Florida Supreme Court and has mediated dozens of disputes
between associations and unit owners. Eric also devotes
significant time to advancing legislation in the best interest
of Florida community association members.
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As the Co-Founder and CEO
of Affinity Management Services, Rafael P. Aquino leads his team to
redefine excellence. They serve community associations
efficiently |
and effectively with
dedication and passion. Rafael’s energy and positive
spirit is the foundation of Affinity Management
Services’ company culture, which instills enthusiasm and
excitement when providing expert advice to its board
members and relieving the day-to-day burdens of running
a community association.
Since 2007, Rafael has
developed a work culture that values responsive and
high-quality services. He has led his team by following
a proactive vs reactive philosophy. The same approach
Rafael instills in the day to day operations of each
association. Today, Affinity Management Services
maintains its success and benefits as a result of the
foundation Rafael has built and continues to foster by
providing educational seminars, continuing education
classes for association managers and board members
alike.
Rafael and his team help condominium and homeowners’
associations save money and improve their communities.
His calm, personable, and service-oriented nature helps
him to establish strong relationships with ease. Rafael
is known as a sincere and honest leader who looks out
for the best interests of his clients and communities,
and he strongly advocates for their needs. His role
requires coordination and communication, as such he
takes logical and intelligent steps to approach
challenges head-on.
As a graduate of Florida International University’s
electrical engineering program and a licensed community
association manager, Rafael’s education and skills equip
him with unique insights to tackle complex problems
through critical thinking. He understands how each
component within a system works together in order to
effectively arrive at solutions, techniques, and
conclusions. Therefore, as he manages the multiple
challenges of running a community association management
company, he understands how each property is its own
unique system and tailors’ specific services to assure
that all their needs are met.
For more information about Rafael P. Aquino and Affinity
Management Services please visit
www.ManagedByAffinity.com or call 1-800-977-6279.
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Doral Office: 8200 NW 41st ST
Suite 200
Doral, FL 33166
Broward Office: 150 S Pine Island RD Suite 300
Plantation, FL 33324
O: 800-977-6279 ● F: 305-325-4053
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 |
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
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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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