|
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?”
|
|
 |
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
!
|
