Association Fees and assessment (Miami, Coral Springs: section 8, for sale, foreclosures)

[MargieP]

Hi,
I live in Coral Springs and pay $315.00 in association fees. We have just been assessed due to approximately 25 people that are not paying their association fees. Out of the 25, apx 5 are in foreclosure. We were told that we are responsible for paying THEIR association fees through the assessment. I asked the manager if they do not collect the association fees from the 25 homeowners, will we be assessed again in 6 months and was told that it was a very good possibility. Is this legal through the association?

[eufo]

I have heard problems with foreclosures and their lack of paying association fees, so its possible that it is legal for the owning bank to not pay association fees, I'm not sure.

For the other 20 people not paying their association fees, I don't see how it could possibly be legal to make the other owners pay for them.

[Momma_bear]

Originally Posted by MargieP

Hi,
I live in Coral Springs and pay $315.00 in association fees. We have just been assessed due to approximately 25 people that are not paying their association fees. Out of the 25, apx 5 are in foreclosure. We were told that we are responsible for paying THEIR association fees through the assessment. I asked the manager if they do not collect the association fees from the 25 homeowners, will we be assessed again in 6 months and was told that it was a very good possibility. Is this legal through the association?

Sure. The association uses the money it collects from homeowners to pay its bills. If some homeowners don't pay the association will sue them to get the money. They may get it, they may not. However, the association still has bills to pay and the only place to get money from is the existing homeowners.

[GENO-777]

Originally Posted by Momma_bear

Sure. The association uses the money it collects from homeowners to pay its bills. If some homeowners don't pay the association will sue them to get the money. They may get it, they may not. However, the association still has bills to pay and the only place to get money from is the existing homeowners.

So what happens if every one except one person decides not to pay, dose the association just charge that one person? I don't think so, I would ask a lawyer, it don't sound kosher to me.

[AJ1972]

They do this cr@p all the time here. I live near Coral Springs. We pay $286 per month, and yes, they assess us when people are behind. It's bull if you ask me. Don't get me started. Our place is up for sale and we're trying to leave Florida all together.

[MargieP]

I spoke with the manager and was told that they do not have enough money to redo the lighting and planting of trees. Quite honesly, I don't see why they need to do either as it looks perfectly fine. After talking to him, I did some research and found out that the city of Coral springs is providing matching grants to do exactly those types of things. It urks me that we are paying them to provide management services and all they have to do is a little leg work to get grant information to assist the association. I'm fed up with high association fees, assessments, property tax and condo insurance and am ready to move - possibly rent. It's cheaper in the long run!

[AJ1972]

I spoke with the manager and was told that they do not have enough money to redo the lighting and planting of trees. Quite honesly, I don't see why they need to do either as it looks perfectly fine. After talking to him, I did some research and found out that the city of Coral springs is providing matching grants to do exactly those types of things. It urks me that we are paying them to provide management services and all they have to do is a little leg work to get grant information to assist the association. I'm fed up with high association fees, assessments, property tax and condo insurance and am ready to move - possibly rent. It's cheaper in the long run!

Yup. Exactly how I feel.
My hubby is applying to out of state positions right now, and we're house hunting.

[filo74]

Yup....my condo just turned SECTION 8 !! Can you believe that crap. All we have our monkeys with their little kids running around everywhere. We pay for the HOA (260/month) and guess what ? The gates are ALWAYS stuck open, the fitness center has holes in the wall, much of the cardio equipment is broken, there is graffitti on the walls and the kids use the locker room to have sex (condom wrappers everywhere). There is NO security anywhere. We never use the pool...too much kids. and the tennis courts always have kids playing on them like it's a basketball court or something. We live in EDGWATER condo's.......stay away ! Heard from the police that 2 weeks ago a lady lit herself on fire commiting suicide and the fire destroyed her home obviousely as well as water/smoke damage to the adjoining structures. Guess what ? We will NOT pay our HOA fee's anymore and we are foreclosing. We are done with this rat hole that we owe 242K on and is only worth 160K. Bye Bye....we are going to the acreage in palm beach. Over 1.5 acres of land...peace and quiet and NO HOA feess !

[eufo]

Originally Posted by filo74

Yup....my condo just turned SECTION 8 !! Can you believe that crap. All we have our monkeys with their little kids running around everywhere. We pay for the HOA (260/month) and guess what ? The gates are ALWAYS stuck open, the fitness center has holes in the wall, much of the cardio equipment is broken, there is graffitti on the walls and the kids use the locker room to have sex (condom wrappers everywhere). There is NO security anywhere. We never use the pool...too much kids. and the tennis courts always have kids playing on them like it's a basketball court or something. We live in EDGWATER condo's.......stay away ! Heard from the police that 2 weeks ago a lady lit herself on fire commiting suicide and the fire destroyed her home obviousely as well as water/smoke damage to the adjoining structures. Guess what ? We will NOT pay our HOA fee's anymore and we are foreclosing. We are done with this rat hole that we owe 242K on and is only worth 160K. Bye Bye....we are going to the acreage in palm beach. Over 1.5 acres of land...peace and quiet and NO HOA feess !

Wow, that's terrible. Where is this horrid place? I did a search and found one in Ft. Lauderdale and Miami Beach.

[Hero]

I seem to hear this more and more. Evidently condo prices are falling a lot but the association fees keep rising.

Originally Posted by filo74

...and the kids use the locker room to have sex (condom wrappers everywhere). ..

At least the kids are practicing safe sex -- something that wouldn't hurt for their parents!