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THE
GENERAL CONCEPT
CCFJ
FOUNDATION, Inc. will
try to help owners of properties located in
Florida
within such community associations as condominiums, co-ops,
homeowners' associations and mobile home parks.
The
Florida
legislature created statutes regulating these community
associations, but the wording of those statutes is invariably
vague, open to interpretation and almost totally lacks consumer
protection. The board members elected to run these
not-for-profit corporations often lack the experience and
expertise to properly make the necessary decisions. Board
members of community associations frequently are responsible for
creating and implementing multimillion-dollar budgets without
knowing the basic governing rules. They need training
before taking office and the State of
Florida
should provide training. Otherwise, board members have to
act out of ignorance and are vulnerable to undue influence from
service providers. Service providers, namely attorneys and
community association managers, are supposed to put the
interests of owners ahead of self-interest. Unfortunately,
a number of service providers put their own self-interests far
ahead of those they are supposed to protect -- the owners whose
interests in many cases oppose the interests of the service
providers.
Have
you ever heard of an association attorney who became rich in a
peaceful, well-run community? Prospective
owners want to live in a peaceful, well-run community. No
homeowner wants to enrich association attorneys, but a peaceful
and well run community isn’t in the best financial interests
of greedy service providers.
Board
members often forget that they are also owners and they are apt
to be duped by money-grubbing service providers.
Board members are supposed to protect the welfare of
their neighbors that have elected them.
The
financial statements of many of these associations show that
more than 50% of the budgets are used to pay attorneys and
managers, leaving little for actual maintenance and
beautification of the communities.
The
sluggish economy and the collapse of the real estate market have
worsened the financial hardship of association members. More
and more families lost their homes when they were unable to keep
up with ever-increasing monthly dues and special assessments
levied when neighbors failed to pay their share.
CCFJ
FOUNDATION, Inc. will try
to educate owners about their rights and obligations.
We also will try to show owners how to avoid such common
mistakes as ignoring letters from the association and/or legal
documents from the association attorney. We
will further try to help owners that fell into the trap of
failing to pay dues -- once or twice. Families
-- especially retirees -- living in these communities need help:
EDUCATIONAL,
LEGAL and FINANCIAL
HELP.
CCFJ
FOUNDATION, Inc.
will try to be part of an effort to help these folks.
PLEASE
HELP US -- SO WE CAN HELP OWNERS IN NEED OF HELP!
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