AMENDMENTS TO H319 GET BANKS OFF THE HOOK, AGAIN -- LEAVING ASSOCIATIONS/OWNERS HOLDING THE BAG |
An
Opinion By Jan Bergemann Published December 13, 2011
I
can only shake my head in disbelief when I see that many board members are
willing to spend association funds on the lobbying efforts of CAN
(COMMUNITY ADVOCACY NETWORK -- Katzman Garfinkel & Berger), CALL (COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION LEADERSHIP
LOBBY -- Becker & Poliakoff) and the CAI (COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS INSTITUTE).
It is so obvious that these lawyer lobbying groups are working on
everything to fill their pockets -- and the pockets of other service
providers -- to the detriment of associations and owners. Some of the bill
proposals they are pushing are outright anti-association. But these board
members still support these attorney groups with association funds,
enabling them to lobby for free for lawyer-friendly bills. Great deal to
lobby for bills with the money of the folks you want to fleece. Can't get
any better!
This
is the new wording in FS 718 and FS 720: ...interest
, administrative late fees, reasonable costs and attorney fees, and any other fee, cost, or expense incurred in the collection process is limited to
the lesser of:
This new provision, if enacted, makes sure that no interested buyer in his/her right mind will buy from distressed homeowners/condo owners or even at foreclosure auction. The buyer would be responsible to pay all the above listed costs plus all unpaid dues.
If this bill is enacted in the amended version, it's easy for potential buyers: Wait until the bank takes possession of the home or condo, wait until the minimal payments required by the bank are paid to the association -- and buy the home/condo at a discounted price from the bank. In this case the new owner will not be liable to pay a dime to the association, starting with a clean slate. And the still-paying owners of the association are left holding the bag -- as usual. They have to "eat" all these fees and unpaid dues without getting a dime back from anybody.
Board members and owners should send CAN, CALL and the CIA big THANK-YOU NOTES for helping to pass this amendment that will again leave associations -- meaning board members and owners -- holding the bag.
Adding INSULT to INJURY this "lobbying effort" was more or less paid with association dues, given to these lobbying groups by board members who don't seem to understand that they are paying for their own demise!
Isn't life fun if you know that your own money is being used to lobby AGAINST your own financial interest? ONLY IN FLORIDA'S COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS! |