Category Archives: Florida

Loopholes will still allow rich Floridians to force condo owners to sell at a loss

guest blog by Deborah Goonan
Here is a prime example of why State Legislatures cannot always be trusted to serve the best interests of its constituents when it comes to regulation of common interest communities, including homeowners’ associations and condominiums.Take a look at this excerpt from the attached Tampa Bay Times news article (see link below):

“Rep. Chris Sprowls and Sen. Jack Latvala, both Pinellas County Republicans, have filed identical bills requiring that owners who object to termination be compensated for 110 percent of the purchase price or the fair market value, whichever is greater.

America’s worst neighbor owns a luxury condo in St. Petersburg FL

guest blog by Deborah Goonan

It seems that even if you own a condo worth nearly a half-million dollars or more, you can still end up next to the Neighbor from Hell. Bad neighbors can even afford to live at Signature Place, with its panoramic views of Tampa Bay in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg.

As of last July, the Tampa Bay Times reported that local police had responded to 48 calls regarding Brian J. Daly over a period of three years. Neighbors have filed complaints of domestic disturbances with Daly’s cocaine-addicted female companion, noxious odors, Daly pacing in the hallways buck naked, making lewd remarks and threats to other residents, and generally obnoxious and disruptive behavior while under the influence of alcohol and drugs. This has been going on since 2010.

This One Will Absolutely Fry Your Brain!

Dear Lord, I ask myself each night, can it really get worse? Can American homeowners really live under a burgeoning Nazi dictatorship? And the tragic answer is, “Yes, they can.” Nazi, Fascist, Communist, you name it, Americans are stupid enough to fall for it.

Windemere Cay Homeowners Association in central Florida has an interesting rule. If a homeowner writes a negative online review about this fascist organization, they are automatically fined 10,000 bucks! Payable within ten days, no less?

And the owner of the complex is instantly awarded all copyrights on any comments or photographs involving Windemere Cay.

Legislative fix for FL condo takeovers?

guest blog by Deborah Goonan 

In 2007, Florida passed a law that has been dubbed “Eminent Domain for Condos.” The law allows for 80% of voting interests to approve a plan to terminate the condo association for the purposes of redevelopment, as long as no more than 10% of voting interests object to the plan.

At the time the law was passed, the stated intent was to make it easier for owners of hurricane damaged or functionally obsolete condos to sell their ailing building to investors who would then redevelop on valuable land.

Update: Osceola delegation denies HOA residents’ third request to make Poinciana a city

guest blog by Deborah Goonan

A few months ago I blogged about a very large Florida HOA with over 45,000 residents, and the fact that a homeowner’s group (PINCHOS) has been trying for three years to incorporate as a city. In all, Poinciana has nearly 60,000 residents. Under the latest proposal, roughly 47,000 live within boundaries that were to create a new municipality.

News reports indicate that Osceola County Legislative Delegation vote was split 2-2, along party lines on the matter, with two representatives not present at the time the vote was taken. A Department of Revenue report, based on a feasibility study, has concluded that Poinciana meets the financial requirements of a city, and stands to take in millions in revenue if it incorporates as a municipality.