Condo Buying & Ownership Made Simple

Condo Buying & Ownership Made Simple


Is buying a condominium different from buying a single family home? You bet it is. Kay Senay, author of Condo Buying & Ownership Made Simple: Tips to Save Time and Money sets the record straight. She clearly informs the reader how to live happily in these communities and avoid the many pitfalls that catch the uninformed.

This book is dedicated to educating buyers and owners about this popular lifestyle. It delivers what the title promises. It is well organized and a very friendly read. The book features:

Kay’s Exclusive Checklists that help the reader gather vital information.
Hundreds of tips, points, and answers to the most commonly asked questions.
Definitions of confusing terms so the reader feels empowered.
A consumer-friendly approach---gets right to the “meat” without long-winded explanations.


The book explodes some of the myths like:

You can tell a condo is well managed if the maintenance fee is low.
I don’t need to read my association’s governing documents. They are only for the board of directors.
My condominium is brand new, so I don’t have to worry about any special assessments for a long time.


It also warns buyers that they may not be permitted to:

Run a business in their unit.

Have a garage sale.

Put up a “For Sale” sign.

Have a pet.

Rent their unit.

Display a flag.

Park a company car overnight .

Install a satellite dish for TV.



Feel free to contact Kay for more information or to answer your questions: www.condo-condominium.com

Kay Senay, Post Office Box 1572, Willoughby, OH 44096

Email: condotalk07 @ yahoo.com

Phone: 440-567-2145

Website: www.condo-condominium.com


Condo Buying & Ownership Made Simple: Tips to Save Time and Money is available through Barnes & Noble, Ingram, Baker and Taylor, Amazon.com, Atlas Books, better bookstores, and Kay’s website, www.condo-condominium.com. National television, radio, newspaper, and magazine campaigns are planned for late 2008.

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“Condo Buying & Ownership Made Simple" is thorough, readable and well-organized…

Having put in the time behind the desk and on boards, there is literally no stone left unturned.”

***** 5 Stars (Highest Rating) –ForeWord CLARION Reviews

Condo Board: Who is the boss?

Yep. There is the question that is always posed and seems to have everyone, still scratching their heads. Here is something that appeared in the Miami Herald recently that tacles this question...

CONDO LINE
Who is the boss on condo board?

By RICHARD WHITE

Q: If the condo board is elected by popular vote and the president is chosen by the board, where does the authority rest?

W.W., Treasure Island

A: The board is composed of directors and officers. Directors have the responsibility for the operations, management and maintaining of common areas. This responsibility cannot be transferred to others. However, they can assign duties.
Many of the duties of the officers can be found in the bylaws but the board can also create policies and guidelines for the officers. As a simple answer, the president is a servant to the directors.

Q: You addressed the issue about recording minutes into permanent records of meetings held by a quorum of board. What about e-mails or other special meetings where no agenda was posted? I cannot find anything in FS 720 that addresses this issue. What should a board do if it has an informal meeting and minutes are taken?

R.R., Oldsmar

A: Anytime a quorum of directors meets to discuss association business, it is considered a board meeting and a notice of the meeting must be posted and the meeting must be open. If less than a quorum of directors meets to discuss business, it is not a meeting. Directors can send e-mail and make phone calls in the course of day-to-day business and communicating. Those are not considered board meetings and a notice is not required.

Q: Is it against Florida law for a non-member to attend a condominium association board meeting?

N.E., Tampa

A: The statutes do not address this. Perhaps your documents restrict attendees to members.

If your documents do not limit who can serve on the board, an adult non-member can be elected to serve as a director. This leads me to believe that any person can attend meetings.

http://www.miamiherald.com/home/story/552467.html