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  <pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:03:31 -0500</pubDate>
  <title><![CDATA[Florida HOA & Condo News from CAN]]></title>
  <description><![CDATA[Items in the news about Florida Condominium and Homeowner associations, compiled by the Community Associations Network]]></description>
  <link>http://www.communityassociations.net/florida.html</link>
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  <copyright>Community Associations Network, LLC</copyright>
  <webMaster>webmaster@communityassociations.net</webMaster>
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    <item>
     <title>Lake County steps up so Korean War veteran can keep his house</title>
     <description><![CDATA[In two days, more than enough was received at United Way of Lake & Sumter Counties, which was handling the money, to wipe out the judgment. To date, more than $16,000 arrived in checks at United Way or the office of McCray's attorney or was pledged.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:59:25 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://thesent.nl/xpTCu5</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>FL Legislature’s answer to HOAs regarding dangerous construction: Tough luck</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Yesterday Gary Poliakoff blogged on a pending bill, that is of vital importance to homeowners. His concise comment belies its significance. I agree with Gary that this is far more important than the safe harbor addition to HB 319.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:40:12 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/wJC0nK</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>lderly mother, daughter killed in Seminole condo fire</title>
     <description><![CDATA[An elderly woman and her daughter have been killed after a fire tore through their Seminole home.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:16:58 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.baynews9.com/article/news/2012/february/377685/Elderly-mother-daughter-killed-in-Seminole-condo-fire.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Unit Owner Access to Official Records</title>
     <description><![CDATA[We are happy to feature video clips from time to time on this blog.  The post from the other day spurred several questions regarding unit owner access to official records.  Please listen to our Community Association Practice Group Leader discuss this important subject.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:37:38 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/A0GuWm</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Reserve study: should we have one done for our community?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Reserves are monies set aside for specific expenditures that will be incurred in the future. Pay now or pay later.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:31:05 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2012/02/reserve-study-should-we-have-one-done-for-our-community.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo Consultant: Association, developer should work out pool payments, use</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Dear Poliakoffs: Our condo association documents include a provision for the non-exclusive use of an outdoor pool and deck that is owned by the developer.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:28:30 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/real-estate/condo-consultant-association-developer-should-work-out-pool-2143748.html?cxtype=rss_51226</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Bill being considered by FL Legislature would eliminate HOA unit owner rights</title>
     <description><![CDATA[While most of the focus of the bloggers and readers has been on the impact of HB 319 and its "Safe Harbor" amendments, a bill that should concern every homeowner is making its way through the Florida Legislature.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:14:01 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://topicInfoLink</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Cancer-stricken woman wins fight with condo over dog</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Pat Picavet got some good news, and in a year that brought word of incurable cancer, a happy day is savored.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:51:40 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://t.co/QZRmurVA</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Does a wrong date void the notice of an annual association meeting?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[In preparing the annual meeting notice package, it is not uncommon to use the past year’s notice as a form for drafting the new notice for the current year’s annual meeting. What if the drafter inadvertently dates the notice with that of the past year’s meeting?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:19:54 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2012/02/does-a-wrong-date-void-the-notice-of-an-annual-association-meeting.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>HOA, condo owners deserve storm insurance protections</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Recently, Floridians collectively released a sigh of relief as another hurricane season ended without major incident. Condominium, cooperative and homeowner association residents, however, may have been luckier than they realize.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:43:43 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://thesent.nl/w4jiue</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Woman with cancer can't keep dog at condo</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Like most dog owners, Pat Picavet thinks the world of her girl, Marley. "This is cliché, but she is like my best buddy," says Picavet during a game of fetch.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:00:10 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://on.wtsp.com/wQrR8X</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo boards block buyers for improvements without permits?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Who should pay to replace condominium unit windows? Can your association block a buyer or renter because work was done years ago on a unit or home without proper permits? Can associations protect themselves from owners who don't pay community fees but still pay the bank?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:17:36 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/realestate/fl-reader-question-condocol-20120131,0,5368265.column</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Stu Fisher and pet policies</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Stu’s the president of both his Association and the Master Association. He told me about his awareness two years ago that there should be a pet policy in place in Associations. He let the first emotional companion pet move into his Association, and while the board wasn’t too happy about it, he knew at the time they’d have to do something.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:09:05 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2012/01/stu-fisher-and-pet-policies.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Greenscape Alliance: Many types of walkable groundcovers available</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Worried about being ostracized or fined by the homeowners association landscape monitors if you experiment? Not to worry! Senate Bill 2080, which passed in early 2010, states that a deed restriction or covenant may not prohibit any property owner from implementing Florida-Friendly Landscaping on his or her land and states a local government ordinance may not prohibit any property owner from doing so.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:33:38 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://t.co/gup9zwy6</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[As we have said repeatedly, the banking industry continues to get a break from The Florida Legislature despite negligent lending practices, fraudulent foreclosures and filings in our courts and deliberate delays that have brought the state's court system to its knees.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:02:32 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://thesent.nl/xmPipJ</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Some Condo/HOA Records are Off Limits to Owners</title>
     <description><![CDATA[What is your policy for handling records inspections by owners?  Do you have written rules?  Where are the records inspections held?  How many hours does the owner have to review the requested records?  Does anyone help facilitate the inspection?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:46:59 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/zw8feM</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Pool, sprinkler leaks can bring costly surprise</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Sometimes it takes getting soaked with water-bill sticker shock for homeowners to find out about a leaking backyard pool or sprinkler system.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 29 Jan 2012 16:36:37 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/wVHdYN</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: Can the board tell owners what exterior paint colors can be used</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. About a year ago, I asked the HOA board if I could paint my porch a different color after I painted the interior wall. Fortunately, you cannot see the color change from the street because of the landscape.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:53:08 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/jan/29/can-the-board-tell-owners-what-exterior-paint-be/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Don't spend a lot of time on meeting minutes</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: I continue to enjoy and learn from your weekly column. A recent column reviewed the requirements for board minutes of a homeowners association, and I especially appreciated your advice that minutes do not need to include discussion.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:02:53 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www2.tbo.com/lifestyles/life/2012/jan/29/banewso3-dont-spend-a-lot-of-time-on-meeting-minut-ar-352259/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Community living: Condominiums aren't required to hire manager</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: I am the president of a condominium association. We have 40 units and a budget exceeding $140,000. The president of another condominium association informed me that every condominium association with 10 or more units or a budget over $100,000 must have a licensed property manager. Is this true?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:01:09 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20120129/COLUMNISTS16/301290014/Community-living-Condominiums-aren-t-required-hire-manager</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Mortgage lenders should be better neighbors</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Unfortunately, banks, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are still contributing significantly to the continued decline of housing prices through the ongoing deterioration of our neighborhoods and homeowners’ association communities.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:09:43 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.newsherald.com/articles/fannie-99969-cityunfortunately-panama.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Dolphin Tower owners likely to decide on course soon</title>
     <description><![CDATA[ Now that Dolphin Tower's board has agreed to end a lawsuit against its insurer, the question remains whether owners will use their settlement money to pay for millions in repairs, or give up on the 15-story condominium building.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:42:50 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/xk8iGo</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Daniel Vasquez: Is your condo or HOA hosting proper meetings?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[There are at least two types of bad condominium or homeowners association meetings: Those held by board members that don’t follow the laws and community rules or purpose, and those that don’t know better.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:00:21 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2012/01/daniel-vasquez-is-your-condo-or-hoa-hosting-proper-meetings.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Sunshine Law equivalent for Condominium Associations</title>
     <description><![CDATA[On January 20, 2012, I posted an article on the notice requirements for board and committee meetings for HOAs, by parsing the statute into a somewhat simpler components. The requirements for condos are similar to HOAs, but not identical.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:49:10 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2012/01/sunshine-law-equivalent-for-condos.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Boynton Beach condo clubhouse evacuated after gas leak</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Residents at Banyan Springs Condo Clubhouse in Boynton Beach were evacuated after there was a smell of gas]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:54:00 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.cbs12.com/articles/beach-4738376-boynton-fla.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Visitors' length of stay at issue; caregivers not subject to curbs</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Dear Poliakoffs: Our condo documents state that guests can visit a resident for up to 30 consecutive days without being considered residents themselves.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:16:40 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/real-estate/visitors-length-of-stay-at-issue-caregivers-not-2127691.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Dolphin Tower reaches settlement with insurer</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Dolphin Tower's condominium board and its lawyers have won a partial victory for the downtown Sarasota building's beleaguered owners, with an insurance settlement from Great American Insurance Co. of New York.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:15:14 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/zHNixN</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Safe harbor condo legislation in Tallahassee ill-advised</title>
     <description><![CDATA[In a sign of the times, a proposed amendment to a legislative bill currently under consideration in Tallahassee is fueling a controversy that would rally homeowners in more than 60,000 condominium, HOA and other community associations statewide against mortgage lenders who foreclose on homes in those communities.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:55:16 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/fl-condo-legislation-berger-0126-20120126,0,871363.story</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>What does it mean when a board member abstains from voting?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Almost every community association has had to deal with this issue at some point. I abstain.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:42:32 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2012/01/what-does-it-mean-when-a-board-member-abstains-from-voting.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Airport neighbors greet runway groundbreaking quietly</title>
     <description><![CDATA[For a long time, defiance was the reigning mood in Dania Beach's Melaleuca Gardens neighborhood when it came to a new south runway at theFort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. A decade ago, practically every lawn had a sign that read, "NOT For Sale By Owner," or "NO AIRPORT EXPANSION."]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:55:42 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/columnists/fl-runway-homes-mayocol-b012612-20120125,0,1180583.column</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>How far can a condo go when asking about emotional support animals?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[In 2009, the United States Court for the Northern District of Florida, ruled that condominium associations can request additional medical information when the board is skeptical of a unit owner’s need for an emotional support animal.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:12:32 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2012/01/how-far-can-a-condo-go-when-asking-about-emotional-support-animals.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Community uses reclaimed water for irrigation</title>
     <description><![CDATA[For people living in the West Lake Village community, the sounds of bulldozers and heavy machinery is the sound of their homeowners’ association saving money.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:24:52 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/wo27an</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>AG settles Eden condo litigation with Ceebraid-Signal</title>
     <description><![CDATA[West Palm Beach-based Ceebraid-Signal Corp    . agreed to pay $50,000 to settle a three-year lawsuit over its marketing practices while selling units at its Eden Condominium project in Boca Raton.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:23:09 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2012/01/24/ag-settles-eden-condo-litigation-with.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Owner in 55 and older condo marries younger man</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A 58-year-old nursing assistant from Lauderhill admits she moved into a 55-and-older community three years ago fully aware of the biggest rule: Age matters.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:21:20 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/ynYxUz</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Struggling Holly Hill condo towers to open long-delayed clubhouse</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Construction is nearly complete on a long-awaited clubhouse and fitness center at a $200 million luxury condominium complex on the Halifax River that has struggled in the shaky economy.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:20:50 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/volusia/os-holly-hill-condominium-20120124,0,167.story</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Mark your calendar: Homeowners’ group sponsors event for area youth this weekend</title>
     <description><![CDATA[This Saturday will be a festive day in Golden Gate Estates. Ironically, the feel-good festival was sparked by tragedy, when one young man lost his life in an altercation at a bus stop.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:48:18 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/jan/24/mark-your-calendar-homeowners-group-sponsors-event/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Citizens stops using home evaluation plan we opposed</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Thanks to Tom McClave, president of Tilford S, Century Village Deerfield Beach, for sending me the story from the Tampa Bay Times. Citizens has decided not to use the software that we along with so many others maintained gave them a justification to increase insurance rates.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:42:10 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2012/01/citizens-stops-using-home-evaluation-plan-we-opposed.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Proposal would change public/private boundaries on Florida's lakes and rivers</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Critics say the public could lose access to thousands of acres along lakes and rivers under pending legislation in Tallahassee.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:07:06 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/zaY1ID</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Long-term guests and mandating flood insurance coverage</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Our condo documents state that guests can visit a resident for up to 30 consecutive days without being considered residents, themselves. People in our building have had guests or caregivers stay with them for 30 consecutive days, then leave for a day and return for another guest pass and another 30 consecutive days.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:33:22 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.poliakoffoncondohoaliving.com/2012/01/new-neighborhoods-long-term-guests-and-mandating-flood-insurance-coverage/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Not everyone opposes the foreclosure of a veteran’s home for non payment of home</title>
     <description><![CDATA[On Sunday, the LakeFront column featured 81-year-old Sherman McCray, a Korean War veteran who is losing his home for failing to pay about $338 in fees to the homeowner association where he lives in Clermont.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:30:50 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://thesent.nl/wZQYwe</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Group to government: Watch developers</title>
     <description><![CDATA[In September, local lawmakers expressed concern about the treatment of homeowners by developers and their inadequate - or nonexistent - services rendered by homeowners associations. Now local advocates for those homeowners are expressing their own discontent that nothing is being done to rectify the problem.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 22 Jan 2012 18:04:30 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/yFRs4d</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Rules for attending meetings by phone</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. How can non-U.S. citizens, who may spend less than half a year in residence, run for the board? We have two directors who attend only half of the board meeting each year but use the telephone to be counted present for the meetings. How can they conduct business when they are not present?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:51:29 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/01/22/2599864/rules-for-attending-meetings-by.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Fees still must be paid when the owner dies</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: Is an estate responsible for the association's fees and special assessments? They have not been paid for one year since the death of the owner.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:43:06 -0500</pubDate>
     <link><![CDATA[http://www2.tbo.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/2012/jan/22/banewso4-fees-still-must-be-paid-when-the-owner-di-ar-349723/?referer=None&shorturl=http://tbo.ly/y6TJaT]]></link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Your association is likely able to stop owner's renegade rentals</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: Our condominium documents state that an owner can rent his condominium for a minimum of 90 consecutive days. This restriction was voted on and passed in 2003.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:42:30 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20120122/COLUMNISTS16/301220040</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: Can board adjust parking spaces to accommodate handicap space?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. Several years ago our board felt the need to assign parking spaces. The alteration was never voted on by the members. The spaces were assigned by a lottery. They took one space at the front door and made it a handicap space.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:38:13 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/jan/22/can-board-adjust-parking-spaces-to-accommodate/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title><![CDATA[Condo Q&A: Public use of pool raises concerns]]></title>
     <description><![CDATA[QUESTION:Our condo association documents include a provision for the non-exclusive use of an outdoor pool and deck that is owned by the developer. The association pays a "fair amount" to help defray maintenance and upkeep costs (just as if it were a common element).]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:29:52 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20120122/BUSINESS/301220020/Condo-Q-Public-use-pool-raises-concerns</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Elderly woman dies after fire at Fla. condo</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A 77-year-old woman has died after a condo fire in South Florida.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:25:48 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20120122/APN/1201221052?tc=ar</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>HOA pursues extreme option - foreclosure - against Korean War veteran</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A measly $338.91. That's how much Sherman McCray owed his homeowner association when the board of directors foreclosed on his Clermont house.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 22 Jan 2012 14:45:55 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/lake/os-lk-lauren-ritchie-home-foreclosure-20120122,0,6837576.column</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Mark Adamscyk: Is association limited on how much it can collect?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. I am on the board of my condo association and we recently collected past due assessments from a bank that foreclosed. We collected 12 months of assessments and our attorney told us that was the maximum we could collect under Florida law.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 22 Jan 2012 14:39:32 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/jan/22/is-association-limited-on-how-much-it-can/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Safe Harbor amendment to Florida's HB 319 raises many questions</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Representative George Moraitis (R), District 91, representing the people of coastal Broward and the southern coast of Palm Beach County, the sponsor of HB 1195 which became law on July 1, 2011, has filed a new community association bill]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 21 Jan 2012 12:41:18 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.examiner.com/hoa-in-west-palm-beach/safe-harbor-amendment-to-florida-s-hb-319-raises-many-questions</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>South Florida Municipalities Starting New Trend to Force Homeowners to Pay for C</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Several municipalities in South Florida now appear to be starting a new trend that is likely to gain momentum in the months and years to come.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:14:01 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/yxmd4K</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Residents fight rate hike</title>
     <description><![CDATA[This time, it's Labrador Services, a subsidiary of Utilities Inc. The company, which serves about 900 households in the Forest Lake Estates community, has applied to the Florida Public Service Commission for its second rate hike in two years.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:28:24 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www2.tbo.com/news/pasco-news/2012/jan/20/panewso1-residents-fight-rate-hike-ar-349389/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Live in an older condo? Check out free South Florida building maintenance semina</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Condominium buildings, like everything else, get older and with age come complications and questions.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:23:19 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2012/01/live-in-an-older-condo-check-out-free-south-florida-building-maintenance-seminars.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Volunteers need to know how to deal with unwanted attention</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Volunteers are some of my favorite people. They do the hard work that others deeply appreciate but often could not be bothered doing themselves.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:25:52 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/xJOaDS</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Refresher on Florida’s "Sunshine Law" for Homeowners Associations</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Most Floridians have heard of Florida’s Sunshine Law. MyFlorida Sunshine website describes the "Government-in the-Sunshine" as statutes that "establish a basic right of access to most meetings of boards, commissions and other governing bodies of state and local governmental agencies or authorities."]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:11:46 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2012/01/refresher-on-florida%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%9Csunshine-law%E2%80%9D-for-homeowners-associations.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Hurricane risks for Dolphin Tower</title>
     <description><![CDATA[An engineering firm hired by the city has concluded that troubled Dolphin Tower would suffer "extensive damage" in a major hurricane.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:05:22 -0500</pubDate>
     <link><![CDATA[http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20120120/ARTICLE/120119446/2416/NEWS?Title=Hurricane-risks-for-Dolphin-Tower&tc=ar]]></link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Naples Estates residents frustrated at 13-year legal fight to purchase community</title>
     <description><![CDATA[It's been more than 13 years since senior citizens at Naples Estates sued to win the right to own their mobile home park, but they're still waiting to buy it.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:27:39 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/jan/19/naples-estates-homeowners-association-buy-park/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>To borrow or not to borrow</title>
     <description><![CDATA[For some here, William Shakespeare said it best - neither a borrower nor a lender be. Like most living in Sun City Center, these residents don't object to the Community Association's proposed new construction and renovations. What they do oppose is veering away from what they see as the community's "pay-as-you-go," debt-free philosophy.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:22:39 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/wfxt6Q</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Committees: When are they necessary?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Most committees are advisory in nature and are created at the discretion of the board of administration or as required by the governing documents.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:15:30 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/wqUv3I</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Property ownership at center of LDR discussion</title>
     <description><![CDATA[County staff, supported by County Attorney Ross Macbeth and Commissioner Barbara Stewart, wanted the language "Such organizations shall not be dissolved nor shall it dispose of any common facilities or open space by sale or otherwise without first offering to dedicate the same to the county" to stand in the LDRs.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:43:55 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/yjh3HV</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Taxpayers Association Hears Condo Ombudsman Proposal</title>
     <description><![CDATA[All residents should support the creation of a condominium ombudsman position because it will benefit everyone, not just condo owners, Commissioner Jerry Libbin told the Miami Beach Taxpayer’s Association the week of January 5th.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:22:31 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.communitynewspapers.com/miami-beach/taxpayers-association-hears-condo-ombudsman-proposal/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Fire reported at Miami Beach high-rise condo</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Firefighters were on the scene at 4101 Pine Tree Dr., where the fire reportedly began in a mechanical room on the 18th floor. The building is not being evacuated.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 18 Jan 2012 10:45:24 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/01/18/2595173/fire-in-miami-beach-condominium.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Bill aims to keep banks from owing extra foreclosure fees</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A Florida bill makes it clear that condominium and homeowners associations could be out of luck if they want banks and financial institutions to pay more in late fees and collections costs after foreclosure.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 18 Jan 2012 10:25:54 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://topicInfoLink</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>The Mess In MetroWest</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The dues paying residents of Metro West are continuing to try to get control of their HOA and their money but the spending is accelerating. It appears that this week the Shakarian led board has hired John Morgan (who also represents Azzouz and Shakarian).]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:30:39 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/AyCfHI</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>The Circus is Back in Town</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Each year The Florida Legislature goes into session beginning in March.  This year however, the session started in January, as it does once every ten years.  So this year, the circus starts a little early in Tallahassee.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:45:18 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://thesent.nl/Ax39vx</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>What can be done to stop secondhand smoke from entering your condominium unit?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Recently a member of my Condo and HOA Law & Living group on LinkedIn asked the following question of our approximately 2,400 nationwide members.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:17:15 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/xDff8U</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Man and Dog Dead After Southside Condo Fire</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A man and his black labrador were pulled from the condo.  The dog died.  The man was taken to Shands, where according to family members, he died as well.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 15 Jan 2012 15:53:42 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/article/236387/483/Man-and-Dog-Dead-After-Southside-Condo-Fire</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Board oversteps its bounds</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. Several years ago our board felt the need to assign parking spaces. The alteration was never voted on by the members. The spaces were assigned by a lottery. They took one space at the front door and made it a handicap space]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 15 Jan 2012 14:08:34 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/01/15/2586681/board-oversteps-its-bounds.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: Send board letter by mail questioning refusal to accept certified</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: I took your advice and sent a certified letter to my HOA board. They refused to sign for the letter and it was returned to me. I contacted an attorney and he said there was nothing in the law that required them to accept a certified letter.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 15 Jan 2012 13:57:55 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2012/jan/15/send-board-letter-by-mail-questioning-refusal-to/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: Is it wrong for a candidate to knock on doors to get votes?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. Our upcoming election has resulted in what I call a fraudulent maneuver in our condominium. Two candidates have been soliciting illegal votes.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 15 Jan 2012 13:48:02 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/jan/15/is-it-wrong-for-a-candidate-to-knock-on-doors-to/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Riverwoods Plantation named Association of Year</title>
     <description><![CDATA[As a follow-up to last week’s column, a few more local announcements should be shared.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 15 Jan 2012 13:44:16 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20120115/COLUMNISTS16/301150017/Riverwoods-Plantation-named-Association-Year</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Golf Lakes celebrates 25 years of freedom</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The event is to celebrate Golf Lakes’ 25th year as a resident-owned mobile home community of 1,300 people]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 14 Jan 2012 10:54:29 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/xIdhHa</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Bank wants condo money</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The bank that provided about $31 million in construction funding for the Key West Steamplant condominiums has begun foreclosure proceedings on the Trumbo Road property.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 14 Jan 2012 10:37:27 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://keysnews.com/node/37193</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>County to refund $3.6 million to Portofino condo owners</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Owners of condominiums at Portofino Resort chalked up a victory in a state appellate court Friday when the court ruled that Escambia County overvalued their units when assessing them for property tax between 2004 and 2009.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:48:37 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://on.pnj.com/zmfhNR</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Caution- Associations can hold hostage a short sale</title>
     <description><![CDATA[One of the most recent frustrations I am dealing with in closing short sales here in Bradenton, FL has been created by associations that are unwilling to bend on outstanding HOA and Condo fees. Has anyone else had an association attorney prevent a sale of a home over delinquent fees?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:40:23 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/A7f7PI</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Can your emotional support pet be kicked out, fined for making noise?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[One of the hottest topics in the condominium and homeowners world is pets, particularly when it comes to owners who live in no-pet communities but want – or need them anyway.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:30:02 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/znBLm9</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>An open and shut case for gated communities</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Many moons ago, people began a slow migration out of the cities and into quaint suburban communities. Over time, these communities grew, and with that, the crime from the cities followed.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:52:57 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://exm.nr/wBtQwJ</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Will Vanilla Ice skate on his homeowner association assessments?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[I advise clients to review their documents and if necessary, propose that the members approve such an amendment to their Declaration. It is amazing how many Declarations do not have this as a condition of approval (where approval is authorized, of course).]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:16:47 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2012/01/will-vanilla-ice-skate-on-his-homeowner-association-assessments-2.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Residents Furious Over Association’s Ban Of Religious Holiday Decorations</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Residents of Mystic Pointe tell CBS4 News they are furious because they say their homeowner’s association decided to do away with all religious holiday decorations in the common areas last year and this year.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:49:16 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://cbsloc.al/ybxhFK</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>ADA vs FHA: How do they affect community associations?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The Americans with Disabilities Act and the Fair Housing Act have several similarities. Both outlaw discrimination against individuals with disabilities, require reasonable accommodations and modifications, and mandate features of accessibility, design, and construction.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:32:16 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/xvQQfM</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Neighbors raise $9M for down payment on Indianwood country club</title>
     <description><![CDATA[For the homeowners association that plans to run Indianwood Golf & Country Club as a co-op, the cooperation already has begun.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:26:48 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2012/jan/12/neighbors-raise-9m-for-down-payment-on-country/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo column: Length of stay for visitors stirs up several concerns</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Dear Poliakoffs: Our condo documents state that guests can visit a resident for up to 30 consecutive days without being considered residents themselves]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:24:35 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/real-estate/condo-column-length-of-stay-for-visitors-stirs-2096299.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Homeowners' group plans fight against Volusia mobile-home community</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The standing-room only crowd at Halifax Plantation's homeowners meeting gasped Tuesday night when Bill Sirico explained what he sees developing just to the south of his tree-lined community of well-kept homes near Ormond Beach.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:25:28 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/local/east-volusia/2012/01/11/homeowners-group-plans-fight-againts-volusia-mobile-home-community.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Appellate Ruling Enables Assn to Selectively Enforce Rules Due to Specific Langu</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A recent decision by the Fourth District Court of Appeal has the potential to be misconstrued by community associations to mean that they can arbitrarily and selectively enforce their governing documents against members.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:18:35 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/wQmh0a</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Pets needed for emotional support can spark condo disputes</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Your condominium or homeowners community may ban pets, but Florida and federal fair housing laws require boards to make exceptions for owners with disabilities.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 10 Jan 2012 20:03:53 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/yAfy3L</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Small fire at West Delray condo quickly put out</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A small fire at Huntington Lakes was put out quickly by Palm Beach County Fire Rescue on Tuesday.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 10 Jan 2012 20:02:10 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/fl-west-delray-condo-fire-20120110,0,7509080.story</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Calling out the troops on legislation</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The Tallahassee Sausage Factory opens for business today, and all Associations need to rev up and keep contacting the Legislature to protect their interests. If we don’t do it, no one else will.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:56:01 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2012/01/calling-out-the-troops-on-legislation.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Who will pay to smooth the way at Brick City park?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[County Attorney Guy Minter asked the commission to take action after failing to get any response from the owners of the Cypresside Townhouses and the Springwood Village Condominium Association.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:45:41 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.ocala.com/article/20120109/ARTICLES/120109699</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Ibis residents ask: Where have all the oak trees gone? Answer: HOA axed them</title>
     <description><![CDATA[When the city went against staff recommendations last week and allowed an upscale gated community to saw down 28 oak trees to make room for palms, resident Harriet Sacher covered her grandchildren's eyes as the trees fell.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:54:39 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/y186lk</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo talk: Emergency decision making of a board</title>
     <description><![CDATA[From time to time the board of a condominium or common interest community association may find it necessary to make decisions and take action outside of a duly noticed board meeting, due to what is perceived as an "emergency."]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:39:18 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/xKMo2t</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Just Who is Managing Who?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[There is an alarming trend that I'm noticing lately regarding the relationship between management companies and the associations that employ them.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 09 Jan 2012 09:51:40 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://thesent.nl/zl8iQi</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Holiday decoration dispute continues to plague HOA in the New Year.</title>
     <description><![CDATA[2012 has brought more litigation to a Lake County retirement community that thought it had put its holiday-related troubles behind them.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 09 Jan 2012 09:40:15 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/yXz56x</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Tamarac wants to know when HOAs meet</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Tamarac is starting a "Homeowner's Association Liaison" and wants the board contact information for all HOAs in the city so staff can come to meetings, and the city can stay in the loop.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 08 Jan 2012 18:38:25 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/tamarac/fl-tamarac-hoa-liaison-brf-20120108,0,1559033.story</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Role of HOA president: Officer or director?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. I live in a homeowners association (HOA). Can the president make motions or second a motion at a board meeting? Our bylaws say that Roberts Rules shall govern the conduct of the meeting of the association. Can you provide the state department that governs HOA under FS 720?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 08 Jan 2012 17:41:43 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/01/08/2573736/role-of-hoa-president-officer.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Don't paint exterior without board's OK</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: About a year ago, I asked the HOA board if I could paint my porch a different color, after I painted the interior wall]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 08 Jan 2012 17:40:58 -0500</pubDate>
     <link><![CDATA[http://www2.tbo.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/2012/jan/08/banewso4-dont-paint-exterior-without-boards-ok-ar-344566/?referer=None&shorturl=http://tbo.ly/Al1jZX]]></link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>If the board wanted to change the no pet rule, would members vote on the issue?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. I live in a condominium that has a no pet rule in the documents. I know several units that have a cat.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 08 Jan 2012 17:40:00 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/jan/08/if-the-board-wanted-to-change-the-no-pet-rule-on/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Do assessments have to be paid after filing for bankruptcy?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. It is known throughout the community that my neighbor filed for bankruptcy six months ago, and she continues to use the community pool and gym. This owner is also telling everyone that she does not have to pay assessments anymore. Is this true and what can be done?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 08 Jan 2012 17:14:16 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/jan/08/do-assessments-have-to-be-paid-after-filing-for/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Beach commissioner wants voters to create condo advocate</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Libbin is in the fledgling stages of a petition drive that if successful would force a vote on whether to create a high-ranking "condominium ombudsman" to deal with the frustrations and complaints of condo residents and associations.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 06 Jan 2012 11:13:34 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/xjylUT</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Some Condo Associations Worry About Bill To Be Discussed in Tallahassee</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A bill soon to be considered by lawmakers in Tallahassee during the legislative session has some condo associations worried it could result in higher maintenance fees for Florida condo owners.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:11:51 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/yH9yXz</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Community associations: are they businesses?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The definition of a condominium is a form of ownership of real property that is created under the Condominium Act and is comprised of units owned individually by one or more persons with joint ownership of an undivided share of the common element.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:15:25 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2012/01/community-associations-are-they-businesses.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Bondi files suit against two foreclosure management firms</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Attorney General Pam Bondi filed a lawsuit and obtained a temporary injunction and limited asset freeze against two South Florida foreclosure management companies for allegedly misleading distressed homeowners.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:14:37 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2012/01/05/bondi-files-suit-against-two.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Community pulls together to restore local landmark bridge</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Members of the Riverbend Community in North Fort Myers have pulled together both with volunteer and financial resources to restore the covered bridge that is an important part of their community.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:14:00 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.northfortmyersneighbor.com/page/content.detail/id/516140/Community-pulls-together-to-restore-local-landmark-bridge.html?nav=5164</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>VERABELLA FALLS CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, INC. v. SOSA</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Carlos Sosa, the plaintiff below, filed a civil action and served a copy of the summons and complaint on the registered agent of defendant Verabella Falls Condominium Association, an entity qualified to transact business in the state of Florida. The certified return indicated that service was made upon the receptionist at the registered agent's office. When Verabella Falls failed to respond to the complaint, Sosa moved for and obtained a default and default final judgment.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 05 Jan 2012 10:51:15 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/wXY5Lh</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>KOTS suit is too late</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A Stock Island condo association waited too long to legally sue over the location of Key West's homeless shelter, the city said in a response to the civil lawsuit pending since August.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 05 Jan 2012 10:37:50 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://keysnews.com/node/37007</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Rabbi who brought menorah lawsuit now on defensive</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Rabbi Arthur Grae, who brought a lawsuit against the Legacy of Leesburg homeowners association for the right to display a large menorah outside the social hall, is now being sued by the homeowners group for allegedly violating terms of a confidential settlement by discussing it with the media and in other venues.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:15:43 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/znVQTR</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo Consultant: Association tries to enforce landscape rule years later</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Dear Poliakoffs: Our homeowners association is enforcing a landscape covenant requiring three palm trees in the front of each home as the builder and core communities (now defunct) had designed.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:07:56 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/real-estate/condo-consultant-association-tries-to-enforce-landscape-rule-2079823.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Fire breaks out in St. Petersburg condo</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A St. Petersburg resident is without a home after a condo went up in flames early Wednesday morning.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 04 Jan 2012 11:23:13 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.baynews9.com/article/news/2012/january/365517/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Criminals Only Past This Point!</title>
     <description><![CDATA[For 23 years, the only way to enter Belle Meade by car years has been to drive past a security guardhouse at NE 76th Street, a couple of blocks east of Biscayne Boulevard.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 03 Jan 2012 23:07:35 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://topicInfoLink</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Troubled town-home community remakes itself amid housing slump</title>
     <description><![CDATA[About a five-minute walk from the Ritz-Carlton hotel in south Orange County is a town-home community that has seen its share of hard times.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:59:04 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://thesent.nl/zbOmQ0</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Rule Change Has Significant Implications for Mediations Involving Community Assn</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A change to the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure that took effect on January 1, 2012, has significant implications for the future of all mediations in Florida, including mediation proceedings involving community associations.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:15:04 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/xT48Ea</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>A New Year</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Last week's column I wrote about the year 2011 and all that was wrong with it for community associations across the state.  Whether you are an owner, renter, board member, banker or Florida Legislator I'm sure that you are looking forward to the new year and have made some new year's resolutions.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:50:51 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.orlandosentinel.com/classified/realestate/blog/os-a-new-year-20120103,0,5666053.story</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Former Vista Meadows Golf Club emerging from rough</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Hendricks said his group hopes to be the peacemaker in the situation and wants to work with all the residents of the condominium community.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 03 Jan 2012 10:43:49 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2012/jan/03/former-vista-meadows-golf-club-emerging-from-the/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>In other states, sinkhole claims don't bust the budget</title>
     <description><![CDATA[To anyone living in Florida's "sinkhole alley,'' these headlines might sound familiar: "Huge hole opens behind house.'' "Home­owner finds 20-foot hole in driveway.'']]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 03 Jan 2012 10:26:02 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tampabay.com/news/in-other-states-sinkhole-claims-dont-bust-the-budget/1208851</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Seagate's push for Clam Bay markers spurned by state, going to judge next?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A North Naples neighborhood's push for more formal navigational markers in Clam Bay could be up to a judge now that the neighborhood has lost a round with a state agency.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 02 Jan 2012 16:07:49 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/jan/01/clam-bay-markers-seagate-pelican-canoe-dep-collier/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: Can the board count votes from foreclosed units?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. Our condominium annual meeting is scheduled next month. We have foreclosed on several units and hold title to these units. The banks are taking forever to foreclose on their mortgages. Can the board, since we hold title, vote these units?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 01 Jan 2012 21:47:12 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/jan/01/richard-white-can-board-count-votes-foreclosed-uni/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Rob Samouce: Tips on preventing water leaks in condominiums</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Last month we looked into the intricate details as to who is legally responsible for the cost of clean-up and repair of damage caused by water leaks in a condominium building.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 01 Jan 2012 21:46:27 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/jan/01/rob-samouce-tips-preventing-water-leaks-condominiu/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Happy New Year to All</title>
     <description><![CDATA[May 2012 be a quiet, peaceful year for your association.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 01 Jan 2012 12:30:11 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.communityassociations.net</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title><![CDATA[Condo Q&A: Step up and help your condo board]]></title>
     <description><![CDATA[Question:We have a situation at our condominium - only one person has served on the board for several years, as no one else was interested. When nothing was being done to maintain the building, we asked to see the financial records.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 01 Jan 2012 12:16:34 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20120101/COLUMNISTS07/301010016/Condo-Q-Step-up-help-your-condo-board</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Attorney is necessary to update condo association documents</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: Our condominium association president frequently deflects questions about updating our condominium documents by telling owners that it is a difficult process and expensive to have the attorney do the work. Can you explain the process for changing our documents and whether it requires an attorney to complete the task.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 01 Jan 2012 12:16:06 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20120101/COLUMNISTS16/301010019/Attorney-necessary-update-condo-association-documents</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Rule probably should be changed</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: I live in a condominium that has a "no pets" rule in the documents. I know several units have a cat. The board is aware of the cats, but it has not taken enforcement action against these owners. If the board is aware of these violations and has not taken action does the rule become moot? If the board wants to change the rule and allow pets would members need to vote on the issue?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 01 Jan 2012 12:14:24 -0500</pubDate>
     <link><![CDATA[http://www2.tbo.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/2012/jan/01/banewso4-rule-probably-should-be-changed-ar-342144/?referer=None&shorturl=http://tbo.ly/vqZY0K]]></link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Some Bradenton condo owners frustrated with lack of riverfront access</title>
     <description><![CDATA[he Bradenton riverfront used to be where Ritch Stevenson would take his three-wheeled bicycle every morning for a ride, a key part of his recovery plan from a stroke.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 31 Dec 2011 12:22:01 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.bradenton.com/2011/12/30/3755014/riverwalk-rumblings-some-condo.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Pothole problem in Palm Bay has residents pointing fingers</title>
     <description><![CDATA[They said it’s especially dangerous during heavy rains that disguise where the potholes are, and want someone to take responsibility for repairs.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 31 Dec 2011 12:21:25 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.cfnews13.com/article/news/2011/december/364026/Pothole-problem-in-Palm-Bay-has-residents-pointing-fingers</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>To get condo back in shape, get involved in association's board</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Dear Poliakoffs: We have a situation at our condominium - only one person has served on the board for several years, as no one else was interested. When nothing was being done to maintain the building, we asked to see the financial records.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:43:21 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/real-estate/to-get-condo-back-in-shape-get-involved-2068725.html?showComments=true</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Holidays are not cheery for HOA and Condo homeowners in foreclosure</title>
     <description><![CDATA[I admit it. I am an attorney that represents associations (as well as homeowners). My philosophy has been to consciously recognize that homeowners are owed a fiduciary duty by the board – not to be treated as deadbeats who have no voice.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 30 Dec 2011 11:02:10 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/tJBoFE</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Electrical problem sparks fire at Clearwater condo complex</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Investigators say the cause of a fire at the Top of the World Condos in Clearwater was electrical.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 28 Dec 2011 08:58:52 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.baynews9.com/article/news/2011/december/362855/Electrical-problem-sparks-fire-at-Clearwater-condo-complex.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Palm Beach Gardens considers season-long hurricane shutters</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Hurricane shutters are practically a necessity in south Florida. Palm Beach Gardens is thinking of allowing people to close them up all summer. Under the plan, it would be legal to close your shutters from June through November.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 27 Dec 2011 21:32:03 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/rNRysy</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Volusia Seawall Repair Funding In Limbo</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Since 1994, Sun Glow Resort's condominium association and the county have had an agreement to maintain the seawall.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 27 Dec 2011 18:42:20 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/rBc5Qg</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>2011 - Year In Review ---- And A Call For Floridians To Wake Up</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Another year comes to an end, and it seems that the Florida foreclosure train simply is not slowing.  The number of Floridians that continue to lose their homes continues to mount.  The amount of fraudulent affidavits that banks have filed in our state's court system can fill warehouses.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 27 Dec 2011 12:29:30 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.orlandosentinel.com/classified/realestate/blog/os-2011-year-in-review--and-a-call-for-floridians-to-wake-up-20111227,0,625875.story</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Firefighter injured in Clearwater blaze</title>
     <description><![CDATA[It was around 4:30 p.m. when fire broke out on the second floor of the three-story Top of the World condominium building on Rhodesian Drive.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 27 Dec 2011 10:22:37 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/local/pinellas/clearwater-condo-fire-122611</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Golf carts gain cautious favor</title>
     <description><![CDATA[On any given day, Clay Hunter jumps in his customized electric golf cart and zips a couple doors down the street to chat with his neighbors.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 25 Dec 2011 12:41:04 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://on.flatoday.com/uSVTGo</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: Can the board take money from the pool reserves to upgrade spa?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. I recently attended a condominium owners meeting where the budget was presented. I noted that they had withdrawn funds from the reserves to upgrade the spa to comply with the VGB act.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 25 Dec 2011 12:12:12 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/dec/25/can-the-board-take-money-from-the-pool-reserves/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Compensating members on an association board is rare</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: Under what circumstances, if any, may members of an association board be compensated?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 25 Dec 2011 12:11:24 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20111225/COLUMNISTS16/312250037/Compensating-members-an-association-board-rare</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Man, 83, accused of attacking fellow resident at homeowners meeting in Vero Beac</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A Vista Royale resident attacked a man speaking during a homeowners meeting Monday, according to an incident report released Thursday by the Indian River County Sheriff's Office.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 25 Dec 2011 12:08:13 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/uHjQz7</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Cat owners flout no-pets rule</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. I live in a condominium that has a no-pet rule in the documents. I know several units that have cats. The board is aware of them, but has not taken any enforcement action against these owners. Does the rule become mute?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 25 Dec 2011 12:05:58 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/12/25/2556753/cat-owners-flout-no-pets-rule.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Send request to board, not manager</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: We submitted a request to view condominium records to our management company. The list included 12 items. We requested that we be able to view and copy the records within 10 days. The letter was addressed to the manager and mailed 30 days ago. We have not received any answer. We know that there is a fine of $50 a day for not answering our request. What is our next step?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 25 Dec 2011 12:03:26 -0500</pubDate>
     <link><![CDATA[http://www2.tbo.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/2011/dec/25/banewso5-send-request-to-board-not-manager-ar-340092/?referer=None&shorturl=http://tbo.ly/uVChxN]]></link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Indiantown homeowners group gets 2-week extension to buy country club</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Still short of commitments from 40 percent of the tenants at the Indianwood Golf & Country Club at the Dec. 20 deadline, the homeowners association has been given a two-week extension.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 23 Dec 2011 19:48:09 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2011/dec/23/indiantown-homeowners-group-gets-2-week-to-buy/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Should Florida banks pay more in assessments to condo associations after foreclo</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Foreclosure is usually bad news for everyone involved, condominium and home owners and the associations which loses the revenue from owner not paying assessments.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 23 Dec 2011 15:30:08 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/12/should-florida-banks-pay-more-in-assessments-to-condo-associations-after-foreclosure.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>The Outcry About the Proposed Legislative Change to HB 319</title>
     <description><![CDATA[In Gary Poliakoff’s blog of December 14, he explained that two of the proposed changes to HB 319 were controversial. The most explosive is the attempt to clarify F.S. 718.116 (1)(b) which limits the assessment liability of the first mortgagee or the successor to the mortgage ("bank" for convenience) that takes title by foreclosure or deed in lieu of foreclosure.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 23 Dec 2011 10:35:09 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/w3RoPn</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>The HOA Election Debacle and Should Your Political Party Matter</title>
     <description><![CDATA[With all that may be wrong with the Florida condominium statutes, they far outshine the homeowner association statutes when it comes to voting procedures.  The condo statute contains strict timelines regarding when an owner must decide to run]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 23 Dec 2011 10:05:29 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://thesent.nl/rJJNuX</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>What Does a Board Secretary Do?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[OK, now you’ve done it! You’ve finally decided to make a difference in your community, and have joined the board of directors. Now, you’re one of "those people"!]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:39:44 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://exm.nr/sY7Zhq</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>A condominium holiday tale</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Every time the holiday season comes around I am reminded of a true story from my days at the Ombudsman’s Office.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:08:58 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/sz1XjG</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Vandals tear out lights leaving Ft Myers community in dark</title>
     <description><![CDATA[This time of year, lights and holiday decorations are lighting up southwest Florida neighborhoods.  The Veridian community off McGregor in Fort Myers is in the dark because homeowners said someone has been ripping the lights out of the sockets.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 22 Dec 2011 10:55:04 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.winknews.com/Local-Florida/2011-12-21/Vandals-tear-out-lights-leaving-Ft-Myers-community-in-dark</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>FLORIDA INSURANCE GUARANTY ASSOCIATION v. SOMERSET HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC.</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The Somerset condominium buildings sustained extensive damage due to two hurricanes. Somerset was covered by an insurance policy, the obligations for which were assumed by FIGA after the original carrier was placed in receivership. Somerset submitted claims for coverage, and both the former carrier and FIGA made partial payments on the claims. However, believing that more was owed, Somerset instituted suit to enforce the appraisal process.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 22 Dec 2011 10:54:28 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/t1Xu1O</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Citizens' proposal alarms Key condominium owners</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Although the board of directors of Citizens Property Insurance delayed until Feb. 4, 2012, a decision regarding a new limit for wind coverage for coastal condominium complexes, Key condo owners remain concerned they may face much higher premiums in the future.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 22 Dec 2011 10:20:19 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/viiTzA</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>As community squabbles, Hanukkah begins</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Legacy of Leesburg community residents deny there's any discrimination toward the Jewish faith, but a rabbi filed a lawsuit recently to have a giant menorah placed outside a community building.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 21 Dec 2011 11:17:20 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/tXsRcG</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>The Few, The Proud, The Involved</title>
     <description><![CDATA[As an Association Management firm, we look to the end of each year with anxiety!  Yes it is true, it is the holiday season but for those who choose to be in the management field and those who diligently serve as Board Members, it is a time fraught with dread. Dread of the annual meeting, dread of the budget adoption meeting and worst of all dread of the ELECTION MEETING.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 21 Dec 2011 10:39:55 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://thesent.nl/v2qeO8</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Bay Commissioners Challenge E-P-A Over Flooding Lake Powell</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The boat dock in Pirates Cove is almost underwater. The residents backyards are almost 90% covered, making them unusable. Pirates cove homeowners association president dave swank is concerning.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 20 Dec 2011 22:44:41 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.wjhg.com/home/headlines/Commissioners_Challenge_Governement_Agaencie_135968883.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>What does it really mean to live in a corporation?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Whether condominium or homeowners community, what does living in a corporation really mean? Should your condo board deal with bad neighbors? Can boards use email to notify owners about meetings and important votes?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:39:21 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/t2Dwb3</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>City may close off shortcut into Lakes of Mount Dora</title>
     <description><![CDATA[ Every day, Jenna Theierl watches as hundreds of cars zip through her neighborhood as a shortcut into the adjacent Lakes of Mount Dora community]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 20 Dec 2011 08:46:52 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/lake/os-lk-mount-dora-neighborhoods-20111220,0,4514066.story</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Is Florida's SB 706 good for condos and HOAs?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A recent bill proposed in the Florida legislature has caused a great deal of confusion, debate, and at least some celebration in HOA circles. This bill, filed by Senator Chris Smith (D-Oakland Park), provides for the following language to be added to Section 718.115 of the Condominium Act:]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 19 Dec 2011 22:03:24 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://exm.nr/sEH2sw</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Legislative proposal could wipe out common area warranties</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Reacting to the Fifth District Court of Appeal's decision in Lakeview Reserve Homeowners v. Maronda Homes, 48 So. 3d 902 (Fla. 5th DCA 2010), discussed here, the legislature may consider a bill next year to prohibit implied warranties of fitness and merchantability from applying to streets, roads, sidewalks, drainage areas, utilities, or any other improvements that are not located on or under the lot on which a new home is constructed.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:41:34 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=97f1a509-b197-4b80-8272-f61b40c84136</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Is your association vulnerable to a frivolous age discrimination lawsuit?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Last week, the Housing Opportunities Project for Excellence, Inc ("HOPE") called a press conference, issued a press release and sued several real estate agencies and condominium associations in Broward County.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:26:51 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/12/is-your-association-vulnerable-to-a-frivolous-age-discrimination-lawsuit.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Fire forces evacuation of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea condo</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Investigators are trying to determine what caused a fire on the ninth floor of a Lauderdale-by-the-Sea condominium Sunday afternoon.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:24:37 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.local10.com/news/Fire-forces-evacuation-of-Lauderdale-by-the-Sea-condo/-/1717324/6076916/-/yujevd/-/index.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Palm Beach Gardens considers letting storm shutters stay up all hurricane season</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Property values will decline and more crime will occur if the city passes a proposed ordinance to allow part-time property owners to keep their hurricane shutters up during the entire storm season, opponents say.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 18 Dec 2011 21:56:38 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/palm-beach-gardens-considers-letting-storm-shutters-stay-2039559.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Member absorbs cost of calling in to meeting</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: Many of our owners are not in Florida when some of our board meetings are held. Can absentee owners call in on a conference call (as those board members who are not present do) and speak? If so, who pays the charges involved in adding them to the conference call?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 18 Dec 2011 12:26:03 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20111218/COLUMNISTS16/312180023/Member-absorbs-cost-calling-meeting</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>What to consider when buying a condo</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. Please let us know how one can identify a well-managed condominium association when one is considering purchasing a unit. Please share your top three or four questions to ask as well as tips to look for in the answers.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 18 Dec 2011 12:05:33 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/12/18/v-fullstory/2549951/what-to-consider-when-buying-a.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo president is controlling prices</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: Our condominium president owns about 90 percent of our building and has voted himself in total control of the building. When an apartment is up for sale, he is the only one that can buy it because he controls approval of the new buyers. We are totally out of control and have few rights. Is this legal?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 18 Dec 2011 12:04:49 -0500</pubDate>
     <link><![CDATA[http://www2.tbo.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/2011/dec/18/banewso9-condo-president-is-controlling-prices-ar-335691/?referer=None&shorturl=http://tbo.ly/uLk4JN]]></link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: How do I get dangerous residents removed from our condo community</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. In the last couple of years I have been struggling to remove dangerous people that have moved into the condominium community. They traffic in narcotics and some have been involved violent acts.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 18 Dec 2011 11:45:38 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/dec/18/how-do-i-get-dangerous-residents-removed-from/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Can condo associations regulate and restrict rentals?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. My condo association held a meeting and conveniently our invitation was lost in the mail. They met and voted to no longer allow renters in the complex. At the time, we were the only owners who were leasing our condo because we had to relocate for a job. Can they really force us to either sell our home or leave it empty?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 18 Dec 2011 11:39:52 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/dec/18/can-condo-associations-regulate-and-restrict/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Neighborhoods calling for action after port fire</title>
     <description><![CDATA["I'm scared to death," said Ray Dettman, president of Poinciana Park's neighborhood association, after a fire and reported explosions broke out recently at the port.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 17 Dec 2011 13:23:17 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/fort-lauderdale/fl-esb-emergency-1215-20111216,0,7610014.story?track=rss</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Alarm clock saves family in house fire</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A family is displaced after their San Jose home was damaged by fire early Friday morning.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 17 Dec 2011 11:50:41 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news4jax.com/news/Alarm-clock-saves-family-from-possible-fatal-fire/-/475880/5951830/-/wdbbs7z/-/index.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Volusia to repair sea wall at Daytona Beach Shores condo, let public use parking</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The sea wall that collapsed this week behind a condominium in Daytona Beach Shores is getting an emergency lift from Volusia County -- which plans to take over maintenance of the wall, its drainage system and the coveted parking that accompanies it.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:41:13 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/sIRhpP</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Citizens postpones decision on rate hike for some condos</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Citing the potential for a public backlash, Florida’s state-run property insurance company postponed a plan to cap hurricane coverage for some coastal condominiums, a move that would send owners’ premiums skyrocketing.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:09:46 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://htpolitics.com/2011/12/14/citizens-postpones-decision-on-rate-hike-for-some-condos/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Board certification: Should you sign the certification form?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[In this case the statute does not say anything about understanding or interpreting your documents, which begs the question; How do you uphold them if you don’t know what they mean?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 15 Dec 2011 09:48:06 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/12/board-certification-should-you-sign-the-certification-form.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Little Hickory Island condo owners say everyone should share Bonita Beach bill</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The owners of condos on Little Hickory Island at the northern end of Bonita Beach want to make sure they don’t get stuck with the entire bill for putting more sand on the beach outside their homes.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 15 Dec 2011 09:41:00 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://newspr.es/vo5zAs</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Some kids overstaying welcome at Florida over-55 community</title>
     <description><![CDATA[ Sun City Center has its share of wheels, often attached to walkers, wheelchairs and, of course, golf carts, the iconic mode of transportation in one of the nation's first retirement communities.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 15 Dec 2011 09:37:21 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/rQvuRc</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Lauderhill to tear down vacant condo building</title>
     <description><![CDATA[It's been 18 months since a Park South condo building in Lauderhill has sat empty after a fire destroyed the third floor roof. But at their Nov. 28 meeting, commissioners moved to tear down the building.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:50:34 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/rztibU</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Legislative Proposal Could Wipe Out Common Area Warranties</title>
     <description><![CDATA[There is an attempt to legislatively control (and limit) homeowner rights and remedies for construction defects.  As I explained in Homeowners' Associations: New Ruling Supports Compensation for Construction Defects and  Florida Supreme Court to Decide Whether Homeowners Associations Entitled to Implied Warranties the HOA statutes do not provide homeowners with warranties for the common area improvements like roads, drainage systems, underground pipes or clubhouses, guard gates, perimeter fencing or walls, etc.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:42:06 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/tCLVp6</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Lawn bowlers fight to save their greens</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The Community Association's proposed $3 million upgrade to Sun City Center has rankled members of the lawn bowling club, who stand to lose one of their three greens as a site for the proposed entertainment building.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 14 Dec 2011 11:29:33 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www2.tbo.com/news/sun-city-center-news/2011/dec/14/lawn-bowlers-fight-to-save-their-greens-ar-334664/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Beaches Facing Insurance Bump</title>
     <description><![CDATA[That would force residents of condos such as the Excelsior on Siesta Key -- where 42 percent of the units are rentals and the seven buildings are worth $30 million -- to get most of their insurance coverage on the unregulated surplus lines market.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 14 Dec 2011 11:22:35 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/vNULmm</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Lawsuits allege housing discrimination against children in Broward</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A Miami-based housing advocacy group on Tuesday filed lawsuits against several real estate agencies and condo associations in Broward County, alleging they engaged in illegal housing discrimination by refusing to make units available to families with children.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:45:56 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/fort-lauderdale/fl-children-housing-discrimination-suit-20111213,0,4246575.story?track=rss</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Boynton Beach mistake leaves condo with $443,000 water bill</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Imagine believing you are up-to-date with monthly bills only to be slapped with an unpaid water bill of nearly $500,000.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:45:24 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-water-bill-condocol-20111213,0,4547400.column</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Legislative Update: Recent Changes to HB 319 Explained</title>
     <description><![CDATA[CALL recently notified its members of changes to HB 319 which is the community association bill filed by Rep. Moraitis. The changes were considered and approved by the House Civil Justice Subcommittee on December 7th.  The five (5) amendments:]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:33:35 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/12/legislative-update-recent-changes-to-hb-319-explained.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>More heartburn from Citizens</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Lest we forget that according to a Sun-Sentinel article by Julie Patel, we read that Citizens wants to reduce coverage for personal liability, liability for mold and loss assessments - coverage that helps condominium unit owners pay assessments charged by their condo associations to cover damage and improvements.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:09:26 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/12/more-heartburn-from-citizens.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Occupy movement occupies vacant bank-owned foreclosure homes in communities</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Communities throughout the Nation have been faced with the launch of a campaign called "Occupy Our Homes" (or O4O), which is a public showdown against big banks and public housing authorities.  This campaign is targeting for occupancy, units acquired by banks in the foreclosure process or government owned units and which are vacant.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 13 Dec 2011 11:12:09 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/w5a4EF</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Report: Arrest in Fort Lauderdale head-stomping case</title>
     <description><![CDATA[An arrest has been made in last month's beating of a Fort Lauderdale homeowners association president who was trying to quiet a group of noisy people, WFOR-Ch. 4 reported.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:52:26 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/fl-homeowners-beating-arrest-20111213,0,5901822.story</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: Seek assistance when trying to remove difficult residents</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: In the past couple of years, I have been struggling to remove dangerous people who have moved into the condominium community.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:34:21 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2011/dec/11/seek-assistance-when-trying-to-remove-difficult/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Community Associations Should Effectively Use Eviction Proceedings Against Tenan</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Community associations throughout Florida have benefited greatly from last year's amendments and this year's expansion of the Condo Act enabling associations to collect rent payments directly from the tenants of delinquent unit owners. Pursuant to the Condo Act,]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 12 Dec 2011 19:23:42 -0500</pubDate>
     <link><![CDATA[http://www.floridahoalawyerblog.com/2011/12/community-associations-should-2.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+FloridaHoaLawyerBlogCom+%28Florida+HOA+Lawyer+Blog%29]]></link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Florida Supreme Court to Decide Whether HOA's Entitled to Implied Warranties</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Last November I posted a blog ( Homeowners' Associations: New Ruling Supports Compensation for Construction Defects)  alerting readers to an important appellate decision holding that buyers and homeowners' associations are entitled to a common law implied warranty of fitness and merchantability with respect to the roadways, drainage systems, retention ponds and underground pipes in a residential subdivision.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 12 Dec 2011 19:00:53 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/tkXVxy</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Wiseman: Update bylaws often enough</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: Our condo bylaws are over 40 years old, and we have spent a fortune revising them. Why not repeal them and adopt the Florida Statutes like new associations do?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 12 Dec 2011 18:50:21 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20111211/COLUMNIST/312119993</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>A typical Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year in a Florida community association?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Ahhhh...the holidays are finally here.  Time to wind-down, kick off your shoes, get in shape, jump in the pool and spend some quality time with your family and friends in your home.  Time to put up those decorations that will make you the envy of your neighbors, have a holiday gathering or two and party non-stop until the first week of 2012.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:18:33 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://thesent.nl/sTdc34</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>High court hears subdivision case</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A Central Florida homeowners association argued before the Florida Supreme Court last week that it has the right to sue a developer for problems with the neighborhood's common areas.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 11 Dec 2011 18:04:08 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://thesent.nl/tkrjiY</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>North Fort Myers community's residents roll up sleeves</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Like the flow of Indian Creek, residents’ discord with the developer of Riverbend Golf and River Club in North Fort Myers is all just water under the bridge.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 11 Dec 2011 14:37:15 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://newspr.es/rB8107</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Board not required to run background checks on candidates</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: Is there a requirement that the board perform background checks on candidates to make sure that they are qualified to run for the board?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 11 Dec 2011 14:33:41 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20111211/COLUMNISTS16/312110027/Board-not-required-run-background-checks-candidates</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: Tips on how to identify a well-managed condo association</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. Please let us know how one can identify a well-managed condominium association when considering purchasing a unit. Please share your top three or four questions to ask as well as tips to look for in the answers.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 11 Dec 2011 14:04:11 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/txaYFq</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Naples developer sues BP over marked-down price for Pelican Bay condo</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A Naples developer has sued BP, saying the British oil giant wrongly denied payment on a claim for the $1.7 million it lost on the sale of a penthouse condominium at Cap Ferrat.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 10 Dec 2011 11:59:49 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/dec/09/bp-sue-pelican-bay-real-estate-price-drop-condo/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>What do HOA board members and owners really want?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Over the years I have attended many town hall meetings, seminars and – as a member of the HOA Task Force – all the meetings of the Task Force. Last Saturday I attended the CondoCraze seminar in the Hard Rock Hotel in Orlando.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:04:46 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://thesent.nl/sO6UtN</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Does your board have to enforce your community's governing documents?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[How many times have you wondered if your board was going to get around to pursuing the blatant parking violator next door or the nightly nuisance across the street?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 09 Dec 2011 11:47:09 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/umLY82</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Can you walk away from your HOA/condo fees after filing for bankruptcy?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[This blog and others have discussed (at length) association options when a homeowner is late on assessments and is the defendant in a lawsuit for mortgage foreclosure. What has not been discussed as frequently is the effect of a bankruptcy filing.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 09 Dec 2011 10:30:23 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/u48ZF2</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Legislative Update: Changes to HB 319 Approved in Committee</title>
     <description><![CDATA[CALL recently notified its members of changes to HB 319 which is the community association bill filed by Rep. Moraitis.  The changes were considered and approved by the House Civil Justice Subcommittee on December 7th.  The five (5) amendments:]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 08 Dec 2011 20:14:53 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/ssXdI2</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo Consultant: Emailing meeting notices helps out-of-town owners</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Dear Poliakoffs: My fiancé and I are condo owners in South Florida. We would like to ask some questions about the roles and responsibilities of the board of directors of an association and the management company.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:59:54 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/tXRXpr</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>HEATH v. BEAR ISLAND HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC.</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The Association, however, had no legal obligation to take legal action to enforce the Declaration.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 08 Dec 2011 11:01:26 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/tlovkI</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Election season in full swing: What else can go wrong?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Last time I discussed some issues that could come up in a condominium election and provided answers. Let’s look at a few more.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 08 Dec 2011 10:45:33 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/uGMimc</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Tree trouble is expensive problem in Pasco neighborhoods</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The county is adjusting it's Land Development Code for the future. They will allow more flexibility on planting and removing trees. But they are not paying for repairs, so homeowners, HOA's and community development districts are forced to cover the costs to fix any damage.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 07 Dec 2011 19:09:41 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/vx9JJp</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Sun City Community Association to evict homeowners housing children</title>
     <description><![CDATA[According to Ed Barnes, homeowners sign a membership agreement acknowledging children under the age of 18 can't live in the age-restricted community. He said at least seven violators have been located.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:28:57 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/uYx8LE</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Property owner associations are integral in making change a reality</title>
     <description><![CDATA[According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the major source of water pollution is stormwater runoff from homeowners’ properties.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:18:47 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2011/dec/07/property-owner-associations-are-integral-in-making/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Shared-living communities can put the brakes on motorcycles and much more</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Can your board ban RVs, motorcycles, or scooters? Could you be fined for keeping your car garage door open too long?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 07 Dec 2011 10:40:07 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/realestate/fl-motorcyle-ban-condocol-20111206,0,1534979.column</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Fisher Island challenges dredging</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The wealthy community of Fisher Island has joined environmental groups in challenging the "Deep Dredge" planned at the Port of Miami]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 07 Dec 2011 10:36:55 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/12/06/2534802/fisher-island-challenges-dredging.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo Check Fraud</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A South Florida woman learning crooks copied her condo association's checking account number, wiping them out. When she went to the bank to get the cash back, they didn't help. So she called Help me Howard with Patrick Fraser.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 06 Dec 2011 09:47:04 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/rQIaWu</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Citizens' plan to shrink could lower its risk by $190 billion</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Citizens Property Insurance could get a green light today to implement changes that would lead to fewer policies, higher premiums and less financial risk for all Floridians.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 06 Dec 2011 09:43:37 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/rXd8nR</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Boca Raton family could lose home for forgetting to pay HOA assessment</title>
     <description><![CDATA[It may not sound like a lot of money, but an unpaid $120 bill could force a Boca Raton family out of their home.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 06 Dec 2011 09:37:34 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/sAq5Bv</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>New Community Association "Sunshine" Law Booklet Published</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Ok - Florida's Government in the Sunshine Act does not apply to community associations, but community associations do have what is commonly referred to as 'sunshine' requirements.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:45:08 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/rxMtgV</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>When pipes go bad</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q:I am doing research for my mother, who is in distress. I found one of your answers to a letter published in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and thought you may be able to help.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 05 Dec 2011 12:05:21 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20111204/ARCHIVES/112041001</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Not all association information is created equal.</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Recently I came across a few topics for community associations published online and in print which were at worst legally incorrect and at best simply misleading.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 05 Dec 2011 12:02:48 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/12/not-all-association-information-is-created-equal.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Court to consider who has to pay for fixes to roads, drainage: HOA or developer?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Flawed roads and drainage systems in a Winter Garden subdivision - and the question of who should be responsible for fixing them - will be considered this week by the Florida Supreme Court.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 04 Dec 2011 19:17:51 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://thesent.nl/uE28ES</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Dreams of luxury become nightmare in Bimini Bay development</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Bimini Bay's problems run deeper than that, however. Residents complain that developer David Meadows hasn't lived up to his promises and is now slapping them with fines and liens they say are unwarranted. Meanwhile, they say, he is paying himself large management fees to operate the partially built community.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 04 Dec 2011 15:38:54 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/tF5gIr</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Foreclosure dilemmas pile up</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. I am in the unfortunate situation of having my unit foreclosed on by the bank and also the condominium. I was told by a director that the condominium would seek the delinquent fees after the foreclosure was completed. If I move out, how can the condominium follow me to collect these fees?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 04 Dec 2011 15:30:07 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/12/04/2527026/foreclosure-dilemmas-pile-up.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Adult communities must follow many rules</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: I read in your column that there are certain requirements for a community to be called an "adult community.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 04 Dec 2011 15:28:52 -0500</pubDate>
     <link><![CDATA[http://www2.tbo.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/2011/dec/04/banewso3-adult-communities-must-follow-many-rules-ar-330108/?referer=None&shorturl=http://tbo.ly/sYEYBO]]></link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>'Material alterations' have broad interpretation under the law</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: Our condominium has 20, two-story buildings. The lower breezeways of the first five buildings are constructed of a combination of concrete and dirt. The breezeways in the remaining 15 buildings are constructed with all concrete.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 04 Dec 2011 15:26:43 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20111204/COLUMNISTS16/312040023/-Material-alterations-broad-interpretation-under-law?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CHome%7Cs</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: Will our association receive lien amount if bank forecloses on th</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. We are a small association and have 10 percent of our units with bank foreclosure. We cannot afford the loss and any legal fees to protect ourselves.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 04 Dec 2011 15:21:35 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/dec/04/will-our-association-receive-lien-amount-if-bank/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Rob Samouce: Who pays for damage from water leaks in condominiums?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Due to many changes in the Florida Statutes affecting condominium associations in recent years, now is probably a good time to review who is responsible for the cost of repairing and/or replacing condominium property damaged by water leaks.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 04 Dec 2011 15:21:00 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/dec/04/who-pays-for-damage-from-water-leaks-in/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Boynton says 'our error,' but nearly $450,000 water bill still must be paid</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The city says it inadvertently undercharged a condominium association for water, sewers and garbage by nearly a half million dollars and wants it back.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 02 Dec 2011 18:15:48 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/v6HbXe</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Can your board use proxies during elections, annual budget votes?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Not everyone can make it to a condominium or homeowners association board election meeting and may wonder whether they can use a proxy - or voting stand-in - instead?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:23:12 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/12/can-your-board-use-proxies-during-elections-budget-votes.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Ask a real estate pro: When the bank won't foreclose and HOA fees pile up</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: I filed bankruptcy and abandoned a home in 2008. Since then the bank has not foreclosed and the homeowner’s association keeps sending me bills. What can I do?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:02:39 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/realestate/sfl-singer-housing-questions-link-20111202,0,2199390.story</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Comcast To Cut Cable To Boca Falls Months Before Hotwire Is Turned On</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Instead of losing gracefully and attempting to win back business professionally, Comcast (NASDAQ:CMSK) is notifying all residents of Boca Falls through this letter that they are going to be left without cable, phone, and internet service unless they pay significantly higher rates come January 1, 2012.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 01 Dec 2011 20:03:45 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/uCAbD5</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo Consultant: Board confused about its role in reviewing budget</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Dear Poliakoffs: I am anxious to hear your interpretation of the "Sunshine Law" concerning the following:]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:05:16 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/real-estate/condo-consultant-board-confused-about-its-role-in-2006790.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Change may come to Compass Lake in the Hills</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A sometimes-contentious effort to revamp the special taxing district for Compass Lake in the Hills subdivision gained more traction this week.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:45:16 -0500</pubDate>
     <link><![CDATA[http://www2.jcfloridan.com/news/2011/nov/30/change-may-come-compass-lake-hills-ar-2778961/?referer=None&shorturl=http://bit.ly/sQ3LzJ]]></link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Are you a rookie board member? Here are some suggestions:</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The election season for community associations has begun here in the state of Florida. There will be many new boards and board members elected in the coming months.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:42:13 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/vb6e90</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Homeowners president head-stomped by robber (follow-up)</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The Villas' association at the time was struggling with debt caused by foreclosures, but it's now back on budget, he said. He's been the association president for three years, an experience he finds rewarding.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:32:56 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/sB6m48</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Some residents at Clearwater condo complex remain powerless, in dark</title>
     <description><![CDATA[More than a month after a fire knocked out their electricity, residents of a Sunset Point Road condo complex remain frustrated and in the dark.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:25:13 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/tG3rn1</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Homeowners president head-stomped by robber</title>
     <description><![CDATA[An attempt to quell a noisy group outside his residential complex caused a homeowners association president to suffer a brutal, head-stomping robbery.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:43:51 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/t5yXlo</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Citizens insurance prepares to drop or reduce coverage, raise premiums</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A Citizens Property Insurance panel approved a slate of recommendations Wednesday to help the state-backed insurer downsize and lower its financial risk to Floridians.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:26:52 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/vBezD8</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>HOA  working to get commitments by Dec. 20 to purchase Indiantown country club</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The Indianwood Homeowners Association is about two-thirds of the way to getting commitments from the 229 members needed to buy the Indianwood Golf & Country Club for $30 million.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 30 Nov 2011 10:22:46 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/vFAs7N</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Fantasy Land, Frontier Land ... HOA Land?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[After 20 years of practicing community association law in South Florida, the accusations, cursing, screaming, yelling, lawsuits, appeals, mediations, arbitrations and nasty letter writing campaigns begin to wear you down.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 30 Nov 2011 10:09:24 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.orlandosentinel.com/classified/realestate/blog/os-fantasy-land-frontier-land-hoa-land-20111129,0,4225949.story</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>New laws protect homeowner associations</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Homeowner's association fees are something many homeowners have to pay, but what happens when your neighbors don't pay up and leave you to foot the bill?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 30 Nov 2011 09:58:42 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.nbc-2.com/story/16148392/new-laws</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Homeowners Association lost $1 million</title>
     <description><![CDATA[This is a sad story I just heard. The developer of an HOA should have turned the association over when 70% units were sold. Instead he changed the governing documents and kept control of board. A relative was designated as the "manager". Apparently no one effectively challenged his actions, once discovered.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 29 Nov 2011 13:20:18 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/u8IS7E</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Jacksonville Beach Home Foreclosed on by HOA</title>
     <description><![CDATA[According to court documents, Samuels owed three years of fees, $260 a year.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 29 Nov 2011 10:16:16 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/article/228909/483/HOA-Forecloses-on-Jacksonville-Beach-Home-For-Unpaid-Dues</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Community Associations Must Act to Respond to Bank Foreclosure Dismissals, Delay</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The repercussions of the robo-signing debacle are still reverberating in foreclosure cases that are being heard today in the South Florida courts. Delays and dismissals of the banks' foreclosures]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:57:56 -0500</pubDate>
     <link><![CDATA[http://www.floridahoalawyerblog.com/2011/11/community-associations-must-ac.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+FloridaHoaLawyerBlogCom+%28Florida+HOA+Lawyer+Blog%29]]></link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>How do you deal with a crooked HOA board?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Everyone who lives in, or has thought of living in a homeowners association in South Florida has heard the stories of crooked boards of directors who seem hell-bent on controlling every aspect of the residents’ lives.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:16:42 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://exm.nr/sqgJVs</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Keeping your association documents up to date and in line with your community’s</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Far too often when a new board is initially meeting with one of our attorneys, they will pull out a sheaf of haphazardly rubber-banded documents that look like they were written on parchment paper and turn them over with a flourish as the association’s official governing documents.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:11:58 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/11/keeping-your-association-documents-up-to-date-and-in-line-with-your-communitys-needs.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Fire at Sparrow Condominiums destroys 2 units</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A fire ripped through a condominium building Sunday afternoon, destroying at least two units and leaving at least one family pet dead.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:49:25 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.gainesville.com/article/20111127/articles/111129606</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: Only the members have right to change the common elements</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. When I purchased my condominium a few years back, we had two large pools and each pool deck had Jacuzzis. Several years back the board closed one of the Jacuzzis. The current board is planning to close the other Jacuzzis to save money. Can the board vote on closing this common element without a member's vote?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 27 Nov 2011 14:30:23 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/nov/27/only-the-members-have-right-to-change-the-common/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: What are the residency age rules for adult communities?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: I read in your column there are certain requirements for a community to be called an adult community. You referred to the Federal Housing for Older Persons Act of 1995 and the Fair Housing Act in Florida. You said that a census must be taken every other year.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 27 Nov 2011 14:17:11 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2011/nov/27/richard-white-what-are-the-residency-age-rules/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Lack of FHA mortgages hurting condo market</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Sellers of South Florida condominiums, buffeted by the devastating housing downturn, are bracing for another blow caused by prospective buyers' problems getting mortgages.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 27 Nov 2011 14:11:01 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/vcKfEA</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>METRO-DADE INVESTMENTS, CO. v. GRANADA LAKES VILLAS CONDOMINIUM, INC.</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Metro-Dade Investments, Co. (Metro-Dade), and Santa Barbara Landings Property Owner's Association, Inc. (Santa Barbara), appeal a nonfinal order denying the appointment of a receiver. Because the trial court erred as a matter of law by concluding that it did not have the authority to appoint a receiver in this case, we reverse and remand for further proceedings.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 26 Nov 2011 21:40:20 -0500</pubDate>
     <link><![CDATA[http://www.leagle.com/xmlResult.aspx?xmldoc=In%20FLCO%2020111123243.xml&docbase=CSLWAR3-2007-CURR]]></link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Thanksgiving as a time to foster community</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Thanksgiving is a time for most of us to give thanks for our friends and families. It is associated (rightly or wrongly) with community, in the context of people helping each other. Community is more than mere ownership of property;]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 26 Nov 2011 21:36:55 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/11/thanksgiving-as-a-time-to-foster-community.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>President of homeowners association accused of embezzlement</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Board members of the Sabal Springs Golf and Raquet Club filed charges Wednesday against the former president of the homeowners association, claiming he embezzled more than a $1 million over the last 3 years.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 26 Nov 2011 21:26:32 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.winknews.com/Local-Florida/2011-11-23/President-of-Homeowners-Association-Accused-of-Embezzlement</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Collection of Delinquent Accounts</title>
     <description><![CDATA[It is very likely that your management company charges a fee to delinquent owners if they send collection letters.  After all, they are doing extra work that wouldn’t be necessary if the owner paid on time.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 26 Nov 2011 21:18:03 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/11/collection-of-delinquent-accounts.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Woman found unhurt on floor of smoke-filled condominium</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Rescuers received an alarm call at about 8:30 p.m. and found the unit filled with smoke from burnt food in a toaster oven.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:39:58 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/woman-found-unhurt-on-floor-of-smoke-filled-1988737.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Associations have power to make deals on behalf of unit owners</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Here's some background: Our master homeowners association community consists of townhomes, condos and single-family homes. In April '09 the HOA was successful in amending our covenants and bylaws to allow for the purchase of the golf course bordering our community.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:24:26 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/real-estate/associations-have-power-to-make-deals-on-behalf-1988783.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Help Me Howard: Rats</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Imagine sitting in a chair, watching the news- you hear a sound you look over to the left and a rat is running across your floor. I don't care who you are, it will give you the creeps.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 22 Nov 2011 11:22:10 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/tOrZ1J</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>More Heat Over Multimillion Dollar Hotwire Deal In Boca Falls</title>
     <description><![CDATA[While BocaNewsNow.com has found Hotwire representatives to be forthcoming and helpful when we’ve asked questions, their image in online forums in Florida, and nationally, leaves a bit to be desired]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 22 Nov 2011 10:59:16 -0500</pubDate>
     <link> http://bit.ly/uDFTqQ</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Retired New York Firefighter Prevails in 9/11 Flag Flap</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A retired New York City cop and firefighter who helped pull people from the wreckage after the World Trade Center collapsed on 9/11 will now be allowed to fly a commemorative flag in front of his home, ending a one-week battle with his homeowner's association.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 22 Nov 2011 10:38:35 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/uDXZQR</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Woman sold Daytona Beach Shores condo over and over in scam, police say</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Daytona Beach Shores police are saying at least eight people fell victim to a 57-year-old woman's scheme to sell a private condominium as a timeshare.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 21 Nov 2011 22:58:45 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-journalonline.com/breakingnews/2011/11/woman-sold-private-daytona-beach-shores-condo-as-timeshareis-charged-with-fraudoff-condo.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>City filled with HOAs resists downward trend in property values</title>
     <description><![CDATA[We often hear from some folks that mandatory community associations drag down property values. Dictatorial boards, botched elections, disgruntled owners, missing reserve funds, none of these stories paint a rosy picture of the community association lifestyle but how much of an impact does all that really have on property values?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 21 Nov 2011 22:52:23 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/11/city-filled-with-hoas-resists-downward-trend-in-property-values.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Mount Dora residents angry over cars crashing through neighborhood's brick wall</title>
     <description><![CDATA[ Paul Komraus figures it's the name Thrill Hill Road that draws fun-loving speeders to the rolling roadway.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 20 Nov 2011 15:52:24 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/lake/os-lk-lakes-mount-dora-crashes-20111120,0,7972479.story</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Closing common area hot tubs leaves owner cold</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: When I purchased my condominium a few years back, we had two large pools and each pool deck had Jacuzzis.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 20 Nov 2011 15:06:35 -0500</pubDate>
     <link><![CDATA[http://www2.tbo.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/2011/nov/20/banewso6-closing-common-area-hot-tubs-leaves-owner-ar-325699/?referer=None&shorturl=http://tbo.ly/rqA2cW]]></link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Has director violated any rules by informing owners of her position on amendment</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. We have a director who recently sent an email to some of our owners. She is opposed to upcoming amendments to our documents that would transfer repairs and replacement from the condominium to each owner.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 20 Nov 2011 15:05:16 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/nov/20/has-director-violated-any-rules-by-informing-of/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Members may tape association meetings</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: Is it legal for a homeowner/association member to videotape a homeowners' association board meeting?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 20 Nov 2011 14:35:34 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20111120/COLUMNISTS16/111200318/Members-may-tape-association-meetings?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CHome%7Cs</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Leesburg couple rip up grass in favor of drought-tolerant landscape</title>
     <description><![CDATA[When Dick Vlaha decided to make some major changes to his lush, green yard at the Plantation at Leesburg, there was one thing he wouldn't give up: a peek of grass in the backyard.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 19 Nov 2011 15:48:15 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/lake/os-lk-drought-tolerant-lawn-20111119,0,6103023.story</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Coral Springs homeowners' association orders resident to remove 9/11 flag</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Richard Wentz, of Coral Springs, has been told to remove his commemorative 9/11 flag or face fines and legal action, reports WPLG-Ch.10.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 19 Nov 2011 15:46:11 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/sfl-coral-springs-homeowners-association-20111119,0,3124970.story</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Legislature Offers Second Chance</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Despite rumors to the contrary, sometimes the government “is here to help”. The Florida Legislature enacted a law this past summer that can be a major benefit to the residents of community associations throughout the State of Florida. But let me digress.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 19 Nov 2011 15:24:27 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/blogs/bonita-and-beyond-jim-boeglin/2011/nov/18/cable/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Melbourne HOA v. Boy Scouts - Update</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Last week Donna Berger and I both addressed a recent decision by a Hammock Lakes HOA to reject a Boy Scout’s request to conduct its annual food drive inside his own neighborhood.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:10:01 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/tvARj3</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Electrical short causes thousands in damages</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A condominium on Gulf Shore Drive sustained about $3,000 in damages after a fire broke out on the front porch.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 18 Nov 2011 11:53:07 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.nwfdailynews.com/articles/shortage-45331-thousands-causes.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Adult communities: Who can live in one?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[There is a lot of controversy and misinformation concerning who can live in an adult community. Most of the time it has to do with the  so called 80/20 rule.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 17 Nov 2011 15:27:02 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/rWziOo</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo or HOA Board? Do You Know What Statutes Govern Your Community?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[You would think this is a simple question to answer.  After all, shouldn’t it be obvious?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 16 Nov 2011 10:47:22 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/tHlT8h</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Five things you should know about condo elections</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Election season will soon creep up on owners and board members of condominium and homeowners communities across Florida, with many boards hosting elections within in the next several months. Here is what you should know.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 15 Nov 2011 21:32:35 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/smDZq2</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Naples attorney faces sanctions, accused of practicing law while suspended</title>
     <description><![CDATA[In the new contempt case, the lawsuits and mortgage foreclosures that are referred to involve legal actions he filed in Collier Circuit Court for Shadowood Villas Condominium Association and Eagle Creek of Naples Condominium Association.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 15 Nov 2011 20:24:16 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/nov/15/Jeffrey-Schelling-suspend-Florida-Bar-practice-law/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Beacon Woods golf cart owner defies violation notice</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Yves Dandurand defies Beacon Woods restrictions by backing his golf cart out of his driveway onto local streets. The subdivision does not allow unlicensed or unregistered vehicles to operate on streets.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 15 Nov 2011 19:34:21 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/vQK7Cj</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condos, LED lights and saving on electricity bills</title>
     <description><![CDATA[I received an e-mail from a member asking about whether anyone has had experience with firms that work with Associations to allow them to get LED lights for the entire building and pay back the cost of the lights with a percentage of the savings they produce.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 15 Nov 2011 11:27:39 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/sTN73D</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>HOA or Condo Association - does it matter?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[You may wonder why the distinction is important. There are different laws for each type of association. The rights and responsibilities of owners are different in each type of community and procedural operations are likewise different. Here are a few examples:]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 14 Nov 2011 19:41:11 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/vLbUm8</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title><![CDATA[Ooh La La: Brazilian Swimsuits & Community Pools]]></title>
     <description><![CDATA[Question: The HOA manager told me that my swimming suit was not appropriate and that I should wear something that would cover more. I am Brazilian and I was wearing a bikini that is smaller than the others.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 14 Nov 2011 12:01:28 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/ui3oBy</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>First Coast condo prices melting down</title>
     <description><![CDATA[It’s a scene repeated all over town. As badly as the prices for single family homes have dropped, condos and townhouses have dropped far faster]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 14 Nov 2011 10:45:58 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/t4m5IS</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Citizens insurance considers shrinking</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Citizens Property Insurance's board members on Monday will weigh ways to reduce the state-backed insurer's size and financial risk to Floridians.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 14 Nov 2011 10:44:13 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/rU8VNx</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Does charity start at home or in the community next door that doesn't have a No</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Differences of opinion can and do arise when trying to interpret what territory rules really cover, particularly in light of a recent decision by a central Florida HOA to prohibit a resident Boy Scout from conducting the Scouts' annual food drive inside his own neighborhood.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 14 Nov 2011 08:49:10 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/uYO6bF</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>West Melbourne HOA vs. The Boy Scouts of America!</title>
     <description><![CDATA[In her blog last week, attorney Jean Winters discussed the differences of opinion that can and do arise when trying to interpret what territory rules really cover, particularly in light of a recent decision by a central Florida HOA to p]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 14 Nov 2011 08:35:42 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/uLwGhj</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Longtime Eagle Trace residents concerned about maintenance, if pool will be buil</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Some are concerned about court filings piling up at the Indian River County Courthouse against the subdivision's new developer Eli Baron. Others want to know who is responsible for building the unfinished community pool and clubhouse.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 13 Nov 2011 12:42:00 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2011/nov/12/longtime-eagle-trace-residents-concerned-about/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: Is dropping homeowner's insurance coverage a good idea?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. I have owned my villa for 20 years and have always paid for home and fire insurance. But it has become so expensive that I cannot afford it any longer. I live on Social Security and do not have the funds necessary with the economy and the high prices. What would you recommend? Should I drop my insurance or cut other areas?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 13 Nov 2011 12:30:41 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/nov/13/is-dropping-homeowners-insurance-coverage-a-good/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Directors responsible for enforcement</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: What are our options if the president of the board of directors of our association is not willing to enforce the rules of the association fairly and consistently?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 13 Nov 2011 12:30:00 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20111113/COLUMNISTS16/111130320/Directors-responsible-enforcement</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo Line</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. I live in a mobile home park. Recently my son, 34, was in an accident that has disabled him. I am acting as his caretaker and he lives with me. The park manager has sent me a letter that states he must move out of the park because he is not 55. Can the park manager call the police and forcibly remove him?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 13 Nov 2011 12:27:04 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/11/13/2496086/mobile-home-park-threatens-to.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo Association and Homeowner’s Association Property Watch-Out Bulletin</title>
     <description><![CDATA[As Condo and HOA boards are preparing to return for the winter season, they will find that their property has not only aged six months, but was exposed to subtropical conditions with a lot of moisture, extreme heat and wind gusts.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 12 Nov 2011 11:19:34 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/uGkL5k</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Dolphin Tower repair price rockets to $18 million</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The engineering firm studying vacant Dolphin Tower now says that much of the concrete supporting upper floors lack strength, a problem that could nearly double the cost to repair the 15-story building.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 11 Nov 2011 18:42:00 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/uvHqvW</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Registration opens for Stormwater Management System workshop</title>
     <description><![CDATA[ Indian River County, in partnership with the cities of Sebastian and Vero Beach, will host a free “Know the Flow” Stormwater Management System Workshop for homeowner and property owner association board members and residents, property management companies, community association staff, engineers, and residents on Dec. 8]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 11 Nov 2011 10:54:39 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2011/nov/10/registration-opens-for-stormwater-management-syste/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Rules in community associations should be clearly defined</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Community associations typically enforce both restrictive covenants (contained in a Declaration of Condominium or Declaration of covenants) and board-enacted rules. Restrictive covenants are legally “clothed with a presumption of validity” and are enforceable]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 11 Nov 2011 10:33:42 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/tcFBSA</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>West Melbourne HOA says 'No' to Boy Scout fundraiser</title>
     <description><![CDATA[he Boy Scouts hold a nationwide food drive every year. Scouts drop off a bag on your doorstep with instructions to fill it with whatever non-perishable foods you can spare. You're then told to leave the bag outside and the scouts will come around and pick them up.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 11 Nov 2011 10:03:07 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/vQEK2v</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo conversions pitched as savior by some, intrusion by others</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Lowly apartments, transformed into condominiums across South Florida during housing's heyday, are now turning back into rentals. Unit owners are split on whether the move is a blessing or a bust.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 11 Nov 2011 09:49:56 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/tKCB33</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Citizens plans 19 percent rate hike for some condo buildings</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Citizens Property Insurance plans to discuss raising rates for condominium associations with $10 million or more in coverage by a statewide average of 19 percent for policies that cover a broad range of risks such as fire, theft and hurricanes.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 09 Nov 2011 17:43:41 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/seTlzk</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Both sides warned about confrontations at teenagers' memorial</title>
     <description><![CDATA[As they addressed County Commissioners on Wednesday, both friends of the crash victims and members of the homeowner's association pointed to a confrontation this past weekend at the memorial site between a group of teenagers and a Seville resident.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:21:12 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/vNl806</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: Non-enforcement of one rule would not invalidate other rules</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. In one of your questions in the newspaper, it said that the president had more than one dog and was in violation of the rules and regulations that said no pets. Since there was no attempt to enforce the rules and regulations, would that invalidate all the rules?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:45:24 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/nov/09/non-enforcement-of-one-rule-would-not-invalidate/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>County to rule on memorial to teenage crash victims</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The memorial plaque that stands outside the walls of the Seville subdivision on Wilkinson Road was designed by the parents of four teenagers killed in a crash there. No bigger than a piece of legal-sized paper, it has touched off a sharp neighborhood dispute that has simmered for months.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 09 Nov 2011 09:40:43 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20111108/ARTICLE/111109521</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Homeowners, citing little-known law, win battle with HOA to plant Florida-friend</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A little-known state law has helped a local couple swap their traditional yard for one with less grass, lawn chemicals and yard work, despite neighborhood covenant restrictions.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 09 Nov 2011 09:29:30 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://staugustine.com/news/local-news/2011-11-08/homeowners-citing-little-know-law-win-battle-hoa-plant-florida-friendly#.TrqOIUOXunB</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Can Condominium Owners be Held Liable for the Acts or Omissions of the Associati</title>
     <description><![CDATA[While most unit owners are aware of their obligation to pay their share of the cost of operation and maintenance of the condominium property, and even the potential liability for covering the bad debt of the association, few are aware that they may also be liable for the acts and omissions of the association.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 09 Nov 2011 09:28:01 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/v5nnZn</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Alliance members warned to beware of criminals' return</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Det. John Wicks told alliance members of a new scam the Sheriff's Office is investigating in which criminals prey on people who are home alone. "The people pose as a landscape company and ask you to come outside to look at something," he said. "Then when you're out of your house or condo, another criminal enters and takes valuables.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 09 Nov 2011 09:24:38 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/tcMUdT</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Proposal could ban condos from assessing paying owners extra</title>
     <description><![CDATA[With the Florida legislative session just two months, lawmakers have already filed bills aimed at improving the financial stability and safety of shared communities that could significantly change the way condominium associations and HOAs do business.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 08 Nov 2011 18:29:13 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/vXpCn5</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Rob Samouce: Suspension of rights for non-payment of assessments or violations</title>
     <description><![CDATA[In addition to the ability to fine rule violators $100 per violation per day up to $1,000 in the aggregate after the opportunity for a notice and a hearing, a condominium or homeowners’ association can now, under new laws enacted in the last legislative session, suspend, for a reasonable period of time, the right of a unit owner or member, or their tenant, guest, or invitee, to use the common elements or common areas or facilities of the community for failure to comply with rules and regulations of the association.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 08 Nov 2011 15:27:17 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/nov/08/rob-samouce-suspension-rights-non-payment-assessme/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo sales threatened by loss of FHA backing for loans</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Orlando's condominium market, one of the hardest-hit in the country, faces further challenges because of federal policy changes that now limit mortgage financing for buyers seeking to purchase available units.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 08 Nov 2011 15:05:18 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://thesent.nl/vPSHcu</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Pool pumps stolen from resorts, condo</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Charlotte County Sheriff's detectives are trying to figure out who recently stole eight pool pumps from two resorts and one condominium in the Englewood area.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 08 Nov 2011 12:52:50 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.nbc-2.com/story/15986744/2011/11/08/pool-pumps-stolen-from-resorts-condo</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Homeowners Choice Acquires HomeWise Insurance Company Florida Book of Business</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Homeowners Choice, Inc. (Nasdaq:HCII), a Florida-based insurance holding company, announced today that its wholly owned insurance subsidiary, Homeowners Choice Property & Casualty Insurance Company, Inc., has acquired the Florida policies of HomeWise Insurance Company.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 07 Nov 2011 18:28:06 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45198492#.TrhnwUOXunA</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>How much thought goes into the selection of your community’s Fining Committee?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Last week I was required to report for jury duty in Broward County. I arrived at 7:45 am along with many of my fellow Broward County residents and spent the rest of the day in Voir Dire for a criminal trial. I was not ultimately selected for the jury (most lawyers aren’t) but the lengthy jury selection process made me think about how much thought goes into selecting the right jury for the prosecution and the defense.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 07 Nov 2011 10:07:09 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/uHhfky</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Court reinstates condo buyers' suit against Pulte Homes</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Pulte Homes faces a lawsuit accusing the homebuilder of fraud, reports the Orlando Sentinel. Investors who bought condos in a Pulte development near the International Drive tourist area say the property's management company, Osceola Management & Consulting Inc.    , failed to uphold promises to rent the units and handle associated fees.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 07 Nov 2011 10:04:06 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/tSwfaS</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Plaque memorializing teens' death puts parents, HOA at odds</title>
     <description><![CDATA[It has been nearly eight months since four teenage lives were lost in Sarasota when the teens' car lost control and hit a wall.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 06 Nov 2011 21:46:15 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/sL15bs</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Community Law: Statute protects personal information</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q:I recently requested salary, health insurance costs and bonus information for several employees of my homeowners' association. I was denied these records because the board believes that I am not entitled to these records under the statute.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 06 Nov 2011 21:45:03 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20111106/COLUMNISTS16/111060325/Community-Law-Statute-protects-personal-information</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Sprinkler Line Burst Floods Part Of Miami Condo</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Some residents of a Miami condo got a wet awakening Sunday morning after a sprinkler line burst.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 06 Nov 2011 21:34:09 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://miami.cbslocal.com/2011/11/06/sprinkler-line-burst-floods-part-of-miami-condo/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Simplifying Accounting for Your Homeowners or Condo Association</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Fall is the time HOAs do many of their budgets. In some HOAs in Palm Beach County, the residents have already sent out the annual budget for approval, and a final meeting will be held later in the month for discussion]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 06 Nov 2011 21:22:22 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.examiner.com/hoa-in-west-palm-beach/simplifying-accounting-for-your-homeowners-or-condo-association</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Angry Southwest Ranches residents fight plans for detention center</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A loud, at times unruly, emotionally charged crowd of Southwest Ranches residents put their raw displeasure on display Saturday at a packed meeting with top immigration officials and local leaders about a detention facility that could be built in the West Broward town in the next two years.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 05 Nov 2011 22:28:45 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/11/05/v-fullstory/2488374/residents-meet-upset-by-southwest.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Board needs to know rental rate</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q:Many owners are concerned with this issue: If an owner complies with all of the requirements contained in the condominium documents for renting his or her unit, does the board president have to right to also require that the owner disclose the specific amount of rent that the owner will receive?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 05 Nov 2011 19:24:17 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20111105/COLUMNIST/111109700/2620/REALESTATE?Title=Board-needs-to-know-rental-rate</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Homeowners association wants investigation of Caylee memorial charity</title>
     <description><![CDATA[As plans for a Caylee Anthony memorial remain in flux, a homeowners association representing many residents nearest to the proposed site says it's asking authorities to investigate the project.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 04 Nov 2011 23:11:21 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://thesent.nl/s9Yf3V</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Whispering Sound HOA donates wish list items to Molly’s House</title>
     <description><![CDATA[ It was an early Christmas for Molly’s House, a 501(c)3 hospital hospitality house in Stuart, FL, when the Whispering Sound HOA in Palm City called to say that they were collecting Molly’s Wish List items.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 04 Nov 2011 16:38:12 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2011/nov/04/whispering-sound-hoa-donates-wish-list-items-to-mo/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Get free legal advice on upcoming condo and HOA elections season</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Condominium and homeowners association election season is nearly upon us, meaning it is time to take advantage of free seminars related to Florida shared community laws hosted by law firms and management companies.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 04 Nov 2011 16:37:30 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/11/get-free-legal-advice-on-upcoming-condo-and-hoa-elections-season.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>HOA regulations and enforcement work hand in hand with local code compliance</title>
     <description><![CDATA[So, you just moved into a new home located within an HOA. You are happy and content with your new home, and the exterior of the house looks great. Your driveway is clean and white, and your brand new car shines beautifully in the garage.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 04 Nov 2011 16:33:05 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://exm.nr/vejips</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Private New Smyrna Beach neighborhood told it must foot bill for streetlights</title>
     <description><![CDATA[While the streetlights remain on at night in one neighborhood of the Venetian Bay development off State Road 44, a question of who owns the fixtures and has to pay for the electricity had one resident up in arms.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 04 Nov 2011 16:21:16 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/vX1U7A</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>It's beginning to look a lot like....holiday decorating time once again in assoc</title>
     <description><![CDATA[When I returned home, I noticed that many of the houses in my own homeowners' association had already started putting out their decorations for Halloween including a pretty elaborate display down the street.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 04 Nov 2011 10:35:10 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.condoandhoalawblog.com/2011/10/its-beginning-to-look-lot-likeholiday.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Can a Florida HOA be dissolved?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Recently, a homeowner asked if an HOA can be legally dissolved. The answer is “yes” in some circumstances. If a Declaration of Covenants is still enforceable and subjects the properties of the community to the jurisdiction and control of an HOA, it may be a breach of the board’s fiduciary duty to dissolve the corporation.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 04 Nov 2011 10:30:04 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/11/can-a-florida-hoa-be-dissolved.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Officers of the board: who can give you the ax?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The secretary of a condo board wanted to know if her board of directors proceeded correctly when they chose a new secretary at their annual meeting.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:17:02 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/11/officers-of-the-board-who-can-give-you-the-ax.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Wild hogs more than a nuisance to Suntree residents</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Wild hogs have been rooting for grubs, mole crickets and other creepy crawlies in the Suntree area, horrifying homeowners who cherish well-manicured yards.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 01 Nov 2011 10:35:05 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://on.flatoday.com/vJVVMM</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>After deluge, South Florida flood waters slowly recede</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Last time it poured so heavily in Fort Lauderdale, Helen Schaffhauser managed to get her new car out of her ground-floor condo parking garage before it flooded]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 01 Nov 2011 10:13:13 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/s1Cgc1</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Judge denies Key Club motion to dismiss challenge</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Sarasota County Judge Charles Roberts has denied a request from the Longboat Key Club and Resort to dismiss a petition for a writ of certiorari filed by the Islandside Property Owners Coalition (IPOC) and L’Ambiance and Sanctuary associations against the Longboat Key Club]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:22:42 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.yourobserver.com/news/longboat-key/Front-Page/1031201115032/Judge-denies-Key-Club-motion-to-dismiss-challenge</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: What constitutes responsibility for operations and maintenance?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. Regarding your answer where you said that managers never have responsibilities for operations and maintenance. I would like to know if this is condominium law because this is definitely not the case in my condominium.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 31 Oct 2011 10:59:46 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/oct/31/richard-white-what-constitutes-responsibility-oper/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Bill filed which would make it harder for associations to pay their bills.</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Last week, SB 706 was filed by Senator Chris Smith (D-Oakland Park). This bill would greatly impact condominiums struggling with delinquencies.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 31 Oct 2011 10:58:11 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/10/bill-filed-which-would-make-it-harder-for-associations-to-pay-their-bills.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Boca Falls To Drop Comcast In Favor Of Hotwire, Some Homeowners Furious</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Boca Raton, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) Boca Falls, a gated community between Palmetto Park Rd and Glades Rd, west of 441, is dropping Comcast Cable in favor of “Hotwire Communications,” a company that provides television, internet, and phone via fiber optics. Basic cable through Comcast is included in HOA dues.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 31 Oct 2011 09:39:12 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/rzw1f2</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Here comes the next wave of condos</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Developers are preparing to launch the next wave of condo towers in downtown Miami, targeting international pre-construction buyers who can pay in cash.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 30 Oct 2011 18:48:13 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/10/29/2478900/condo-mania-20.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Some condo owners face 'takeover'</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Condo owners in the Element at MetroWest say they now face one of their worst fears: Their west Orlando condominium is reverting to apartments, and they may be forced to sell their units to the property's new owner for far less than what they paid for them several years ago.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 30 Oct 2011 18:44:35 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://thesent.nl/rJQqX6</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Community Law: Law covers money-handling rules</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: The board of directors in my condominium has not secured a fidelity bond or insurance policy to cover those individuals who handle our money. Is this legal?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 30 Oct 2011 18:36:24 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20111030/COLUMNISTS16/110300322/Community-Law-Law-covers-money-handling-rules?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CHome%7Cs</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Your home is your castle except if you want to smoke</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Your home is in danger of no longer being your castle if that's where you like to light up.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 30 Oct 2011 18:33:50 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://thesent.nl/uhWPSQ</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Will Insurer of Uninhabitable Fla. Condo Building Have to Pay to Repair Defects?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[In the midst of a terrible real estate market, the owners of the 117 units at the Dophin Tower condominium in Sarasota, Fla., have a bigger problem to worry about than most.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 28 Oct 2011 17:11:24 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/t8hKoR</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Dolphin Tower condo board facing more criticism</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Dolphin Tower owners won a legal victory this week against their insurance company, but the troubled downtown condominium faces a growing exodus of paying residents and its board is fielding expanding criticism of its handling of the crisis and dwindling resources to deal with it.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 28 Oct 2011 16:49:13 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/vwiQPv</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Florida Community Associations and Alligators</title>
     <description><![CDATA[On October 24, 2011, Donna Berger blogged about a pending Georgia case where a woman’s family is suing the association because the woman was killed by an alligator on association property.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 28 Oct 2011 11:19:05 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/10/florida-community-associations-and-alligators.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Fatal fire kills 1: Victim in Orlando condo fire was man with dogs, neighbors sa</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A person died in a terrifying fire at an Orlando condominium complex this morning that some residents said began with an explosion.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 28 Oct 2011 10:41:17 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/uGVB9l</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Hoarding:a problem in community associations?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Hoarders have always been a problem in Community Associations.
What can you do to get an owner to clean up their residence?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 27 Oct 2011 10:33:56 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/10/hoardinga-problem-in-community-associations.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Must Seller of Condominiums Disclose Defects to Buyers?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Historically the doctrine of "caveat emptor" (let the buyer beware), governed the relationship between the buyer and seller of real property in Florida.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 26 Oct 2011 10:32:40 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/10/must-seller-of-condominiums-disclose-defects-to-buyers.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Pet peeves: How to deal with unruly pets in condo and HOA communities</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Your condominium or homeowners community may allow pets. But that doesn't mean you must endure neighbors' cats clamoring up your balcony or dogs defecating on a sidewalk or common lawn without owners cleaning up afterward.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:01:37 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-condo-dogs-condocol-20111025,0,5211957.column</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Agreed: Tattered Glass Bank's unsafe, but sides spar over what's to come</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The code enforcement board unanimously voted last week to give the Glass Building Condominium Association, which owns the majority of the structure, until Nov. 2 to find a short-term safety solution.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 24 Oct 2011 16:29:23 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20111024/NEWS01/310240006/Agreed-Tattered-Glass-Bank-s-unsafe-sides-spar-over-what-s-come</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>What is your community association’s responsibilities when it comes to wild anim</title>
     <description><![CDATA[This past weekend, I received several calls from neighbors advising that an alligator had been spotted in the canals and lakes in my community and also received two email blasts from our board alerting us to the alligator’s presence]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 24 Oct 2011 16:14:44 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/10/what-is-your-community-associations-responsibilities-when-it-comes-to-wild-animals.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Renters excluded from condo board meetings</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Directors are elected by the members. The officers, including the president, are elected by the directors not the members. Officers serve at the will of the directors, not the members. The directors can elect someone to serve as president at any board meeting.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 23 Oct 2011 13:50:51 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/10/23/2462296_p2/renters-excluded-from-condo-board.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Community law: Condo resident has right to make own directory</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: When I first purchased my unit, the association presented me with a directory that listed all of the unit owners' names, telephone numbers, out-of-state addresses and email addresses.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 23 Oct 2011 13:48:27 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20111023/COLUMNISTS16/110230319/Community-law-Condo-resident-has-right-make-own-directory</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>City has a four pack of lawsuits on the books</title>
     <description><![CDATA[As 2011 is rapidly coming to a close in the city of Destin and a few legal challenges have gone the city’s way recently, here is a brief look at the city’s legal docket and what cases are still to be decided.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 22 Oct 2011 15:46:35 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/oPtstb</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Community Association Bill filed by Representative Moraitis</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Representative George Moraitis, the sponsor of HB 1195, which became law on July 1, 2011, has filed a new community association bill, HB 319. HB 319 will be considered during the 2012 Legislative Session. HB 319 impacts condominium, cooperative, and homeowners’ associations.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 21 Oct 2011 17:17:11 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.floridacondohoalawblog.com/2011/10/articles/legislation-1/community-association-bill-filed-by-representative-moraitis/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Residents unhappy with messy anglers</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Residents who live near the bridge on Sands Boulevard in Cape Coral say people who fish off the bridge leave the area messy. The anglers are also accused of damaging expensive landscaping.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 21 Oct 2011 12:12:49 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/o2FNQv</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>The difference between association disputes and divorce</title>
     <description><![CDATA[What can possibly be similar between association disputes and divorce? Both can become personal and incredibly ugly. In both situations, adults can behave like 5 year olds]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 21 Oct 2011 11:47:23 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/o0wx0o</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Does your association have access to your unit?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[It is a fact that condominium associations have the right to enter units.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 20 Oct 2011 13:33:52 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/p5cL7T</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Clearwater, condominium complex in dispute over abandoned well site</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A bizarre city turf war could soon land in court as officials grapple with a condominium complex over resurrecting an abandoned well.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 19 Oct 2011 20:25:45 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/ovqo2c</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Florida Awards Program to Recognize Community Revitalization</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The Florida Communities of Excellence Awards is a unique recognition program that shines a spotlight on the positive and productive initiatives taking place in associations across Florida.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 19 Oct 2011 19:26:02 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/10/florida-awards-program-to-recognize-community-revitalization.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>A Tough Win for Miami's King of Condos</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Miami condo magnate Jorge Perez might be the saddest guy to ever make a quick $60 million profit.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 19 Oct 2011 09:15:21 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://on.wsj.com/nLfoAt</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Residents alarmed by Legionnaires' death</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Hundreds of Countrywood mobile home park residents gathered Tuesday evening for an informational meeting to discuss serious health concerns.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 19 Oct 2011 09:00:49 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/r8iMAs</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood airport neighbors face daunting decision</title>
     <description><![CDATA[At the end of the cul-de-sac, the weathered sign in the yard has a simple message: No Runway Expansion]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 18 Oct 2011 22:20:41 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/nfwFt8</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>What kind of insurance is your condo association required to have?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[What kind of hazard insurance is your condominium association required to have? Does your association have to quiet down loud neighbors? Are special approvals from a board grand-fathered, or can a new board disregard approvals by previous boards?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 18 Oct 2011 17:04:46 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-condo-reader-questions-condocol-20111018,0,4110539.column</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: Dishing out bad news on condo satellite TV restrictions</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: I would like to install a satellite dish for TV reception in my condominium unit. There is a large vine and shrubbery that block the signal. My neighbor has a dish and I would like to place my dish near his. He rejects my request because it would be close to his dish.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 18 Oct 2011 16:26:56 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2011/oct/17/richard-white-dishing-out-bad-news-on-condo-tv/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo board's responsibility for air conditioners depends on the circumstances</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: I am a director on a condominium board. A recent change to the statutes implies that the association is responsible for the unit air conditioners (AC).]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 17 Oct 2011 21:18:29 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tampabay.com/features/homeandgarden/condo-boards-responsibility-for-air-conditioners-depends-on-the/1197280</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>St. Petersburg to test program targeting derelict boats</title>
     <description><![CDATA["You got a lot of boats because people are too cheap to take care of them properly," said Jim Gee, president of the Coquina Key Neighborhood Association. "You shouldn't be leaving a boat over here."]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 17 Oct 2011 11:20:48 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/pvAHrc</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Sunrise fire was dangerous surprise to World War II veteran</title>
     <description><![CDATA[More than 67 years ago Aaron Yatchmink survived the Normandy Invasion, dodging German artillery fire to storm the beaches of France with the Army's 29th Infantry tank division.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 16 Oct 2011 18:25:34 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/fl-sunrise-fire-folo-20111016,0,2731861.story</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Neighbor lives free of charge</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. My neighbor lived in his home for four years after he stopped paying his mortgage, second mortgage, taxes, insurance and our HOA fees. He was living free and always had a new car in his driveway. He was living a life of luxury above his income]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 16 Oct 2011 15:11:33 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/10/16/v-fullstory/2452067/neighbor-lives-free-of-charge.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Community law: Association can suspend rights if any cash due</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: I own two condominium units under the same association. One unit is my primary residence and the other I have used as a rental property.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 16 Oct 2011 15:08:28 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20111016/COLUMNISTS16/110160318/Community-law-Association-can-suspend-rights-any-cash-due</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Getting along, soundwise, at the community pool</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q:I live in a condominium development. A resident insists on playing his radio loudly when swimming at our community pool.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 15 Oct 2011 19:03:00 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20111015/COLUMNIST/111019689</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Community living: Lien is placed on condo unit, not owner</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: Can a lien be placed on a unit that is delinquent? Would the lien be placed against the owner or the unit?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 15 Oct 2011 12:31:17 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tampabay.com/features/homeandgarden/community-living-lien-is-placed-on-condo-unit-not-owner/1196980</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: Can renters be excluded from association board meetings?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. My wife and I lease a condominium where about 35 percent of the residents are renters.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 15 Oct 2011 12:11:02 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/oct/15/richard-whitecan-renters-be-excluded-association-b/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Search and rescue dog, owner declined lease at condo</title>
     <description><![CDATA[This is a story about a woman named Erica Bowles, her dog "Rue," and the condominium complex they almost moved into.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 14 Oct 2011 20:16:09 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/nVBA4L</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Wellington condo association sues exterminator over termites</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A Wellington condo association, unhappy with its termite service, sued its exterminator and won.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 14 Oct 2011 15:57:33 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/nabKnP</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Sewage Seeps Into Miami Gardens Condos</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Residents of a Miami Gardens condo complex where raw sewage is creating a smelly situation said the problem has been going on for months, and the homeowners' association has spent thousands trying to fix it.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:38:45 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.local10.com/news/29477814/detail.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Community associations and the rush to foreclose</title>
     <description><![CDATA[In recent years, no doubt association boards have heard that associations should "beat the bank" to foreclose on assessments.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 14 Oct 2011 11:26:55 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/10/community-associations-and-the-rush-to-foreclose.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Naples lawmaker proposes foreclosure reform bill</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Republican Representative Kathleen Passidomo filed a bill called the "Florida Fair Foreclosure Act," designed, she says, to streamline the foreclosure process.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 14 Oct 2011 11:18:01 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44898815</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Banks backing off on foreclosures in Palm Beach County</title>
     <description><![CDATA[In an unexpected bit of fallout from the real estate crash, lenders are filing far fewer foreclosures.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:09:24 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/pVojvb</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Email communication between board members:</title>
     <description><![CDATA[What happens when your board cannot get enough members to create a quorum for a meeting to vote on an issue? Can you vote by email?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 13 Oct 2011 15:57:37 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/10/email-communication-between-board-members.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Association may be required to cover temporary housing</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Dear Poliakoffs: Can a board member deny owners access to their condo for non-emergency reasons such as maintenance, without prior notification?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 13 Oct 2011 15:18:39 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/qsbbeM</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>The Patriot Act and the banks</title>
     <description><![CDATA[After having received an inquiry from a member about what you can expect banks to ask Associations when they’re opening accounts, I learned a great deal about the Patriot Act and its requirements.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 12 Oct 2011 21:52:27 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/10/the-patriot-act-and-the-banks.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Free water-saving information for South Florida homeowner associations</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Have you wondered how you can save money, save water, and do the right thing for the environment during these tough economic times?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 12 Oct 2011 21:51:41 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/10/save-money-save-water-and-go-green.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Who is Responsible for Maintaining the Limited Common Elements?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Every condominium consists of at least two components - the unit and common elements.  The "unit" is that part of the condominium which is subject to exclusive ownership.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 12 Oct 2011 21:50:39 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/10/who-is-responsible-for-maintaining-the-limited-common-elements.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo collections today: the squeaky wheel gets the grease.</title>
     <description><![CDATA[An attorney at my Firm shared the following success story with me last week. It highlighted what we have been discussing in this blog about collections today being a matter of strategy and expertise. If you are a fan of Sun Tzu’s Art of War, the example below reflects that the opportunity to defeat an “enemy” is indeed provided by the enemy himself.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 10 Oct 2011 11:07:13 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/10/condo-collections-today-the-squeaky-wheel-gets-the-grease.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Council may study condo law that prevents owners from splitting joined units</title>
     <description><![CDATA[In Palm Beach, property owners who own more than one adjacent condominium can combine them into a single home but, once done, they are prohibited by the town from splitting them back into the original number of units unless they can meet parking and density requirements.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 10 Oct 2011 10:48:50 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/qdxliC</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Stressed condos find help</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Osprey Cove, a condominium in Estero, was dealing with a wave of foreclosures that cut off maintenance fees from many of its units.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 10 Oct 2011 10:40:32 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20111010/BUSINESS/110100312/Stressed-condos-find-help</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Bring in the turnover team for HOA transition</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: Our development is partially sold out and the developer is still in control of the association. As we are getting closer to the point of transition, we understand that we should engage an attorney to represent us at turnover.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 09 Oct 2011 14:50:39 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www2.tbo.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/2011/oct/09/banewso6-bring-in-the-turnover-team-for-hoa-transi-ar-270303/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Disabled parking spot delay may be discriminatory</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: We have a child with autism. Due to his disability, he often darts out into the street or gets very distracted and is not aware of his surroundings.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 09 Oct 2011 14:50:13 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20111009/COLUMNISTS16/110090320/Disabled-parking-spot-delay-may-discriminatory</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo approves parking meters</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. Our board recently approved the installation of parking meters for our guest parking spaces. It would require owners with two cars to pay for the second car at the parking meter as well as any guest. The board did not ask members to vote on these changes to our common area]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 09 Oct 2011 14:49:32 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/10/09/2441709/condo-approves-parking-meters.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: Where can I fill a complaint against my HOA?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. In your column, you talked about HOA rights and what they are allowed to do and not allowed to do. It was a good story but if an HOA board breaks the rules, where in the state of Florida do you file a complaint and how do you go about it? Are there any rules in FS 720 covering common ground?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 08 Oct 2011 17:57:00 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/oct/08/richard-white-where-can-i-fill-complaint-against-m/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Legal squabble over sinkhole keeps residents from Tampa condos</title>
     <description><![CDATA[It's been 15 months since a 25-foot wide, 40-foot deep sinkhole collapsed at the front door of a Bordeaux Village condominium building]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 08 Oct 2011 10:24:19 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/p6Rn22</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo buyer frustrated by sellers' roadblocks</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Casual real estate observers figure the South Florida housing market is flush with homes for sale and that anxious sellers are begging for any offers.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 08 Oct 2011 10:20:32 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2011-10-07/business/fl-cant-buy-condo-20111007_1_condo-buyer-south-florida-housing-market-agents</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Lake Mary cops investigate dirty diapers</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Residents in the Hills of Lake Mary subdivision have been dealing with a stinky situation for the past 3 years and are fed up.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 08 Oct 2011 10:08:46 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/oYLqhN</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Can your HOA save money on landscaping? Yes, and it’s the law</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Many Florida shared communities need to save money where they can, and rethinking landscaping plans is an option to consider.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 07 Oct 2011 11:55:58 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/10/can-your-hoa-save-money-on-landscaping-yes-and-its-the-law.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Does The Florida Friendly Landscaping Law Apply To All HOAs?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Florida homeowners wishing to minimize maintenance and reduce water bills should consider Florida-friendly landscaping – a landscaping plan that incorporates the use of grasses and plants native to Florida. According to the University of Florida, irrigating landscaping accounts for more than 50% of water consumption]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 07 Oct 2011 11:15:36 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/10/does-the-florida-friendly-landscaping-law-apply-to-all-hoas.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Owners have right to peruse association's financial records</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Dear Poliakoffs: Can you please help me? I was anonymously provided canceled checks, paid by our association, to a limited liability company that the now president of our association, and his wife, own.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 06 Oct 2011 14:18:31 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/real-estate/owners-have-right-to-peruse-associations-financial-records-1899508.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Court denies relief under the tenant’s under foreclosure act to non-arms length</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The homeowners association filed a foreclosure for unpaid assessments on  2-11-10. A tenant, Jannelle Forbes,  was  personally served with the foreclosure summons and complaint on 2-27-10.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:41:28 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/nE6iHg</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Neighbors concerned with squatting for a good cause</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Warren Lee, a formal mayoral candidate in Jacksonville has claimed four homes through adverse possession.  He says he’s doing it as part of the Warren Lee Foundation for Veterans.  Neighbors around one home are concerned and have said they would rather the home be vacant.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 06 Oct 2011 12:16:35 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.wokv.com/news/news/local/neighbors-concerned-squatting-good-cause/nD2nF/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Records inspections in condos: some tips on how to get the records that you want</title>
     <description><![CDATA[I would like to offer some suggestions on a subject that appeared in Daniel’s September 27th column.  One of the questions was about records inspections.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 05 Oct 2011 19:53:07 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/10/records-inspections-in-condos-some-tips-on-how-to-get-the-records-that-you-want.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Residents learn to live without thirsty lawns</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Residents of the Plantation at Leesburg are discovering how to have nice yards that conserve water with less grass.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 05 Oct 2011 10:17:59 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/n4U0SN</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Retirement center sues over Internet comments</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Bay Village, a venerable Sarasota retirement community, has taken the unusual step of suing the daughter of two former residents for slander and libel over a series of Internet postings.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 05 Oct 2011 09:55:47 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20111004/ARTICLE/111009875</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>The value of board training</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Just because you or your fellow board members have served on multiple boards doesn’t mean your board won’t need training. Each board has different chemistry between the members. Some boards work well together from the beginning, have members with experience in procedure, teamwork and decision making, but some don’t. Some presidents are more forceful than others. Some members haven’t had a lot of executive experience in private industry.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 04 Oct 2011 14:43:07 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/n4FHMY</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Former condo manager turns herself in</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The former manager of a luxury Aventura condo building, accused of embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars, turned herself in to jail officials.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:42:59 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/p00ngG</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title><![CDATA[Welcome to the Condo & HOA News Feed Provided by Community Associations Network]]></title>
     <description><![CDATA[The Community Associations Network compiles news and articles about condo's and HOA's from every state and provides this RSS feed free and without ads, but would appreciate a link or acknowledgement]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 02 Oct 2011 16:16:24 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/hEAEPm</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Woman Charged With Theft Still on Housing Board</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A woman charged with stealing money from a public housing resident association is still serving as its treasurer, and the Lakeland Housing Authority has spent thousands sending her for training, even after she was arrested in June.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 02 Oct 2011 15:49:33 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/mRk663</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Membership elects board, which then picks officers</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: When there is an election for the board of directors, does the association list each officer position on the ballot or do the association members simply elect the members of the board]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 02 Oct 2011 15:33:32 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20111002/COLUMNISTS16/110020320/Membership-elects-board-which-then-picks-officers</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Renters should be able to attend condo board meetings</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: My wife and I lease a condominium where about 35 percent of the residents are renters. I would like to attend board meetings, but they say renters are not allowed. We understand renters have no official voice on issues affecting the association, but we do care what happens in our community.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 02 Oct 2011 15:32:45 -0500</pubDate>
     <link><![CDATA[http://www2.tbo.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/2011/oct/02/banewso6-renters-should-be-able-to-attend-condo-bo-ar-261873/?referer=None&shorturl=http://tbo.ly/nnQOic]]></link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Grandmother nearly loses condo to foreclosure after $4.70 fee balloons to nearly</title>
     <description><![CDATA[For Geeta Ramcharitar, the ordeal began with a past due balance of $4.70 owed to her condominium association in Melbourne’s Venetian Village — and ballooned from there.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 02 Oct 2011 15:30:09 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/oa7lkX</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Cay Club condo resort buyers claim fraud in lawsuit</title>
     <description><![CDATA[In the crazy days of the real estate boom, investors flocked to a condominium complex in Clearwater that promised to make millions]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 01 Oct 2011 22:13:28 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tampabay.com/news/courts/civil/cay-club-condo-resort-buyers-claim-fraud-in-lawsuit/1194848</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Destin condo owners appeal dismissal of property rights case</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A group of beachfront condominium owners have appealed a federal judge’s decision to dismiss their case against the city of Destin and the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 01 Oct 2011 11:42:18 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/oEYXMo</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Rob Samouce: Associations can collect the rent when owners are delinquent in the</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The housing foreclosure mess has greatly impacted many association’s budgets. When an underwater owner does not pay his mortgage, he usually does not pay his condominium or homeowners association’s quarterly or monthly assessments. This can put a big hole in the association’s budget and it’s ability to cover its expenses necessary for the proper maintenance and upkeep of the common property.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 01 Oct 2011 11:40:53 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/oct/01/rob-samouce-associations-can-collect-rent-when-own/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: Can formula for calculating insurance be changed?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. This year I discovered that my condominium was charging a fixed per unit allocation of the insurance cost that was in excess of the actual premium for our building.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 01 Oct 2011 11:40:02 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/oct/01/richard-white-can-formula-calculating-insurance-be/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Nuisance provision in association documents can backfire</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Most condominium and homeowners’ association documents contain a covenant prohibiting nuisances. Some boards use this provision to label the owner a "nuisance
' for various offenses that may or may not ever rise to the legal level of a nuisance.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 30 Sep 2011 17:10:48 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/09/nuisance-provision-in-association-documents-can-backfire.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>HOA president's mailbox blown up</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The president of a neighborhood home owner's association got a startling response to a letter sent out to residents.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 30 Sep 2011 17:05:37 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/qK4rK8</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Paradise lost? Condo penthouse owner sues association, alleging privacy and heal</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The Coens complained to no avail, so they fled the posh penthouse Jerry Sr. and Dr. Sophia Coen bought in 1982, when Jerry Coen helped finance the building’s construction.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 30 Sep 2011 16:40:05 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/sep/30/paradise-lost-condo-penthouse-owner-sues-associati/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Gated community questions security after robberies</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Burglars broke into a gated South Fort Myers community, stole thousands in jewelry and cash and got away. Now, neighbors want to know how they were able to do it.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 29 Sep 2011 19:07:42 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.abc-7.com/story/15581208/2011/09/29/gated-community-questions-security-after-robberies</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Do you have questions that you want to ask your board? How can you get answers?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Does your board have to answer questions that you email to them? The answer is no. So how do you get answers?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 29 Sep 2011 17:25:23 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/09/do-you-have-questions-that-you-want-to-ask-your-board-how-can-you-get-answers.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Attorney Nancy Wear says condo association fight was worth it</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A South Miami condo association's long fight to boot a lawyer out of her unit ended with unintended consequences. Nancy Wear used the check for her attorney fees and costs to pay off her mortgage and ensure her stay.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 29 Sep 2011 11:44:41 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://t.co/ykx9Dfyj</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Price of paving a private road in Clay County is steep</title>
     <description><![CDATA[But the price is steeper than the foot-deep potholes vehicles weave around heading to and from Thunder Road. Each property owner with a driveway connecting to the road can fork over about $24,000 now or spread it over 20 years at about $2,000 annually.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 28 Sep 2011 11:10:15 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/r5uGLK</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo Owners Should Check Association Insurance: Expert</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Insurance experts said on Tuesday that homeowners, who think they are protected if something happens in their unit because they are paying association dues, need to think again.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 27 Sep 2011 20:18:56 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/Insurance-Experts-Offer-Homeowners-Tips-130669798.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Who repairs damage from a condo fire?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[If a fire damages your condominium, who is responsible for repairs - you or the association? Can your association require you to vote for more than one person in a board election? Do you have to request in writing a review of your official homeowner association records, such as bank statements, budgets and vendor contracts?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 27 Sep 2011 20:13:27 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-reader-questions-condocol-20110927,0,1886913.column</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Gates don't always ensure community safety in the rising tide of burglaries</title>
     <description><![CDATA[He thought he was safe inside his Parkland gated community. But the full force of Jeffrey Braxton's vulnerability to burglary was driven home with the loss of a family heirloom: a pink piggy bank.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 27 Sep 2011 14:38:05 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://topicInfoLink</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Colony resort to partner with Colorado firm</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The Colony Beach and Tennis Club Association board of directors is recommending a Colorado firm to partner with the group in "resurrecting" the world-famous resort that closed a year ago.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 27 Sep 2011 14:32:27 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20110927/ARTICLE/110929606/2055/NEWS?Title=Colony-resort-to-partner-with-Colorado-firm-</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Tiny canal embroils Orange leaders in huge battle</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Not far from the million-dollar homes on Lake Tibet, an inlet lined by pickerelweed and torpedo grass comes into view. A small cypress tree stands guard over the shallow pass as it disappears around a bend.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 27 Sep 2011 14:14:39 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-09-25/news/os-keenes-pointe-canal-fight-20110918_1_lori-bradford-keene-s-pointe-community-association-orange-leaders</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Sounding the water leak alarm</title>
     <description><![CDATA[How do you protect against water damage from aging or poorly maintained water heaters, washing machines and other sources that can cost thousands of dollars as well as much angst for the board and unit owners? One good way is to install water sensors that sound an alarm when leaks spring.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 27 Sep 2011 14:08:22 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/qjYNsA</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>HOA rules also apply to board members</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Question:I have lived in a Florida Homeowners Association community now for a year and a half, and other residents have lived there over two years]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 26 Sep 2011 21:14:04 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110925/BUSINESS/309250014/HOA-rules-also-apply-board-members</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Marco Island Beach Advisory Committee discusses Hideaway erosion</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Hideaway Beach’s sand erosion got a nod from Marco Island’s Beach Advisory Committee last week. The committee reviewed options for the gated community to permanently regain the beach it has been so quickly losing.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 26 Sep 2011 21:13:08 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.marconews.com/news/2011/sep/26/marco-island-beach-advisory-committee-discusses-hi/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Pines Century Village building evacuated after fire</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Officials were investigating a fire that caused a Century Village condominium building to be evacuated on Monday morning, an agency spokesman said.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 26 Sep 2011 14:59:38 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/pembroke-pines/fl-pines-century-village-fire-20110926,0,5581839.story</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo owners’ rights can be stripped in bulk sales</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Imagine owning a unit in a South Florida condo tower only to have an investment group – which holds a supermajority of the association’s voting power – decide to strip away all individual property rights by converting the entire project into a rental complex to be placed under the exclusive control of a non-owner entity.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 26 Sep 2011 08:53:18 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/oS9bRt</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Board member eligibility in Florida: what does it mean to have one’s civil right</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Last year, HB 1195 transported certain board member eligibility requirements from Chapter 718, F.S. (the Condominium Act) over to Chapter 720, F.S. (the HOA Act). Specifically, members who are delinquent in the payment]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 26 Sep 2011 08:42:04 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/09/board-member-eligibility-in-florida-what-does-it-mean-to-have-ones-civil-rights-restored.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Community law: What rights remain for HOA member in arrears?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: Do owners who are over 90 days delinquent have the right to speak at board meetings. I realize they have the right to attend. I also realize the board has the ability to restrict their rights to facilities until they are current with their assessments. Would you be able to direct me to information that might clarify this issue?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 25 Sep 2011 19:45:23 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20110925/COLUMNISTS16/109250318/Community-law-What-rights-remain-HOA-member-arrears-</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>HOA must clamp down quickly on delinquent owners</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: My neighbor lived in his home for four years after he stopped paying his mortgage, second mortgage, taxes, insurance, and our HOA fees.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 25 Sep 2011 19:37:16 -0500</pubDate>
     <link><![CDATA[http://www2.tbo.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/2011/sep/25/banewso7-hoa-must-clamp-down-quickly-on-delinquent-ar-260106/?referer=None&shorturl=http://tbo.ly/qRDEeN]]></link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo building condemned; 25 families displaced</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Firefighters condemned a condo building after the wet weather caused the roof of the structure to collapse, forcing out two dozen families.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 24 Sep 2011 21:37:28 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/pnnO0J</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: President is elected as a director first and should vote</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. We have a board of directors of seven. Four of them are officers. I know the president only votes in case of a tie. What about the other three who are officers serving on the board? Can they vote on association business?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 24 Sep 2011 12:11:29 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/sep/24/richard-white-president-elected-director-first-and/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Questions over Saudis' abrupt exit from Sarasota still lingering</title>
     <description><![CDATA[As the al-Hijjis settled into married life, soon to be joined by twins and later another baby, they ran afoul of the Prestancia homeowners association for letting their yard go to weed.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 23 Sep 2011 22:29:33 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/qt2XKq</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Get on board, volunteer to serve your condo or HOA</title>
     <description><![CDATA[It’s hard to find an owner in a condominium or homeowners association who doesn’t have a complaint or two about the way their board handles the day-to-day operations of the community.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 23 Sep 2011 12:23:44 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/nyC9oR</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Apathy: another problem in community associations</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Last time I wrote about negativity in community associations. Today I am going to talk about an even more insidious problem, apathy.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 23 Sep 2011 11:24:05 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/09/apathy-another-problem-in-community-associations.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Sebring settles Lake Regency Woods issue</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The Lake Regency Woods Homeowners Association will put in its own 12-inch water main now that the Sebring City Council voted 3-1 Tuesday to give it the $350,000 proceeds of a performance bond, the city settled for in recent litigation.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 23 Sep 2011 11:01:30 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/qZf0lM</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Indian Rocks Beach Give Back to the Troops</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The Indian Rocks Beach Homeowners Association will be shipping out care packages to the Middle East starting this week.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 23 Sep 2011 10:54:23 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/r95Zg8</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Banning smoking inside a unit is a controversial issue</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Of all of the issues affecting condominium unit owners, the question of banning smoking, both inside and outside of units, is one of the most hotly discussed and debated.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 23 Sep 2011 10:52:35 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/real-estate/banning-smoking-inside-a-unit-is-a-controversial-1873799.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Florida considers cutting courts out of foreclosures</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Gov. Rick Scott, House Speaker Dean Cannon and Senate President Mike Haridopolos all say they are interested in considering legislation to change Florida laws so judges won’t have to referee foreclosures]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 21 Sep 2011 10:07:10 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/pcgCww</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Flood waters plague Ft. Myers homeowners, businesses</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The homeowner's association and management company are responsible for the pipes below the community.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 21 Sep 2011 09:48:11 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/oNrcOt</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>West Boca HOAs, condos get legal update at council meeting</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Leaders of West Boca private communities packed the first meeting of the season of the West Boca Community Council to hear about changes to the state's condo and homeowner association laws.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 21 Sep 2011 09:46:23 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/west-boca/fl-wbf-council-0921-20110921,0,4242381.story</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Florida Supreme Court to Hear Developer and HOA Battle Over Common Area Warranti</title>
     <description><![CDATA[In Maronda Homes, Inc. of Florida, et al, v. Lakeview Reserve Homeowners Association, Inc., the Supreme Court of Florida will soon determine whether common law implied warranties extend to the construction of common areas and facilities of a residential subdivision]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 20 Sep 2011 19:33:04 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/nC7uVE</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Associations Can Effectively Fight Back Against Lien Stripping from Members in B</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The recent report in The Miami Herald stating that the number of South Florida homeowners who owe more on their mortgage than their property is worth remains above 400,000 was very disquieting for the thousands of community associations in the region.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 20 Sep 2011 19:29:53 -0500</pubDate>
     <link><![CDATA[http://www.floridahoalawyerblog.com/2011/09/associations-can-effectively-f.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+FloridaHoaLawyerBlogCom+%28Florida+HOA+Lawyer+Blog%29]]></link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Don’t pay twice for the same work</title>
     <description><![CDATA[We make it a point to publish this advice once a year in our newsletter because new officers and board members are elected and veterans still can use a reminder that can save money and heartburn. We don’t give legal advice; that’s up to the Association attorney. This is a heads-up that the Association’s attorney needs to be involved in any contract negotiation from the start.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 20 Sep 2011 18:05:53 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/o27iVG</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Florida law treats condos, HOAs differently</title>
     <description><![CDATA[If you own a condominium and believe a board member is committing fraud or was elected illegally, you can turn to a state regulatory agency for help — the Division of Florida Condominiums, Timeshares and Mobile Homes. But you're out of luck if you own a home in a Florida shared community.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 20 Sep 2011 17:49:47 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-hoa-laws-condocol-0921-20110920,0,3810164.column</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Law firm warns of foreclosure ruling's effect</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The national law firm of Greenberg Traurig issued an alert this week warning its lawyers that a 4th District Court of Appeal ruling in favor of Palm Beach County homeowners could "dramatically change the foreclosure landscape in Florida."]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 19 Sep 2011 17:52:18 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/foreclosures/law-firm-warns-of-foreclosure-rulings-effect-1862934.html?showComments=true</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>There ought to be a law....easier said than done.</title>
     <description><![CDATA[There has been much talk lately about the very significant success that the 232-unit Spa at Sunset Isles condominium community obtained in Bankruptcy Court under its Chapter 11 proceedings. This community was able to hold banks liable for surcharges incurred as the struggling community continued to maintain the property which comprised the banks’ collateral.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 19 Sep 2011 16:21:17 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/09/there-ought-to-be-a-law-easier-said-than-done.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Unapproved minutes are part of official records</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: Are unapproved minutes of board meetings accessible as official records of the association? I live in a condominium and this issue came up recently.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 19 Sep 2011 12:49:51 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20110918/COLUMNISTS16/109180315/Unapproved-minutes-part-official-records?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CHome%7Cs</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>County won’t enforce condo rules</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. I live in a small HOA. The documents have certain provisions that govern such topics as architectural control. Recently, several owners have applied for county permits for additions that violate the conditions as stated in the documents.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 19 Sep 2011 12:47:15 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/09/18/2408225/county-wont-enforce-condo-rules.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Defenses to assessment foreclosure do exist</title>
     <description><![CDATA[In her September 12, 2011 blog, Donna Berger presented a compelling reason for associations to pursue their own foreclosures, when banks are taking years to foreclose and take title to properties]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 19 Sep 2011 12:42:02 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/09/defenses-to-assessment-foreclosure-do-exist.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Can your condo board reject tenants with a criminal history or other whim?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Finding a suitable, paying tenant for a condominium or home in a shared community could mean financial life or death. And many landlord owners are finding that boards can be a tough hurdle when it comes to their power of accepting or denying an applicant for a rental or lease agreement]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 19 Sep 2011 12:17:26 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/09/can-your-condo-board-reject-tenants-with-a-criminal-history-or-other-whim.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Ask a real estate pro: HOA wants $500 for 'monitoring' foreclosure</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: I am in foreclosure and trying to complete a short sale. I have been paying my homeowner’s association dues every month, so I didn't think I owed anything to the HOA. But the lender approved my short sale, and a few days before closing I found out that I owe the association’s attorney $500 for “monitoring” the bank's foreclosure lawsuit. Can it make me pay this?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 19 Sep 2011 12:11:53 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sfl-singer-housing-questions-link-20110916,0,2843457.story#start</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Chris Griffith: Making sense of condo maintenance fees</title>
     <description><![CDATA[This is going to be exciting! There is nothing more exciting than talking about numbers, budgets and statistics to get everyone hanging on the edge of their seats - or the abyss to boredom. End sarcasm here.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 19 Sep 2011 11:31:20 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/sep/14/chris-griffith-making-sense-condo-maintenance-fees/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Cash flow forecasts and more</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Nidia Repinski is an accountant and on the board of her HOA, Countryside of Welleby. She thanked the Coalition for keeping them in tune with what goes on within the areas of HOA and condos and wanted to let me know how her Association found better ways to manage finances. I know this good information will help others too.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 19 Sep 2011 11:22:37 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/09/cash-flow-forecasts-and-more.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo community turns to bankruptcy to remain solvent</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A Palm Beach County condo community is turning to an unusual solution to deal with foreclosure-related problems that are sapping its finances: Bankruptcy court. The approach, experts say, could point the way for other condo and homeowner communities struggling with financial problems because owners can't pay monthly assessments.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 19 Sep 2011 11:09:02 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-bankruptcy-banks-condocol-20110913,0,6212272.column</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: Condo ownership not requirement for serving on board</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: Does a director have to be a unit owner? We have an open position on the board as one of our directors has moved from our condo. It is hard to find anyone interested in this position.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 19 Sep 2011 10:59:17 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2011/sep/11/richard-white-condo-ownership-not-requirement-on/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Woman saved from fire in her Pembroke Pines condo</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Firefighters fought their way into a smoke-filled, fifth-floor apartment in the Colony Point Circle condominiums early Sunday to rescue an unconscious resident, according to a fire department spokesman.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 19 Sep 2011 10:58:44 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/pembroke-pines/fl-pines-fire-20110911,0,6605457.story</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Fire damages condo while renters attend beach wedding</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A fire damaged a condominium Saturday evening while the group renting it was at a beach wedding nearby.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 11 Sep 2011 00:28:18 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.nwfdailynews.com/articles/destin-43488-fire-attend.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Run boards like a business: professionally</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q:I often read your column, as I serve on the board of directors of our condominium association. The association employs a maintenance man]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 10 Sep 2011 23:57:50 -0500</pubDate>
     <link><![CDATA[http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20110910/COLUMNIST/110919982/-1/sports?Title=Run-boards-like-a-business-professionally&tc=ar]]></link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: Is lien placed against the owner or unit?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. I read your column all the time and I am confused by one answer you recently provided. Can a lien be placed on a unit that is delinquent? Would the lien be place against the owner or the unit? Is there a state law that prohibits the lien on condominium units that are behind in their fees?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 10 Sep 2011 14:50:52 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/sep/10/richard-white-lien-placed-against-owner-or-unit/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Python on loose? Condos on alert in North Naples</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The Collier County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are investigating a claim that an 8- to 9-foot python escaped from Victoria Lakes, a North Naples condominium complex.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 10 Sep 2011 14:49:15 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20110909/NEWS0119/110909001/Python-loose-Condos-alert-North-Naples</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Acres residents work to stop reckless drivers from leaving their mark</title>
     <description><![CDATA[When Rose Vanella-Perry returned home after a trip, she saw the damage: burn-out marks on the road and her driveway, a ripped up lawn, tree bark torn off an oak, and a bumper left on the driveway.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 09 Sep 2011 14:42:07 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2011-09-08/news/fl-pf-dragracing-0907-20110908_1_reckless-drivers-driveway-acres-residents</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Deputies warn of possible escaped python</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Signs are posted in a North Naples community, warning people of an escaped eight-to-nine-foot python. Deputies said someone posted the signs in the Victoria Lakes condominium community, located off Airport Pulling Road North.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 09 Sep 2011 14:14:14 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44450440</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Can snowbirds serve on your condo board?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Serving on a condominium or homeowners board of directors is serious work and can be a full-time endeavor. But should communities allow owners who do not live in a community or only live in a community part of the year serve?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 09 Sep 2011 13:52:33 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/09/can-snowbirds-serve-on-your-condo-board.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Recycling barrels get boost from HOA</title>
     <description><![CDATA[In its new beach recycling project, Pinellas County provided 50 plastic recycle barrels to the city of Indian Rocks Beach for use on the beach, but did not include any way to install them.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 08 Sep 2011 22:44:34 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tbnweekly.com/pubs/belleair_bee/content_articles/090711_bee-03.txt</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Where there’s Smoke there’s Fire</title>
     <description><![CDATA[One of my students at Nova Southeastern School of Law wrote an excellent article that was published in the American Bar Association’s Probate & Property Magazine.  The article entitled, “Butt Out! Controlling Environmental Tobacco Smoke in Condominiums”,* discusses smoking regulations throughout the country and how community associations are dealing with complaints regarding second-hand smoke.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 08 Sep 2011 22:43:20 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/09/where-there%E2%80%99s-smoke-there%E2%80%99s-fire.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>"Negativity"</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Nobody said that living in a community association would be easy. Put a bunch of people together in a building and ask them to live in harmony and to govern themselves to boot. Not so simple.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 08 Sep 2011 22:33:35 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/09/negativity.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Where the issue gets sticky</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Recent headlines revealed that the County hadn’t asked for bids for furniture for 17 years. That means taxpayers probably paid a lot more than we should have for it. This situation doesn’t just apply to the County; Associations as well could be caught up in doing business this way.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 06 Sep 2011 16:54:09 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/09/where-the-issue-gets-sticky.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condominium Association Loses Fight to Keep Its Beach Private</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A federal judge in Pensacola has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Crystal Dunes Owners’ Association and individual condominium owners alleging that the City of Destin, the City Manager, the Mayor and the Okaloosa County Sheriff all violated their due process and equal protection rights by failing to provide the association with notice and an opportunity to be heard before declaring their beachfront property subject to "customary use" and therefore open to the public.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 06 Sep 2011 16:48:34 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/09/condominium-association-loses-fight-to-keep-its-beach-private.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Can owners banned from condo pool use as a guest?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[When condominium owners lose the right to use the community pool or clubhouse for not paying assessments, can they still use them as guests of another owner? Can a condo cut cable TV services from an owner behind in maintenance payments? If your association isn't enforcing noise-control rules, what can you do?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 06 Sep 2011 16:40:29 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-reader-questions-condocol-20110906,0,1559230.column</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Neighbors incensed as bank does nothing about derelict house</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Practically every neighborhood has one of those abandoned and increasingly derelict houses that teenagers like to throw stones at or dare each other to spend a night inside of.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 05 Sep 2011 13:58:19 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/nbC90j</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: Is selling our condominium building to a developer a good idea?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. We live in a 32-unit condominium. Eight of the units are vacant and in bank foreclosure. Another eight units are rented, some to prevent foreclosure due to the inability to sell.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 04 Sep 2011 23:26:20 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/sep/03/selling-our-condominium-building-developer-good-id/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: Board president's violation of animal limit rule becomes pet peev</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: Our condominium pet policy states: "Only two pets per condo unit are permitted. Owners who do not follow this policy may be fined or made to remove the pets." Our president has four pets in her unit; two were acquired after she moved in.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 04 Sep 2011 23:09:11 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2011/sep/04/richard-white-board-presidents-violation-of-rule/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Homeowner Association Members Offered Training</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Hillsborough County’s Office of Neighborhood Relations is offering free training to help homeowner association (HOA) board members become knowledgeable leaders and build strong communities]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 04 Sep 2011 22:57:25 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://southtampa.patch.com/articles/homeowner-association-members-offered-training</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Judge dismisses lawsuit filed against Destin, Sheriff's Office</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit a group of beachfront condominium owners filed last year against the city of Destin and the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 04 Sep 2011 22:53:05 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/nUWfHe</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Concerns about condo board members</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: Some members of our association have concerns regarding the fiduciary responsibility of the board and management organization. We are apprehensive about some practices because there is a lack of transparency]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 04 Sep 2011 22:51:37 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20110904/ARTICLE/309049997/2055/NEWS?Title=Concerns-about-condo-board-members</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Material alterations subject to condo declaration</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: Our declaration of condominium states that the association may make alterations and improvements that are approved by the board. The board interprets this as authority to make material alterations, such as eliminating security personnel and changing the building color, without a vote of the members.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 04 Sep 2011 22:50:19 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20110904/COLUMNISTS16/109040326/Material-alterations-subject-condo-declaration</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Rob Samouce: Doggie DNA to catch owners who don’t scoop the poop</title>
     <description><![CDATA[As a rule, most Florida condominium and homeowners’ associations require owners to pick up their dog messes when owners or residents walk their dogs on the common areas of the property for a very good reason. Others do not want to share in the smell, the sight, or the unfortunate bummer of getting some of the mess stuck to their shoe.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 04 Sep 2011 22:37:44 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/sep/03/rob-samouce-doggie-dna-catch-owners-who-dont-scoop/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Ex-Aventura condo manager charged with grand theft</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Lourdes Rodriguez, the former manager of the Atlantic II, is accused of taking nearly $500,000 from the condo association.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 02 Sep 2011 19:48:27 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/qeZUjh</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Fire Destroys Tymberskan Condo In Orange</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A fire at the Tymberskan on the Lake Condominiums on Friday morning destroyed two homes, shattering the windows and leaving the units covered in soot and charred debris]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 02 Sep 2011 19:44:12 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.firefightingnews.com/article-us.cfm?articleID=100420</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Delray to require new developments to meet crime prevention standards</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Known as Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design - a series of architectural and design principles - the set of standards will make Delray Beach the newest city in a growing number to require that new projects be built with those principles in mind.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 02 Sep 2011 19:38:15 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/r7FGyT</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Commissioners discuss difficulties faced by local HOAs</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Wheeler complained that, because of the recession, people are unable to pay their homeowners’ association fees, and wondered if the county might help in some way.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 02 Sep 2011 15:19:21 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/oO4EZr</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>HOA Syndrome - Another label or real disorder?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[In the last year, there has been much publicity about an alleged new disorder called "HOA Syndrome". Although not recognized as a psychological disorder by the American Psychiatric Association, one psychology professor in Southern Nevada claims it is real. Professor Gary Solomon claims it is an anxiety disorder caused by the threat of HOA harassment, with symptoms that include depression, anxiety, sleeping disorders, fear and so on.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 02 Sep 2011 14:40:19 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/09/elder-hoa-syndrome-another-label-or-real-disorder.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Can you quit your condo or HOA? Skip paying fees?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[When you can’t afford a service or are fed up with the quality of it, your inclination may be to walk away from it altogether. So can you quit your mandatory condominium or homeowners association when you are fed up with it?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 02 Sep 2011 13:26:45 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/09/can-you-quit-your-condo-or-hoa-skip-paying-fees.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>New Smyrna Beach condo losing ground to erosion</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Waves produced by the hurricane last week triggered erosion, which carved away at expensive real estate at the Las Brisas condos.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 02 Sep 2011 13:23:05 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/oWW9Z1</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Sarasota sheriff’s site zooms in on crime</title>
     <description><![CDATA["I always know what’s going on because of my homeowners association and we have a neighborhood watch," she said]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 01 Sep 2011 15:51:39 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.bradenton.com/2011/09/01/3460307/sarasota-sheriffs-site-zooms-in.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Trends in Florida Condominiums II</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A few weeks ago I blogged about the trend in Florida concerning younger people and families purchasing and renting in condominiums.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 01 Sep 2011 11:03:40 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/09/trends-in-florida-condominiums-ii.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>RIVERWOOD CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, INC. v. LITECRETE, INC.</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Riverwood contends that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of Litecrete for two reasons: (1) Riverwood has asserted an affirmative defense which has not been contested; and (2) Bauman's affidavit and deposition testimony raise issues of material fact which bar summary judgment. We agree.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 01 Sep 2011 10:50:34 -0500</pubDate>
     <link><![CDATA[http://www.leagle.com/xmlResult.aspx?xmldoc=In%20FLCO%2020110831155.xml&docbase=CSLWAR3-2007-CURR]]></link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Does the 5 Year Statute of Limitation Govern Action?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[For years attorneys debated the time frame an association had to compel unit owners to comply with provisions of the governing documents as well as the rules and regulations of the associations]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 01 Sep 2011 10:46:46 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/ooNyTE</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Association managers keep Marco condo operations moving</title>
     <description><![CDATA[It only took a few questions at our table to realize that any successful, well-run condo has an effective board working in harmony with competent managers whose efforts are supported by active residents]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 01 Sep 2011 10:39:53 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/qy4Ir7</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Reserves crucial for disasters, renovations</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Now that it's been been just a short time since a near miss by a very large and angry looking Hurricane Irene, we thought we would talk for a moment about reserves. Reserves are money set aside by associations to deal with large renovation, repair and remediation projects - either from catastrophic events, such as storms, or from the natural aging of a property.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 31 Aug 2011 20:52:47 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/piarfN</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Clearwater woman owes $473,000 in fines on lake dock</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The Spring Lake Homeowners Association is working with the city and Southwest Florida Water Management District to resolve the lake erosion problem, which threatens about a dozen properties around the lake.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:23:54 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www2.tbo.com/news/breaking-news/2011/aug/31/2/clearwater-woman-owes-473000-in-fines-on-lake-dock-ar-254247/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Hammocks residents fed up after latest sewage spill</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Dead bluegill litter three retention ponds in the Hammocks subdivision, where a 337,000-gallon raw sewage spill has fouled the water and the air.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:11:24 -0500</pubDate>
     <link><![CDATA[http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20110830/ARTICLE/110839952/-1/sports?Title=Hammocks-residents-fed-up-after-latest-sewage-spill&tc=ar]]></link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Community creates model Website, database to help collect assessments, inform ow</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Jim Lord, president of the Townhomes of Oriole, created a database that’s taken him over three years to finish. It’s got everything an association needs to track information. It’s not for accounting purposes, and it’s not the same thing that management companies use.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 31 Aug 2011 11:43:27 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/08/a-really-neat-database.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Homemade brewery to blame for St. Petersburg condo fire</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Investigators have determined the source of a fire that broke out Monday afternoon in a condo complex near Tyrone Square Mall: It was a homemade brewery system.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 31 Aug 2011 09:31:03 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://topicInfoLink</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Who pays when a golf ball damages a condo?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Living in a South Florida condominium community on or near a golf course is generally considered a good thing, bringing higher real estate values and peaceful views of hills, sand and greens.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 31 Aug 2011 09:27:42 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-broken-windows-golfball-condocol-20110830,0,2981379.column</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Good night, Irene, now what does the rest of Hurricane Season look like for Flor</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Many of us vigilantly monitored Hurricane Irene’s march of destruction up the US Eastern Coast, hoping that our neighbors to the north would take the threat seriously and heed the warnings. Irene fortunately missed Florida but it was a Category 2 storm]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 29 Aug 2011 10:35:10 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/08/good-night-irene-now-what-does-the-rest-of-hurricane-season-look-like-for-floridians.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>NLRB Upholds Disciplinary Action Despite Unlawfully Overbroad Work Rule</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The Continental decision indicates that, under the right circumstances, there is a narrow defense to a termination pursuant to an overly broad work rule, but prevailing on that defense can be difficult]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 29 Aug 2011 10:08:36 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/q37o4K</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>MELBOURNE OCEAN CLUB CONDOMINIUM v. ELLEDGE</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Melbourne Ocean Club Condominium Association, Inc., (MOCCA) and Tinimar, Inc., appeal a non-final order requiring each to obtain independently audited financial statements and to provide same to Appellees. We have jurisdiction pursuant to Rule 9.130(a)(3)(B), Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure.1 We affirm, without discussion, as to the issues raised by MOCCA. However, we conclude that the trial court erred when it determined that the one year statute of limitations for an action for specific performance did not apply to the claim brought against Tinimar.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 29 Aug 2011 10:07:00 -0500</pubDate>
     <link><![CDATA[http://www.leagle.com/xmlResult.aspx?xmldoc=In%20FLCO%2020110826147.xml&docbase=CSLWAR3-2007-CURR]]></link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>How to stop a condo complex's slide into a slum</title>
     <description><![CDATA[How do you end the condo death spiral? Hire an aggressive debt collector, renegotiate any payments going out the door and act diplomatically while you put in more hours than at your day job.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 29 Aug 2011 10:01:39 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20110829/article/110829655</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Exception for pet restriction</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. Our condominium has a dog restriction. Recently a new owner acquired a dog and presented a letter from a doctor alleging that the owner suffers from depression. The doctor practices out of state and never comes to Florida. The dog is not a service dog and has not been trained. Can a unit owner keep a dog if documents are not provided to the board showing the animal is certified as a service dog?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 28 Aug 2011 21:00:32 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/08/28/2374467/exception-for-pet-restriction.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Community Living: Email alone is not proper way to conduct board meeting</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Question: Most of the directors on our board reside outside the state and some overseas. We conduct most of our meetings using Skype [an internet phone service]. Without Skype we would never obtain a quorum. Before Skype we used phones and email. Are all of these illegal methods of business conduction?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 28 Aug 2011 19:58:17 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/law/os-community-living-0829-20110829,0,7147976.column</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Be aware of risks in selective enforcement case</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: I live in a community with a homeowners’ association. The restrictions prohibit pets, specifically cats and dogs.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 28 Aug 2011 19:03:16 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20110828/COLUMNISTS16/110827025/Be-aware-risks-selective-enforcement-case?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CHome%7Cs</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo association hurt by unpaid HOA fees</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: Like many condo associations, we are faced with assessment delinquencies and bank foreclosures, causing a major shortfall in our budget. Our board decided to become proactive in expediting the foreclosure process because lenders holding defaulted mortgages are moving very slowly.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 28 Aug 2011 17:26:40 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20110828/WIRE/110829616/-1/sports?Title=Condo-association-hurt-by-unpaid-HOA-fees</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Misc. Homestead, Liens, Why asssociations need to follow the rules</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Tommorow I am teaching a CLE (continuing legal education for lawyers) on the issue of assessment foreclosure. I find on a daily basis that some people don’t understand that an association can place a lien and foreclose on the property, despite homestead protection. However, that may not be the case in every circumstance. Although many associations are mandatory, some - especially older ones - are not.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 26 Aug 2011 19:14:41 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/08/misc-homestead-liens-why-asssociations-need-to-follow-the-rules.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Screen door in Arbors Village could be priciest in Martin County</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A two-year legal battle pitting the Arbors Villages Association in Hobe Sound against a 90-year-old homeowner accused of violating the rules for replacing a screen door could cost the community's residents hundreds of thousands of dollars - especially if the courts keep ruling in the man's favor.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 26 Aug 2011 16:38:28 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/qyvZaA</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Your condo neighbor goes commando at the pool: What can you do?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Living in a South Florida condominium on the beach should be peachy, but things can go wrong when neighbors insist on wearing unflattering bikini shorts - or worse.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 26 Aug 2011 15:50:09 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/08/your-condo-neighbor-goes-commando-on-the-beach-what-can-you-do.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>68-year-old man dies in South Tampa condo fire</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A 68-year-old man was killed in a fire at a South Tampa condominium early today, Tampa Fire Rescue said.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 26 Aug 2011 15:49:14 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44285055</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>"The Florida Sunshine Law"</title>
     <description><![CDATA[One of the questions that we get asked at almost every class  is "Do community associations have to abide by the Florida Sunshine Law concerning the rights of unit owners to attend board meetings."]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 25 Aug 2011 21:40:28 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/08/the-florida-sunshine-law.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Woman says homeowners association wrong for selling home</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Riverview resident Stephanie Bonefont has been a homeowner for nearly 11 years, but this week she could wind up homeless.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 25 Aug 2011 17:13:31 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/local/hillsborough/woman-claims-homeowners-association-wrong-for-selling-home-082311</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Fire forces Sarasota condo residents to flee</title>
     <description><![CDATA[As they conferred in the office of the Las Palmas condominiums Tuesday night, property manager Kacy Clark and his co-workers heard a startling thunderous clap.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 25 Aug 2011 16:16:02 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20110824/BREAKING/110829792</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Can condos selectively enforce a no-pet policy?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[What happens when your condominium community has no-pets rules but does not enforce them for years — then suddenly begins to crack down?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 25 Aug 2011 15:20:58 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sfl-can-condos-selectively-enforce-a-nopet-policy-20110824,0,7160652.story</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>HOA Lawsuit Filed against Sawgrass Homeowner</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Amy Lingenfelser lives in a Sawgrass community and for several years has had a basketball hoop in her driveway.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 25 Aug 2011 15:08:59 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.firstcoastnews.com/topstories/article/216201/483/Hoopla-over-HOA-Lawsuit-Filed-against-Sawgrass-Homeowner</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Is Your Community Prepared for Hurricane Irene?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Irene is now a hurricane with 75mph winds. Experts advise that it is likely with the current environment surrounding the storm that Irene will strengthen. Much depends on how much interaction it has with the high mountains in Hispaniola and Cuba.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 23 Aug 2011 08:34:55 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/qwWvat</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Penny Wise and Dollar Foolish: Negotiating with Association Vendors</title>
     <description><![CDATA[If you want to strike terror in the heart of your association attorney, you need only utter this sentence: "I signed a contract last week and want you to review it to make sure it’s alright." Unfortunately, far too many boards underestimate the importance of having their contracts reviewed by legal counsel before signing them.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 22 Aug 2011 10:23:01 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/08/penny-wise-and-dollar-foolish-negotiating-with-association-vendors.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>You may have to take legal action to stop music</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: My next-door neighbor at our condominium is a seasonal resident. While she is gone, she has someone check her home on the weekends.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 21 Aug 2011 17:30:55 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20110821/COLUMNISTS16/110820015/You-may-take-legal-action-stop-music</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: Board meetings via Skype OK</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: Most of the directors on our board reside outside the state and some overseas. We conduct most of our meetings using Skype (an Internet phone service). Without Skype we would never obtain a quorum.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 21 Aug 2011 17:30:17 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2011/aug/21/richard-white-hoa-meetings-via-skype-ok/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>If rent policy works for owners, why not board?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: I reside in an adult condominium community. During these economic times our condominium has had its share of delinquencies, foreclosures and bankruptcies]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 21 Aug 2011 17:29:37 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www2.tbo.com/lifestyles/life/2011/aug/21/banewso6-if-rent-policy-works-for-owners-why-not-b-ar-251640/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: How can selective enforcement of violations be proven?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. In a recently published column, you mentioned HOA members have HOA Act FS 720 wherein they have the following defenses to rule violations: laches, waiver and estoppel, and selective enforcement.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 20 Aug 2011 13:37:09 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/aug/20/richrd-white-how-can-selective-enforcement-violati/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Callans Management's closing leaves void</title>
     <description><![CDATA["Now, you can imagine, if she has 60 to 70 associations, some small, some big like us, and she has all these employees and is collecting all these funds and all of a sudden she is gone," Frank said.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 20 Aug 2011 13:26:27 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/rmYZNs</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Community living: Language creates barrier at condo meetings</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Question: I am the only English-speaking resident in my condominium. There will be a meeting in September and I want to know if I can request a translator for the meeting which will be held in Spanish. Are there any state regulations concerning this matter? All signs are also posted in Spanish and I must write down the wording and go to the Internet for a translation.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 19 Aug 2011 19:48:58 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/law/os-community-living-082211-20110822,0,3638853.column</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Feathers fly at LACPP meeting over chickens</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The board members of the Lehigh Acres Community Planning Panel met with Country Club Estates residents to debate chickens that had taken up residence in Lehigh neighborhoods.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 19 Aug 2011 12:54:23 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.lehighacrescitizen.com/page/content.detail/id/521083/Feathers-fly-at-LACPP-meeting-over-chickens.html?nav=5100</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>HOA Fines, Monetary Obligations and Nonpayment of Regular Assessments</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Based on questions I have received, there seems to be some confusion as to when "monteary obligation" is sufficient to impose a penalty, versus the nonpayment of assessments. Voting cannot be denied based on any "monetary obligation", so that may be one place the statute got it right.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 19 Aug 2011 12:41:09 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/r2I7BC</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Jacksonville Condo Conversion Problems Still Unsettled After Years of Battling</title>
     <description><![CDATA[While condominium prices are on the rise in Jacksonville, many condo owners are battling over condo-conversion problems.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 19 Aug 2011 12:07:06 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/article/215364/3/Jacksonville-Condo-Conversion-Problems-Still-Unsettled-After-Years-of-Battling</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>HUD to pay homeowners' association fees for delinquent unit</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Homeowners' Associations can force the state to foot the bill for unpaid maintenance fees. A recent court ruling could help communities recoup the hundreds of thousands of dollars lost in the housing crisis. But the true burden falls on taxpayers.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 19 Aug 2011 11:18:29 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/region_c_palm_beach_county/lake_worth/hud-to-pay-homeowners'-association-fees-for-delinquent-unit</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Can your condo, HOA hand out your phone number?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[When you live in a Florida shared community, there may be many reasons you would want to reach out to fellow condominium, home and co-operative owners.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 19 Aug 2011 10:48:25 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-owner-information-condocol-20110816,0,337053.column</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Rental limit amendment to homeowners association rules causing controversy</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Some homeowners in a community on the border of Riviera Beach and Palm Beach Gardens are faced with a new amendment. It restricts how many homes in the neighborhood can be rental properties.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 15 Aug 2011 21:27:09 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/pEllJt</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Age-restriction rules challenge in south Fort Myers set for trial</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Gene Hallberg says it’s a matter of principle: He won’t give up his right to let family, friends and employees younger than 55 years old stay at his house in Bayside Estates in south Fort Myers when he’s not there.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 15 Aug 2011 11:01:29 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/pxxIE1</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>A cleansed condo market leads to new construction</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Developers have unloaded just about every one of the nearly 5,000 coastal condominiums built during the housing boom in Hallandale Beach and Hollywood]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 15 Aug 2011 10:52:29 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/oAv8af</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Supreme Court ends fight over Miami River condos</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Two controversial residential projects on the Miami River, whose city approvals were challenged in court for undermining the marine industry and the city’s comprehensive plan, have reached the end of the line.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 15 Aug 2011 10:40:36 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2011/08/11/supreme-court-ends-litigation-over.html?ana=e_vert</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Owner has questions about association</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: Our community was formed in 1960. As long as I can remember, we have been operating as a special tax district. Recently, a new owner researched our records and found we were created as a "civic club," not a homeowners association.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 14 Aug 2011 16:17:59 -0500</pubDate>
     <link><![CDATA[http://www2.tbo.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/2011/aug/14/banewso7-owner-has-questions-about-association-ar-250224/?referer=None&shorturl=http://tbo.ly/nMbn2O]]></link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Community Law: Posting of deadbeat lists is dangerous practice</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: We recently saw a notice posted in our community regarding a "fining committee" meeting. Under the agenda item "new business" we saw a number of community house addresses listed. When I spoke to one of my neighbors (her house was one of the ones listed), she told me that it was because she was late with her dues.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 14 Aug 2011 15:34:02 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20110814/COLUMNISTS16/108140322/Community-Law-Posting-deadbeat-lists-dangerous-practice</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo Line: Pizza delivery is curtailed</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. I live in a condominium with concierge and security service. All guests and vendors must register at the front desk. Our board has just instituted a policy that forbids residents from having pizza delivered to their unit. It cites security reasons. Does the board have a right to forbid who comes to my unit?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 14 Aug 2011 13:51:35 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/08/14/2355532/pizza-delivery-is-curtailed.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Tony Ocean Reef wants federal port-of-entry designation</title>
     <description><![CDATA[David Ritz, president of the Ocean Reef Club homeowners association, said the affluent community is seeking the designation just like Marathon and Key West.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 14 Aug 2011 13:15:42 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.keysnet.com/2011/08/13/367699/tony-ocean-reef-wants-federal.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Must owner pay for HOA's cable TV?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Included in my monthly homeowners' association (HOA) fees are cable TV costs. Several years ago, a new cable provider came into our area. I switched to this new provider because I was having problems with the provider selected by the HOA. I am billed by that provider and pay invoices directly to them.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 14 Aug 2011 13:14:07 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20110813/COLUMNIST/110819833/-1/news?Title=Must-owner-pay-for-HOA-s-cable-TV-</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Coral Way Ruling Supports Independence of Covenant to Pay Assessments</title>
     <description><![CDATA[On June 9, on this blog, I discussed the Fourth District Court of Appeals (4th DCA) case E. Qualcom Corp. v. Global Commerce Center Association, Inc.
 Qualcomm did not set precedent. Setoff has always been available as a counter-claim and affirmative defense, if applicable]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 12 Aug 2011 08:42:51 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/o3PZvU</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>7 Tips to Preparing Your Florida Coastal Condominium for the 2011 Hurricane Seas</title>
     <description><![CDATA[“7 Tips to Preparing Your Florida Coastal Condominium for the 2011 Hurricane Season“, a free report, has just been released by Florida condominium construction expert Robert Fitzpatrick, P.E.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 11 Aug 2011 19:29:13 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/q1BkkW</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Supreme Court ends fight over Miami River condos</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Two controversial residential projects on the Miami River, whose city approvals were challenged in court for undermining the marine industry and the city’s comprehensive plan, have reached the end of the line.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 11 Aug 2011 19:22:19 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2011/08/11/supreme-court-ends-litigation-over.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Luxury Miami Condos Caught Up in Grand Money Laundering Scheme</title>
     <description><![CDATA[According to Condo Vultures' CEO Peter Zalewski, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Miami is attempting to seize 13 waterfront condos in Greater Downtown Miami and Miami Beach, a townhouse in Miami's Coconut Grove neighborhood, and undeveloped land in the North Carolina Mountains as part of a grand jury indictment alleging "conspiracy to commit money laundering" and "bulk cash smuggling."]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 11 Aug 2011 17:07:59 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/r0uN8x</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Common Elements vs Limited Common Elements</title>
     <description><![CDATA[One of the most misunderstood aspects of condominium living has to do with the definition, classification, and maintenance responsibilities of the “common” and “limited” common elements.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 11 Aug 2011 11:48:58 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/08/common-elements-vs-limited-common-elements.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Neighborhood Looks To Ban Sex Offenders</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The Keene's Point Homeowners Association in Windermere submitted a proposal that would keep sex offenders out of the entire gated community.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 11 Aug 2011 11:41:27 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/p3F33R</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Lloyd’s of London Settles Class Action Lawsuit</title>
     <description><![CDATA[If your condominium was insured by Lloyd’s of London or one of its franchisees and filed a claim to collect insurance proceeds for damages caused by Hurricane Wilma, your association is likely part of the class action and therefore may be entitled to additional funds.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 11 Aug 2011 11:33:50 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/qnz2cj</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Can your condo charge you for payment reminders?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Can your HOA or property management company charge you a fee for sending a reminder letter to pay your maintenance fees? Does a condo board have to put up with an owner who makes too many records requests? What can you do if you get elected to your community board, but the other members don't invite you to meetings?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 11 Aug 2011 10:05:18 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-reader-questions-condocol-0810-20110809,0,6908851.column</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Is it the right time to require mandatory board service?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[What are some of the most common complaints we hear about community associations and the manner in which their board members are elected?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 11 Aug 2011 09:58:35 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/08/is-it-the-right-time-to-require-mandatory-board-service.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Community Law: Owners must OK staggered terms for condo board</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: If a 1985 amendment to our condominium bylaws provides for staggered terms, but our association did not hold a vote to affirm staggered terms in 2008 or any subsequent year, is our association in violation of the law if we still use staggered terms?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 11 Aug 2011 09:49:51 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20110807/COLUMNISTS16/108070325/Community-Law-Owners-must-OK-staggered-terms-condo-board</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Rob Samouce: New 2011 homeowners’ association laws</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A cleanup bill passed the 2011 legislative session in Tallahassee affecting condominium, cooperative and homeowners’ associations - House Bill 1195.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 06 Aug 2011 22:40:47 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/aug/06/rob-samouce-new-2011-homeowners-association-laws/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Making Sense of Directors and Officers, and Employee Theft Insurance</title>
     <description><![CDATA[One question I am frequently asked is the difference between directors and officers insurance ("D&O insurance"), and employee theft insurance or a fidelity bond.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 06 Aug 2011 22:17:36 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/qWWuEO</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: New lock leaves unit owner unable to access belongings in locker</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. Our building has storage lockers in a secure room. The board has replaced the lock to the room and I cannot retrieve my belongings in my locker. Only the board has keys to the new lock. I have asked for a key and was refused. They will not tell me why I cannot have a key. Can I call a locksmith and deduct the charges from my maintenance fees?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 06 Aug 2011 19:49:19 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/aug/06/richard-white-new-lock-leaves-unit-owner-unable-ac/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>City OKs private group's trees on public land</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The Key West City Commission on Tuesday gave a local homeowners association permission to beautify a piece of unused city property that formerly stored inoperable police cars and other vehicles.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 06 Aug 2011 19:11:27 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.keysnet.com/2011/08/06/365569/city-oks-private-groups-trees.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Who pays for ceiling damage?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q:We own a condominium unit on the top floor of our building. A roof water leak has damaged our interior ceiling.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 06 Aug 2011 19:10:48 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20110806/COLUMNIST/110809679/-1/sports?Title=Who-pays-for-ceiling-damage-</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Questions when considering a home in an HOA or condo</title>
     <description><![CDATA[In his blog yesterday, Gary Poliakoff provided a list of issues to consider when buying into a “shared ownership community” – in other words, a homeowner’s association or a condominium association.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 06 Aug 2011 18:51:59 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/08/questions-when-considering-a-home-in-an-hoa-or-condo.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Questions to ask before buying a home in a shared ownership community</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Note: Shared ownership communities must collect assessments, or maintenance, from every single unit owner so they have sufficient funds to maintain and operate the common property.  If you don’t pay, the association will place a lien on your home and will foreclose. It won’t matter if you fall on hard times, lost your renter, or your property has lost its value.  As an owner, you will be responsible for your share of the common expenses, regardless of how high these expenses might be.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 06 Aug 2011 17:35:12 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/08/questions-to-ask-before-buying-a-home-in-a-shared-ownership-community.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Hammock Dunes Showdown: Flagler and Developer Battle Before Florida Cabinet</title>
     <description><![CDATA[It’s come to this. Sometime this morning—the item is last on a long agenda—Flagler County Commissioner Milissa Holland and other local representatives will square off against Hammock Dunes developers before Gov. Rick Scott and the rest of the Florida Cabinet.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 06 Aug 2011 17:01:08 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://flaglerlive.com/26082/hammock-dunes-dri</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Can a condo board charge owners to see records?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Do Florida condominium and home owners have a right to view association bank statements, election results or other official community records? Can your association charge cash to show them? What happens when your board won't respond to a request?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 06 Aug 2011 16:51:49 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-records-inspection-condocol-20110802,0,1436215.column</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Will you be sunk by costly increases in sinkhole coverage?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Last week, Citizens’ Board of Governors approved a massive rate increase (made possible by SB 408) for optional sinkhole coverage, including rate hikes of more than 2,000% in some Tampa-Bay areas. Now, the Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) must hold public hearings and vote on the proposed rates.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 01 Aug 2011 12:56:15 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/08/will-you-be-sunk-by-costly-increases-in-sinkhole-coverage.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Royal Palm condo calamity: Owners feeling aftershocks of Amerilend's role in Ken</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Amerilend Mortgage was doing gangbuster business at the Kensington of Royal Palm Beach just three months after getting its state license.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 01 Aug 2011 12:47:03 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/qnu8LN</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Woes for Kensington closer long evident</title>
     <description><![CDATA[When a private investigator finally tracked down the owner of Choice Title of South Florida in the fall of 2009, the contents of her office were in a pile on her living-room floor and homeowner complaints were mounting in Tallahassee.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 31 Jul 2011 13:36:02 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/real-estate/woes-for-kensington-closer-long-evident-1676461.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Judge reverses key rulings on Colony resort</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The legal fight over the Colony Beach & Tennis Club has taken a dramatic new spin after a federal judge tossed some of a previous court's rulings that led to the closing of the famed resort.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 31 Jul 2011 13:10:30 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/rlwHlm</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: Director does not give up rights as an owner</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. A question has arisen among board members in our HOA. Our governing documents are silent on the question. FS 617 also appears unhelpful on the question.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 31 Jul 2011 13:04:16 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/jul/30/ricahrd-white-director-does-not-give-rights-owner/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Are property manager’s ideas proper?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. A member of our community has been approached by a property manager, not the association manager, who says she can help the HOA "take over" the properties in our neighborhood of single-family homes that are in foreclosure.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 31 Jul 2011 12:41:22 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/07/31/2334743/are-property-managers-ideas-proper.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Who owns this condo? Man pays mortgage, woman is owner of record, experts smell</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Experts suspect more - that the condominium conversion was a crucible for fraud, a case study in real estate's rise and fall.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 31 Jul 2011 12:36:04 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/oqVOYt</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Collecting past-due assessment</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Two weeks ago, I answered a question in this column about the rights of a condominium or homeowners' association to collect past-due assessments from an owner when the owner's lender is foreclosing on the property.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 30 Jul 2011 21:30:41 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20110730/COLUMNIST/110739992/-1/sports?Title=Collecting-past-due-assessment</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Arrest in Lakewood Ranch home invasions</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Detectives have arrested a 26-year-old man who is suspected of committing two brazen Lakewood Ranch armed home invasions that put the gated community on guard in recent weeks.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 29 Jul 2011 14:23:15 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20110728/ARTICLE/110729543/2416/NEWS?tc=ar</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Recent Decision in favor of Association in dispute over rents; Association consi</title>
     <description><![CDATA[As Daniel posted, Palm Beach County Circuit Court Judge Hoy recently ruled in favor of a homeowner’s association attempting to collect rents from The West Palm Beach Housing Authority in a “Section 8” unit. With Section 8, a public housing agency pays a percentage of the rent directly to the landlord and the low income tenant pays the difference.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 29 Jul 2011 12:48:56 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/07/recent-decision-in-favor-of-association-in-dispute-over-rents-association-consideration-in-allowing-corporate-ownership-and-leasing.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Florida's existing condo sales, median price up in June 2011</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Florida’s existing condo sales rose 8 percent in June with a total of 7,941 units sold statewide compared to 7,330 sold in June 2010, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 29 Jul 2011 12:41:50 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.thedestinlog.com/articles/florida-18677-median-price.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Fire destroys Longboat Key condo unit; no injuries</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Residents of the Westchester condo complex were evacuated Thursday night following a structure fire that destroyed one of the units, according to Longboat Key Fire Rescue officials.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 29 Jul 2011 12:39:44 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.bradenton.com/2011/07/28/3382879/fire-destroys-longboat-key-condo.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Elderly Man Seriously Injured in Condo Fire</title>
     <description><![CDATA[An elderly man was seriously injured in an early morning fire inside a Lauderdale Lakes condominium, police said.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 29 Jul 2011 12:38:14 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43942137</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>How recovery of real estate market may affect quality of life in your community</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Is real estate picking up?  Newspaper articles, reports from the Federal Reserve say yes and so do some analysts, but buildings still look dark and barren.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 29 Jul 2011 12:35:29 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/pJTGBO</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Fire damages 2 condo units</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A fire at an Orange County condominium complex resulted in damages to two units overnight, according to Orange County Fire Rescue.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 28 Jul 2011 09:40:08 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-condo-fire-millennium-palms-20110728,0,1461208.story</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Residents want to remove belongings from fire-damaged condo</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Some of the residents displaced by a condominium fire over the weekend are upset officials are not allowing them back into their units to retrieve their personal possessions.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 27 Jul 2011 21:28:46 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www2.tbo.com/news/breaking-news/2011/jul/27/3/residents-want-to-remove-belongings-from-fire-dama-ar-246700/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Housing authority ordered to pay rent to HOA on behalf of delinquent owner</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A Palm Beach County Circuit Judge has ordered the West Palm Beach Housing Authority to pay rent money on behalf of a Section 8 tenant to a homeowners association per a new Florida law that funnels rent money to a condominium, homeowners or cooperative community association when the owner/landlord falls behind in maintenance payments.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 27 Jul 2011 19:49:17 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/prO2U1</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Homeowners Association Rules 'Jesus' Sign Violates Rules</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Phillips has posted a Jesus sign in her yard and there was no reaction from anyone until she received a letter from the Sutton Lakes Homeowners Association telling her having it in her yard is a violation of the covenant]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 27 Jul 2011 19:47:12 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/n4uhNJ</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Child rescued from North Fort Myers pool</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A boy sinks to the bottom of a crowded North Fort Myers pool and stays there for nearly five minutes while nobody above the water notices. A North Fort Myers man is being called a hero after he dove in and pulled the four-year-old to safety.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:41:07 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/numiWx</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Citizens wants four-fold Fla. sinkhole rate hike</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Florida's largest property insurance company on Wednesday proposed an average increase of nearly 430 percent for optional sinkhole coverage in response to soaring claims and 8.8 percent for all other perils, including hurricanes, fire and theft, all effective in 2012.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:36:47 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/pS4REF</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Rule change brings in new family members</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Boobah is now allowed on the property because of a vote taken by the board earlier this year to change the community’s rules to allow owners to have two pets — dogs, cats, birds or fish — under 25 pounds at full maturity]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 27 Jul 2011 10:05:40 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.yourobserver.com/news/longboat-key/Front-Page/0727201113092/Rule-change-brings-in-new-family-members</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Dolphin Tower residents sue insurer</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The Dolphin Tower homeowners' association is filing a countersuit against an Ohio-based insurer after the company rejected a claim last month to pay for cracked and buckled concrete in the troubled 15-story building.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 26 Jul 2011 20:14:39 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/nNejnq</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Insurance issues differ for condos, cooperatives</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Dear Poliakoffs: We noted that on the Becker & Poliakoff website it states that the "The Condominium Act states in clear and unambiguous language that all real or personal property located within the boundaries of the unit, which is excluded from the coverage to be provided by the association shall be insured by the individual unit owner."]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 26 Jul 2011 15:39:36 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/insurance-issues-differ-for-condos-cooperatives-1657395.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Is your association helpful to owners with disabilities?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Is your condominium community friendly to hearing-impaired resident? Or prepared to accommodate owners who are blind, use a wheel chair or otherwise affected by a disability at the next board meeting or social event?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 26 Jul 2011 15:20:47 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/pvWKFr</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: Can a board member rule on own complaint?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: A question has arisen among board members in our HOA. All members of our board are homeowners in the HOA community. Typically, when a homeowner voices a complaint pursuant to the HOA's covenants, the board meets to consider the complaint and decides what action to take.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 25 Jul 2011 19:06:31 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2011/jul/24/richard-white-can-a-board-member-rule-on-own/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Suspicious Fire Kills Family Pets in Oakland Park</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Oakland Park fire crews believe someone made their way inside a condo and set a couch on fire, killing family pets and causing major damage to the unit.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 25 Jul 2011 14:20:10 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43881745</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Professional advisors to troubled boards…time to say goodbye?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[In today’s troubled economy it borders on blasphemy to even suggest letting a client go. It’s hard enough bringing clients in the door let alone asking some of them to leave, right?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 25 Jul 2011 10:05:14 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/pchIyN</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Low condo values hurting area cities</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Condo values in Volusia have fallen further and faster than single-family homes, with median sales prices losing nearly two-thirds of their peak value before starting to stabilize recently. 
That's bad news in cities where condos are a big part of the tax base.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 25 Jul 2011 09:51:48 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/nzg1KM</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Community Law: Unit owner has right to records</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: When negotiating a short sale, the lender often requests a copy of a ledger showing the breakdown of association fees that are past due in order to approve the payment of those fees in the short sale]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 24 Jul 2011 10:48:27 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20110724/COLUMNISTS16/107240321/Community-Law-Unit-owner-has-right-records-assessments</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Take control to remove president</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. Our president has been in office for a number of years and is not likely to step down anytime soon. No one wants the job. I am a member of the board and will probably resign if this person remains. Is there anything we can do to force this person to step down?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 24 Jul 2011 10:46:49 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/07/24/2324312/take-control-to-remove-president.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo conundrums: Sales in South End pick up, but glut of outdated units remains</title>
     <description><![CDATA[After being knocked senseless by the real estate bust, Palm Beach’s condominium market south of Sloan’s Curve is beginning to stir, with more units changing hands in higher price ranges, brokers, agents and sales analyses say.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 23 Jul 2011 20:55:56 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/condo-conundrums-sales-in-south-end-pick-up-1641421.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: Make sure association doesn’t overstep its rights</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. A member of our community has been approached by a property manager, not the association manager, who said she can help the HOA “take over” the properties in our neighborhood of single-family homes that are in foreclosure. She said she will get the houses cleaned up and rented]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 23 Jul 2011 14:12:47 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/jul/23/richard-white-make-sure-association-doesnt-overste/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>5 injured in Clearwater condominium fire</title>
     <description><![CDATA[An early-morning fire at a Clearwater condominium sent five people to the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. No one was seriously injured, according to Clearwater Fire and Rescue.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 23 Jul 2011 14:10:07 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/p4xdiD</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Monthly statements from your condo or homeowners association, makes sense right?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Jay of Boynton Beach wants his homeowners association to send owners regular statements – monthly, quarterly, etc. – to coincide with regular assessment payment cycles. Makes sense, right?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 22 Jul 2011 19:25:56 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/r8nkE8</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Community Associations – Help or Hindrance?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Yesterday, Gary Poliakoff wrote a post entitled “Abolishing of Community Association is Not the Answer.” He referenced a July 7, 2011 Associated Press article that discussed, among other things, the problems homeowners face in paying special assessments to cover their neighbors’ delinquencies. While granting that this is a “heart wrenching story”, Mr. Poliakoff opined that “blaming the fault (sic) on the Board for exercising its fiduciary duty is misguided.”]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 22 Jul 2011 11:22:04 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/07/associations-help-or-hindrance.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo law requires 48-hour notice of meeting, agenda</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Dear Poliakoffs: I have several questions. In regard to board meetings, our notice is posted 48 hours before the meeting, with an agenda to be provided at the meeting. Is this procedurally correct?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 21 Jul 2011 09:59:09 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/condo-law-requires-48-hour-notice-of-meeting-1631259.html?cxtype=rss_money_16350</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Abolishing of Community Association is Not the Answer</title>
     <description><![CDATA[In our book, New Neighborhoods: The Consumers Guide to Condominium, Co-op and HOA Living, my son Ryan and I ask the question: “Why can’t owners just make all of the decisions for themselves in a broad, representative democracy where every issue is voted upon collectively in a “town hall” format?”]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 21 Jul 2011 09:58:05 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/07/abolishing-of-community-association-is-not-the-answer.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Brandon couple's advice as they face foreclosure</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Video news report]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 21 Jul 2011 09:50:33 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DQTzC_G7_o</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Implementation is Power</title>
     <description><![CDATA[People have a tendency to complain about their leaders and do nothing about it. Why should it be different in a community association?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 20 Jul 2011 20:33:55 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/oNdz5G</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>You win some, you win some</title>
     <description><![CDATA[It’s not easy being an association board member or unit owner. Sometimes we find ourselves taking the long way around trying to find out whether a contractor’s licensed. I tried to find the link on the County’s website that would allow me to determine that, but just couldn’t get there from her]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 19 Jul 2011 17:14:37 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/07/you-win-some-you-win-some.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Who pays for a condo water leak, an owner or board?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Does your association have to provide monthly statements to reflect your maintenance-fee payments and balance? When there is a water leak in your condominium, who should pay a professional to determine whether it is coming from an owner's pipe or one that is in a common area?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 19 Jul 2011 16:30:08 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-reader-questions-condocol-0720-20110719,0,6777779.column</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Ballpark field for kids with disabilities on hold</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The Bridle Oaks homeowners association backs into the land where the fields would be built. The HOA has reportedly complained about potential noise and lighting the fields, and the HOA most recently told the city council the land may not be safe for kids.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 18 Jul 2011 22:38:39 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/o5cHF4</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Power restored to residents of Fort Myers housing complex</title>
     <description><![CDATA[About 100 residents live in the low-income housing units, and Director Marcus Goodson said a generator has been keeping light in the common areas and one elevator is still working. The generator system is not designed to power the individual units, though.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:51:27 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20110718/NEWS0110/110718023/Power-restored-residents-Fort-Myers-housing-complex?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Home</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condominium Law: Law clarifies exemptions on manual fire alarms</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Today's column completes our review of HB 1195, which became effective July 1. We will also take a brief look at a couple of other new statutes affecting community associations]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 17 Jul 2011 15:43:15 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20110717/COLUMNISTS16/107170321/Condominium-Law-Law-clarifies-exemptions-manual-fire-alarms?odyssey=mod_sectionstories</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Owner waiting for OK on renter</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: I am a condominium owner trying to rent my unit. I met the association's requirements of posting a deposit, the applicant's screening fee, and completed a 10-page application by the tenant about two months ago]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 17 Jul 2011 15:26:20 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www2.tbo.com/lifestyles/life/2011/jul/17/banewso6-owner-waiting-for-ok-on-renter-ar-244213/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>MetroWest Residents Question Money Spent On Security Cameras</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The homeowners association that oversees the mix of apartments, homes and businesses in MetroWest paid the city to install the cameras to get a handle on crime. Orlando police said the problem is that there are only nine cameras and you can't see everything.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 16 Jul 2011 11:20:57 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/nmfNjm</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Communication can improve internal conflicts in Barefoot Bay</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A hazy layer of innuendos hovered over several Barefoot Bay board meetings, with some trustees muttering they were not happy with the management team. Recently I sat down with Nancy Higgs, community manager, to get some answers.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 16 Jul 2011 11:18:20 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2011/jul/16/sue-woodward-communication-can-improve-internal/?partner=RSS</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Partial roof collapses in Clearwater condo building</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Residents of a Clearwater retirement complex are breathing a sigh of relief after the partial collapse of a roof. Top of the World, a 55+ retirement condominium complex on Ecuadorian Way in Clearwater, suffered damage to the roof of a stairwell at the end of one of the complex's buildings.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 16 Jul 2011 10:55:39 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/qqHaeV</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>The importance of having association policies in place – for records inspections</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A board should enact reasonable, objective policies to carry out the association’s operations in a consistent, objective and fair manner. Failure to do so may be deemed selective enforcement, which could provide an affirmative defense to later litigation.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 15 Jul 2011 11:33:09 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/oL6N4w</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Quick actions save condominium from fire</title>
     <description><![CDATA[On July 13, 2011, at 2:19 p.m., the South Walton Fire District received a report of a structure fire. Crews arrived on scene at the Westwinds Condo on Sandestin Beach Resort property within minutes of the initial call.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 14 Jul 2011 20:23:43 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.waltonsun.com/news/fire-7190-initial-walton.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Is Your Neighbor Paying? Unit Owner Ledgers Must be Made Available for Inspectio</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Sun-Sentinel bloggers were asked to address record inspection issues this week.   There’s been some recent discussion of privacy rights, since the condo statute was amended in 2010 to prohibit access to owners’ telephone numbers, e-mail addresses and other “personal identifying information”.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 14 Jul 2011 19:49:29 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/07/is-your-neighbor-paying-unit-owner-ledgers-must-be-made-available-for-inspection.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Villages Want to be Kept Together</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A road trip by the House and Senate committees responsible for the once-a-decade redistricting process hit one of the locations that most clearly illustrates the changes that have swept Florida over the last decade: The Villages, a retirement community in the north-central part of the state.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 14 Jul 2011 15:25:49 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.wctv.tv/home/headlines/Villages_Want_to_be_Kept_Together_125580868.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condos: Before buying unit, get letter about fees owed by seller</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Dear Poliakoffs: Can you please tell me what the law says with regard to assessment fees not being disclosed to the buyer until after an agreement has been signed? We have not yet closed but the Realtor and board are trying to tell us we have to pay $400, which we were not told about. We feel like we've kind of been tricked.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 14 Jul 2011 15:08:17 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/real-estate/condos-before-buying-unit-get-letter-about-fees-1608808.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Dolphin Tower owners walk away</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Frustrated by a lack of repair progress and swelling costs to fix severely damaged concrete, a growing number of Dolphin Tower unit owners appear to be walking away from the troubled 15-story downtown condominium.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 14 Jul 2011 14:53:51 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/roH2M3</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Washer/dryer malfunction causes condo fire</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A malfunctioning washer/dryer caused a commotion Wednesday afternoon, according to a South Walton Fire District press release.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 14 Jul 2011 09:26:46 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/condo-41772-washer-dryer.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo Complex Woes Lead To National Attention</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A Treasure Coast community is getting national attention for all the wrong reasons]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 13 Jul 2011 09:50:54 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/owWoPe</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Saddlebrook residents claim HOA board withheld documents, rigged elections</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Owners in the Saddlebrook community west of Boca Raton say they haven't seen financial documents or had a fair election in their homeowners association in five years.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 12 Jul 2011 22:05:22 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/west-boca/fl-boca-spanish-isles-hoa-20110711,0,3989550.story</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Tampa condominium complex vandalized with explicit phrases written in graffiti</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Tampa Police were called to the Habana Park Condominiums Sunday, on North Habana Avenue, after someone vandalized the area overnight.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 12 Jul 2011 21:57:46 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_tampa/Tampa-condominium-complex-vandalized-with-explicit-phrases-written-in-graffiti-</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Don't get huffy; work with HOA board</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: I received a first notice in January concerning a rule violation. I completed the correction within 30 days. Recently I received a final notice dated in May. I believe that is not legal due to time elapsed; plus the violation description was inadequate. I fixed what I understood was the issue and now they are saying it was a new issue. What recourse do I have?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 12 Jul 2011 21:48:34 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www2.tbo.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/2011/jul/10/BANEWSO8-dont-get-huffy-work-with-hoa-board-ar-242717/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Foreclosure 'rocket docket' grounded</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The foreclosure "rocket docket" came to Sarasota and Manatee counties two years ago in a flurry of controversy, with hundreds of people standing to lose their home in hearings scheduled to take less than two minutes.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 12 Jul 2011 21:48:03 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20110710/ARTICLE/110719986/2055/NEWS?Title=Foreclosure-rocket-docket-grounded</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>HB 1195 tightens laws regarding associations</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Today's column continues our review of HB 1195, which became effective on July 1:]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 12 Jul 2011 21:41:50 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20110710/COLUMNISTS16/107100324/HB-1195-tightens-laws-regarding-associations</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Association fine is out of bounds</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: I live in a small homeowners' association community. I have a two-car garage but use a part of the space for built-in storage units and for a second refrigerator. I only have one car, but my daughter is staying with me for a few months]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 09 Jul 2011 19:59:47 -0500</pubDate>
     <link><![CDATA[http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20110709/COLUMNIST/110709571/-1/sports?Title=Association-fine-is-out-of-bounds&tc=ar]]></link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: How long should records of meetings be kept?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. I was hired to take and produce the minutes for a condominium association. How long do I have to keep my written notes and tape cassettes once the minutes are approved and filed by the board of directors? I would like to pitch everything older than one year. Is there a rule to follow?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 09 Jul 2011 13:34:24 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/jul/09/richard-white-how-long-should-records-meetings-be/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>New Law Protects Condo Associations from Liability for Accidentally Releasing Ow</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A recent report that appeared in both the Sun-Sentinel and Miami Herald sheds light on a new law that shields condominium associations, but not homeowners' associations, from liability for inadvertently releasing an owner's personal information]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 08 Jul 2011 19:32:56 -0500</pubDate>
     <link><![CDATA[http://www.floridahoalawyerblog.com/2011/07/new-law-protects-condo-associa.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+FloridaHoaLawyerBlogCom+%28Florida+HOA+Lawyer+Blog%29]]></link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Can your condo association charge you a fee for not serving on the board?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[June in Fort Lauderdale says her condominium association is looking for volunteers to serve as “building captains,” and warns that any building in the complex that does not field at least two volunteers will be charged $25 a month.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 08 Jul 2011 19:31:05 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/07/can-your-condo-association-charge-you-a-fee-for-not-serving-on-the-board.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Storm-proofing garage doors can save a home</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Did you know your garage door may be the most vulnerable part of your home to hurricane damage?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 08 Jul 2011 17:23:05 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-garage-doors-vasquez-20110708,0,7012443.column</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: If your manager’s negligent, don’t write me, write your board</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: Why does our manager sit in the office all day playing cards on the computer rather than taking care of this property?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 08 Jul 2011 16:32:01 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.activerealestate.org/real-estate-dictionary/richard-white-if-your-managers-negligent-dont-write-me-write-your-board</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Supreme Court accepts review of Lakeview Reserve v. Maronda Homes</title>
     <description><![CDATA[In the recent case of Lakeview Reserve Homeowners v. Maronda Homes, 48 So. 3d 902 (Fla. 5th DCA 2010), Florida's 5th District Court of Appeal found that a homeowner's association had a claim for breach of common law implied warranties of fitness and merchantability against a builder/developer for defects in the roadways, drainage systems, retention ponds and underground pipes.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 08 Jul 2011 10:24:25 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.floridaconstructionlawauthority.com/2011/05/articles/cases/supreme-court-accepts-review-of-lakeview-reserve-v-maronda-homes/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Common grounds maintenance is damaging condo unit</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Dear Poliakoffs: I am having issues with the common grounds maintenance at my condo. The lawn care company is not clipping the grass short enough for me to open my patio door. As a result the door hinge is getting bent.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 07 Jul 2011 21:18:16 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/real-estate/common-grounds-maintenance-is-damaging-condo-unit-1589713.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Shock at condo pool sends two to the hospital</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Indian Shores Police are trying to figure out what may have shocked two people Thursday in a swimming pool at the Monterey Condominium Apartments on Gulf Boulevard. Seminole Fire Rescue also responded to the scene.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 07 Jul 2011 16:18:19 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/pOSzA9</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Should HOA elections be subject to the same guidelines applicable to elections i</title>
     <description><![CDATA[For many years elections in condominium associations have been heavily regulated.  The question is whether or not that regulation has produced a process that better protects the homeowners.   Years ago, the person who was able to solicit and collect the most proxies came to the meeting and essentially decided who would serve on the Board.  I think most people would agree that this is not the best approach.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 07 Jul 2011 14:55:51 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/07/should-hoa-elections-be-subject-to-the-same-guidelines-applicable-to-elections-in-condominium-association.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Local homeowners association says new state law protects tenants</title>
     <description><![CDATA[If you rent a home in Ponte Vedra or anywhere across Florida, you might have to pay your home owner’s association fees if payments fall behind.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 07 Jul 2011 14:55:09 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.pontevedrarecorder.com/125162469.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>96-Year-Old Being Forced Out Over Storm Preps</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Sarah Eisenberg has lived through many storms in her 96 years, but the ominous forecast she faces these days comes from the association that runs her condominium.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 07 Jul 2011 10:30:19 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/pOQmBx</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Chicken Dispute Continues With Rock-Throwing Video</title>
     <description><![CDATA[New video has surfaced of children on the property owned by Steve and Renee Kohn throwing rocks and debris into the yard of their next-door neighbor.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 06 Jul 2011 16:19:07 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/nw3l2Z</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Courts award $400,000 for botched renovation by condo president</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A Boca Raton condo owner has won a $400,000 court judgment against an unlicensed contractor who allegedly falsified invoices and violated the terms of his contract by charging triple what he was paying his subcontractors.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 05 Jul 2011 19:55:18 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/phDJ4s</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>HOA sees the light on $20,000 fine</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Some people who can't make their house payments get into a fight with a bank. Lakewood Ranch homeowner Linda Conti had no desire to do that.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 05 Jul 2011 11:00:33 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/iLSofi</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Would-be condo vultures find earlier birds have bought up vacant condos</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Clients from New Jersey told Shannon Moore a couple of months ago that they wanted to spend at least $3 million to make bulk condominium purchases in Southwest Florida.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 04 Jul 2011 20:59:37 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/m4R9qO</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Senator Fasano and St. Pete Times’ Dubious Solution to Investors Exploiting Asse</title>
     <description><![CDATA[On June 30, Gary Poliakoff wrote about an article the St Pete Times ran about a story entitled, “Real Estate investors beat the banks to profit on foreclosures.” The paper wrote a series of articles on “investors” who have exploited association foreclosures by buying foreclosed properties for the amount of the assessments owed, and renting them to unsuspecting tenants until the mortgage foreclosure is completed]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 03 Jul 2011 19:33:35 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/jG1iAV</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Lawsuits may compound Venice utility department's billing problems</title>
     <description><![CDATA[But it is the estimated hundreds of thousands of dollars that condominium owners say they were overcharged that has city leaders worried.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 03 Jul 2011 19:28:46 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/kxjj9o</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condominium Law: Legislation addresses owner privacy rights</title>
     <description><![CDATA[For the next couple of weeks, we will suspend the normal question-and-answer format for the column and report on some new legislation affecting community associations.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 03 Jul 2011 17:48:33 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20110703/COLUMNISTS16/107030309/Condominium-Law-Legislation-addresses-owner-privacy-rights</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Can association confiscate pet?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: I recently read a disturbing story from Jupiter, Fla., about an owner of a dog who was forced to pay a $200 fee to his community association to have his dog's DNA tested so that the community can send lab tests to prove if his dog violates the covenants by doing his "business" on the common areas.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 02 Jul 2011 18:38:30 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20110702/COLUMNIST/110709900/2107/BUSINESS?Title=Can-association-confiscate-pet-</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Correction: Villa Serena flag story</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The Villa Serena owners association in Riverview says they did not tell her to take down the flag. They did send a note to her neighbor who also had a flag, reminding that neighbor of the association's policy.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 02 Jul 2011 17:05:50 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/lbDTxe</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Experts: Pinellas lawyer takes foreclosure fight to ethical edge</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Pinellas County lawyer Robert L. Tankel advocates showing no mercy toward property owners who fall behind on their homeowners association fees.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 02 Jul 2011 16:39:19 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tampabay.com/news/article1178381.ece</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Rob Samouce: New 2011 condominium association laws</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A clean-up bill passed the 2011 legislative session in Tallahassee affecting condominium, cooperative and homeowners’ associations. House Bill 1195 provides the following noted changes to Chapter 718, Florida Statutes affecting condominium associations.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 02 Jul 2011 16:28:53 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/jul/02/rob-samouce-new-2011-condominium-association-laws/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Soaring number of owners pay no property taxes in Broward, Palm Beach</title>
     <description><![CDATA[He is among the more than 18,800 homeowners in Broward County and 16,700 in Palm Beach County--living in houses, condos or coops--who are not required to pay property taxes because the value of their units is less than their $25,000 homestead exemption.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 02 Jul 2011 15:18:56 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/jN1zCC</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo boards should post meeting minutes on Web</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Dear Poliakoffs: My fiancé and I are condo owners in South Florida. We are wondering what is the best way to ask some questions about roles and responsibilities of the board of directors of an association and the management company?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 30 Jun 2011 19:48:10 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/real-estate/condo-boards-should-post-meeting-minutes-on-web-1572953.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>North Miami's Condo Catastrophe</title>
     <description><![CDATA[In 2002 the city of North Miami struck a deal with developer Michael Swerdlow to build a grand city-within-a-city called Biscayne Landing.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 30 Jun 2011 19:47:36 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/north-miamis-condo-catastrophe-06302011.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Residents in Delray's Rainberry Woods fight to keep area clean</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Residents of Rainberry Woods are fed up with dirty yards, blighted properties and teen parties in foreclosed homes.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 30 Jun 2011 09:46:57 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/ijYBRH</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Lakewood residents launch assistance group</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The Erosheviches now are spearheading an effort to help neighbors in need with the formation of a new group called the Lakewood Ranch Lotkeepers. The organization hopes to assist struggling families with home maintenance or other compliance issues.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 30 Jun 2011 09:37:40 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/k26qDR</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Can your condo association cut cable TV service to owners behind in maintenance</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Does Florida law allow condominium associations to cut cable services to owners behind in maintenance fees?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 29 Jun 2011 17:15:09 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/06/can-your-condo-association-cut-cable-services-to-owners-behind-in-maintenance-fees.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Seminole Lake raises new flag</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Local artist Barbara Salazar has a number of oils and sculptures to her credit, but only recently did she add something different – her first community flag.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 29 Jun 2011 09:58:58 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/jW1tFt</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Commissioners bow out of Bid-A-Wee controversy</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Commissioners have also decided to bow-out of the Bid-A-Wee beach access gate controversy. The decision comes after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued its opinion, saying the Bid-A-Wee residents have the right to block the accesses.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 29 Jun 2011 09:55:54 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.wjhg.com/home/headlines/Commissioners_bow_out_of_Bid-A-Wee_controversy_124682134.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Sen. Fasano wants to close loophole on homeowners associations foreclosures</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Despite repeated efforts, real estate agent Colleen Tuttle had no luck swinging a short sale on behalf of a client who offered the bank $800,000 in cash for an Apollo Beach home with a stunning view of Tampa Bay.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 29 Jun 2011 09:53:50 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/ivtqxG</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Jupiter DNA doggie-doo test will punish pooch dropping scofflaws</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Plagued with pets that do business in all the wrong places, dog owners in the Village of Abacoa, a condominium association of 458 units, must pay a $200 fee starting Aug. 1. The money will pay DNA Pet World Registry to take the dog's genetic fingerprint and keep the information on file]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 29 Jun 2011 09:29:31 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/krakhV</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Snowbird needs an inspector</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. I am a snowbird and own a unit in a large condominium complex. Along with the other members, I received a harsh and strong letter from the condominium president requiring us to provide the name of someone who would inspect our unit weekly during our time away.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 28 Jun 2011 17:21:10 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/06/28/2289602/snowbird-needs-an-inspector.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>And now back to the banks</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Empty units and meltdown have caused so many headaches for associations. Jim Lord, president of the Townhomes of Oriole, has explained the problems and his proposed solutions. Here’s what he wrote to Senator Jeremy Ring’s aide, Joel Ramos:]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 28 Jun 2011 17:20:39 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/06/and-now-back-to-the-banks.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Pompano condo: OK, we'll stop excluding young kids</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A Pompano Beach condo that continued to exclude families with young children long after federal and county law prohibited it agreed during Broward County's civil rights investigation to stop enforcing its bylaw about that.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 28 Jun 2011 16:49:39 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/ku5Ezg</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Dolphin Tower insurance claim rejected</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Dolphin Tower's insurer has rejected the condominium's claim for money to repair roughly $8 million worth of structural damage, according to a federal court filing.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 28 Jun 2011 16:47:48 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/maeQJA</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Chinese Drywall Installed In Sunrise Condos Damaged By Hurricane Wilma</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Condo residents who went through years of aggravation to get their homes repaired after Hurricane Wilma are being forced from their homes again.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 28 Jun 2011 16:12:22 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://cbsloc.al/kaXyJr</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Can your association cut services, even if it breaks with past practices?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Back in the South Florida real estate boom days, condominium and homeowners associations promised a plethora of amenities and services – from landscaping to 24-hour security -- typically covered by maintenance fees. But many owners are finding such community niceties are disappearing as communities struggle to make ends meet.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 28 Jun 2011 16:06:18 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/l3OKHm</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>St. Andrews resident demands pedestrians yield to golfers</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Bob Connine is fired up about newly placed "Golf Carts Yield to Pedestrians" signs along the concrete pathway that connects St. Andrews Estates to the rest of Sun City Center.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 28 Jun 2011 16:05:47 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www2.tbo.com/news/sun-city-center-news/2011/jun/28/2/scnewso13-st-andrews-resident-demands-pedestrians--ar-240274/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>New law lets condo boards off the hook for releasing personal info, with your OK</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Under a new law that takes effect July 1, condo associations will no longer be held liable for inadvertently releasing an owner's personal information – including driver's license, credit card and Social Security numbers – if it was voluntarily provided as part of an official record and without the association's request.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 28 Jun 2011 09:45:09 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/jaCRwP</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>'Glitch Bill' Gives Developers New Exit Strategy</title>
     <description><![CDATA[When the Distressed Condominium Relief Act went into action in July 2010, it helped to protect bulk buyers from the guarantees and financial burdens of developers. The law sparked bulk condo sales--but it also left the door open for glitches.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 28 Jun 2011 09:33:55 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/jCFHD2</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Broward County poised to sue condo on behalf of Canadian snowbird with kids</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Broward County will sue a condo in Pompano Beach because it allegedly refused to allow a Canadian snowbird to buy a place there based on his household having three kids in it.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 27 Jun 2011 12:57:01 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/kWXzy1</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Are you willing to pay thousands to keep the power on after a storm?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[South Floridians, some without electricity for weeks after Hurricane Wilma, have pushed to bury power lines underground — until they saw the price tag.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 27 Jun 2011 11:50:16 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2011-06-25/business/fl-fpl-underground-lines-20110624_1_power-lines-utility-lines-tamara-tennant</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Bill and Susan Raphan leave the Condominium Ombudsman’s Office after 7 years of</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Most of you reading this blog already know the names Bill and Susan Raphan and the mark they made on the Florida Condominium Ombudsman’s Office during their 7-year tenure.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 27 Jun 2011 10:39:29 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/06/bill-and-susan-raphan-leave-the-condominium-ombudsmans-office-after-7-years-of-service.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Florida's new condominium and homeowners' associations laws take effect</title>
     <description><![CDATA[On June 21, 2011, Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed into law House Bill 1195, which amends, among other things, various provisions of Chapters 718 and 720 of the Florida Statutes—the state laws relating to condominiums and homeowners' associations.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 27 Jun 2011 10:37:32 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=80183044-e51f-4ba3-8b5b-12c9e2abeda4</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Association fees could stall condo recovery</title>
     <description><![CDATA[As the South Florida condo market shows signs of stabilizing, concern is growing that expected association maintenance fee hikes - like the one announced this month at the new Paramount Bay tower in Greater Downtown Miami - could stall the recovery.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 27 Jun 2011 10:31:34 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/lTmH51</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Make policy for notes, tapes</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: I was hired to take and produce the minutes for a condominium association. How long do I have to keep my written notes and tape cassettes once the minutes are approved and filed by the board of directors? I would like to pitch everything older than one year. Is there a rule to follow?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 26 Jun 2011 21:47:00 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www2.tbo.com/lifestyles/life/2011/jun/26/BANEWSO10-make-policy-for-notes-tapes-ar-239745/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Much condo board-attorney talk is protected</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: Can the attorney-client privilege be be used by a condominium board of directors to prevent a unit owner from viewing correspondence between the board and the association in matters not related to personnel?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 26 Jun 2011 21:46:01 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20110626/WIRE/110629730/2055/NEWS?tc=ar</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Community Law: Condo-fee deadbeats get a legal break</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: Could you explain the reasoning behind the law that allows a person to live in a condo but the association is not allowed to shut their water off even when the association's maintenance fees include water and sewer and the person is delinquent for a matter of years?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 26 Jun 2011 21:45:05 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://topicInfoLink</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Some area residents learning the hard way: Pay homeowner's association or else</title>
     <description><![CDATA[While homeowners associations are wielding foreclosures more often as a way to collect from delinquent owners, South Florida attorneys said it's still unusual for that kind of court action to be initiated on a minor debt.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 26 Jun 2011 21:42:59 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/mG6zyl</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Can condo boards hand out cell phone numbers, email addresses and other personal</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Can your condo association hand out personal information such as cell phone numbers and email addresses, to other owners? Yes, according to a new Florida law which takes effect in July, if you give permission.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 24 Jun 2011 19:27:05 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/06/can-condo-boards-hand-out-your-social-security-number-credit-card-information.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>This news feed compiled by Community Associations Network</title>
     <description><![CDATA[See the National, Legal and Legislative, and individual state news feeds at our site. Also, see the latest condo and HOA blog posts from around the country.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 23 Jun 2011 18:12:20 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/j76KV7</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Unit owner responsible for repairs if negligence found</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Dear Poliakoffs: We own a condo unit in east Boca Raton. The apartment below us has ceiling water damage from an apparent pipe leak above them, but we have no damage in our apartment.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 23 Jun 2011 18:08:39 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/real-estate/unit-owner-responsible-for-repairs-if-negligence-found-1557491.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>City asks restaurants to serve water by request only, HOAs to run fountains less</title>
     <description><![CDATA[In addition, it’s asking condo and homeowner associations not to run their fountains as frequently and for residents to only run washing machine and dishwashers with full loads]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:54:46 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/westpalmbeat/2011/06/city-asks-restaurants-to-serve-water-by-request-only-hoas-to-run-fountains-less-frequently/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>New condo and HOAs law signed by Governor, take effect in July</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Florida Gov. Rick Scott has signed the latest community association reform bill, which means all of the provisions affecting condominium, homeowner and cooperative communities become law as of July 1.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 23 Jun 2011 11:35:54 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/06/new-condo-and-hoas-law-signed-by-governor-take-effect-in-july.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Associations Facing Lawsuits Based Amounts Claimed Due on Estoppel Certificates</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Gary Poliakoff asked me to contribute to this blog in his place as he is out of the office.  We briefly discussed what topics would be of interest to Sun-Sentinel blog readers.  Obviously financial issues are always of interest – but what hasn’t already been covered?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 23 Jun 2011 11:34:05 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/06/associations-facing-lawsuits-based-amounts-claimed-due-on-estoppel-certificates-%e2%80%93-food-for-thought.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Control of Bonita Bay community association turned over to residents</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Bonita Bay has turned over control of its community association to its residents.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:08:42 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20110622/NEWS0102/110622029/Control-Bonita-Bay-community-association-turned-over-residents?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Home</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>200 LESLIE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, INC. v. QBE INSURANCE CORP</title>
     <description><![CDATA[This matter arises out of Plaintiff 200 Leslie Condominium Association, Inc.'s ("200 Leslie") insurance claim filed with Defendant QBE Insurance Corporation ("QBE") for losses that Hurricane Wilma inflicted]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 22 Jun 2011 09:05:25 -0500</pubDate>
     <link><![CDATA[http://www.leagle.com/xmlResult.aspx?xmldoc=In%20FDCO%2020110621B91.xml&docbase=CSLWAR3-2007-CURR]]></link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Who pays to trim neighbor's trees?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[If your neighbor refuses to trim trees, can your homeowners association board intervene and send in a professional? If so, can the board bill him for the work? When will the new bill lawmakers passed modifying condo and HOA laws take effect?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 21 Jun 2011 22:09:16 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-reader-questions-condocol-0622-20110621,0,6712236.column</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Marsh Island homeowners chip in for Indian River to demolish unsafe, unfinished</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Community leaders in Marsh Island, a visible, high-end subdivision halfway along the Wabasso Causeway, want so much to be rid of a 4-year-old unfinished home they've offered to split the county's estimated $20,000 cost to demolish it.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 21 Jun 2011 22:06:04 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2011/jun/21/marsh-island-homeowners-chip-in-for-indian-river/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>These pups aren’t even a little bit cute</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Florida has allowed insurance companies to set up subsidiaries for Florida, apart from the rest of the country, an action that flies in the face of the theory of spreading the risk. These subsidiaries are nicknamed “pups” to distinguish them from the parent companies. Instead of spreading the risk nationwide, they narrow the risk pool to Florida.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 21 Jun 2011 17:31:57 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/06/these-pups-arent-even-a-little-bit-cute.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>What can we reasonably expect in terms of community association legislation?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[We have only a 60-day Regular Legislative Session in the State of Florida which means much of the work that goes into passing bills each year takes place well before the actual start of Session. Each legislator has six (6) bill slots and I have never met a legislator yet who did not want to finish each Session]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:18:50 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/06/what-can-we-reasonably-expect-in-terms-of-community-association-legislation.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>SunTrust Forecloses on Condo, Then Doesn't Pay Bills, Court Filing Claims</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Two groups that typically spend their time competing for the most-likely-to screw-over-a-homeowner title -- a bank and a condominium association -- are now fighting each other in court over an empty condo.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:01:45 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/j9AsYA</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Joe Adams: CondoIt may be best to 'grandfather' baby into condo</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: I live in a "55 and over" condominium. Presently, we have a couple who is expecting a baby. This couple was grandfathered when we became a "55 and over" community. What is the law governing this situation?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 19 Jun 2011 15:39:04 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20110619/COLUMNISTS16/106190322/Joe-Adams-CondoIt-may-best-grandfather-baby-into-condo?odyssey=mod_sectionstories</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: If you're ordered to evacuate for a hurricane, then evacuate</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: I live in a high-rise building on the beach. Last year we were ordered to go to a shelter. The storm passed and we returned to find we had no damage.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 18 Jun 2011 09:10:22 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2011/jun/17/richard-white-if-youre-ordered-to-evacuate-for-a/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: Outgoing directors must turn over financial records</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. If at an annual election the individual who is treasurer is voted out, must they turn over all financial records in their possession to the new treasurer?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 18 Jun 2011 08:49:17 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/jun/18/richard-white-outgoing-directors-must-turn-over-fi/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Conflicting statutes a quandary for HOAs</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The June 8 article by Kimberly Miller ("Mass condo purchase: Condo residents lose control of their HOA to a firm that bought most of the units") again exemplifies the neglect of our state legislators to establish realistic, citizen-friendly and business-supportive state laws]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 17 Jun 2011 22:41:11 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/letters/letters-conflicting-statutes-a-quandary-for-hoas-1546783.html?cxtype=rss_letters</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Homeowners Insurance Assessments Haunt Florida’s Citizens, Officials</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Two weeks into a new hurricane season, Florida officials are continuing to express their concerns over possible policyholder assessments by Citizens Property Insurance despite the relative financial strength of the state’s government-run homeowners’ insurer.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 17 Jun 2011 12:30:29 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/m0POwB</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Miami’s one-time icon of crisis becomes an icon of the city’s condo turn-around</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A year ago, Miami’s Icon Brickell condo complex was a symbol of just about everything that had gone wrong during South Florida’s epic housing bust: Speculators had walked out on sales contracts, the towers were half-empty, and a group of lenders was making moves to foreclose.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 17 Jun 2011 12:22:02 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/j1Pguh</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Village council passes $20 million assessment</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Owners of single-family homes and condominium units in Islamorada can expect to get a bill for almost $3,200 this fall to help pay for a future sewer system.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 17 Jun 2011 12:21:10 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.keysnet.com/2011/06/16/349740/village-council-passes-20-million.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo purchasers want out of deal</title>
     <description><![CDATA[In 2008, during a ribbon cutting ceremony, the pur c hasers learned the devel oper had changed the condo­minium development into a “luxury rental community.” The purchasers of condo minium units sued the de­veloper seeking the return of their deposits]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 17 Jun 2011 11:58:53 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/jun/16/civil-law-condo-purchasers-want-out-deal/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Swan lake awash in controversy</title>
     <description><![CDATA[When you hear about HOAs and their residents fighting, it's usually about paint colors, fees or landscaping. But at one Rancho Mirage country club, they're pretty serious about their swans.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 17 Jun 2011 11:16:22 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/irk6ML</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Raytheon neighbors settle pollution suit for $2,500 each</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Attorneys for the homeowners acknowledged earlier that the plume of pollution poses no health threat. With today's settlement, they also conceded that studies conducted by both sides show property values did not suffer from the problem. Now, it's up to individuals who own homes and condominiums to accept a cash payout in exchange for a release from further litigation]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 16 Jun 2011 21:14:33 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/lrLXyP</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Family Who Filed Suit Claims Harassment By Chicken Owners</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Hollywood residents Grant and Sandra Einhorn said they are being taunted and harassed by their next-door neighbors and claimed they have the video to prove it.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 16 Jun 2011 15:34:58 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/ih0ZQA</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Advance notice, seasonal review best for policing violations</title>
     <description><![CDATA[For many homeowner's associations, the most time-consuming, contentious and difficult issue for board members and homeowners is that of policing violations of the covenants, conditions and restrictions of the community.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 16 Jun 2011 15:29:07 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/real-estate/advance-notice-seasonal-review-best-for-policing-violations-1543716.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Fire requires brief evacuation at North Palm Beach condo tower</title>
     <description><![CDATA[An electrical fire prompted evacuations of three floors of Lake Port Tower this afternoon, police said.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 16 Jun 2011 10:22:10 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/kGXBMm</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Allowing Unit Owners to Withhold Payment of Assessments Would Seriously Hinder C</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Jean Winters’ blog post of June 9, 2011 (“Can Homeowners Avoid Assessments by Claiming the Association Violated Covenants”) hit the nail on the head and is an excellent analysis of the real impact of E. Qualcom Corp. decision.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 16 Jun 2011 09:38:33 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/06/allowing-unit-owners-to-withhold-payment-of-assessments-would-seriously-hinder-community-association-operations.html?wpmp_switcher=mobile</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>HOA board should be prepared to deal with a hurricane</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: Q: I am a president of an HOA, and one of the members has asked what the board will do in the case of a hurricane. Is the board responsible for storm preparations? What should the board do and what should the members do? How will we, as the board, be involved if our community is under an evacuation order?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 15 Jun 2011 17:37:40 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www2.tbo.com/news/breaking-news/2011/jun/15/hoa-board-should-be-prepared-to-deal-with-a-hurric-ar-237553/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Ordinance sought in neighbor dispute</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A civil dispute last week at a construction site in Lake June Pointe that resulted in the police department showing up prompted some residents of the upscale development to seek help from the town council.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 15 Jun 2011 09:18:23 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/jufzKD</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Are you ready for every dispute to be in the media:  Help Me Howard: Palm Tree</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Being told by a condo or homeowner association you have to do something is about as common as an afternoon thunderstorm. But did you know the associations only have a certain amount of time to get you?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 14 Jun 2011 09:18:44 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/lRtotF</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condominium association board threatens to evict big dog</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A dog owner says she has been told her pet is too big and can no longer stay in her condo complex. Clouding the issue is the fact that the pet originally belonged to her brother, who was killed last October.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 14 Jun 2011 09:12:28 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/jcyZ7x</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Barefoot Beach condo owners want mangroves trimmed to improve bay view</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Butting heads with the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, the North Naples condominium is petitioning for the county’s help to develop a plan for cutting back leafy mangrove branches that are blocking some condo residents’ bayfront views.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 14 Jun 2011 08:43:47 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/jun/13/barefoot-beach-mangrove-cutting-condo-dep-collier/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Controversial gates that once locked the Bid-A-Wee Beach access points are down</title>
     <description><![CDATA[It appears someone has removed the controversial gates that once locked the Bid-A-Wee Beach access points]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 13 Jun 2011 09:56:27 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/jTiJ5K</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Vista Gardens residents want to control fate of course</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Readers got the impression that the Vista Gardens condominium community opposes the golf course opening. We're not against golf courses. Nor are we against motherhood or apple pie]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 13 Jun 2011 09:32:34 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2011/jun/12/ray-batt-vista-gardens-residents-want-to-control/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Can directors who are sued by their associations seek reimbursement from those a</title>
     <description><![CDATA[What does an association director typically do when sued for his or her actions while performing (or not performing as the case may be) necessary corporate duties? Seek indemnification from the association for those same actions naturally.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 13 Jun 2011 09:27:19 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/06/can-directors-who-are-sued-by-their-associations-seek-reimbursement-from-those-associations-for-their-legal-fees.html?wpmp_switcher=mobile</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Sunshine Law applies to government agencies</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: I was under the impression that Florida's Sunshine Law did not apply to homeowners' association meetings unless the board was performing some governmental function.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 12 Jun 2011 22:17:58 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20110612/COLUMNISTS16/106120326/Sunshine-Law-applies-government-agencies</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>South Daytona condo investor stunned by bribery scandal</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Significant questions remain in the case against two former South Daytona officials federal investigators have charged with taking bribes in exchange for reducing liens against a condo complex.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 12 Jun 2011 22:17:18 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/local/east-volusia/2011/06/12/south-daytona-condo-investor-stunned-by-bribery-scandal.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo Line: President used condo law firm</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. Our association has a prominent law firm on retainer. Early in the year, our president engaged the services of that law firm under the guise of the association and without the knowledge of the board to bring an action against another officer]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 12 Jun 2011 22:16:35 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/06/12/2258608/president-used-condo-law-firm.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Fasano Recaps Legislative Session</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Members of the Pasco Alliance for Community Associations turned out in force June 9  to hear state Sen. Mike Fasano, New Port Richey, speak about legislation that will directly impact homeowners' associations.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 12 Jun 2011 22:14:10 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://landolakes.patch.com/articles/fasano-recaps-legislative-session</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Collection fees bury homeowners late on association dues</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Marta and Gary Giddens owed their homeowner association in Winter Garden a few hundred dollars in 2009 because they had failed to make several payments on their twice-yearly association dues.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 10 Jun 2011 22:26:14 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://thesent.nl/kxEQnl</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Can homeowners avoid assessments by claiming the association violated covenants?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[One of the most common mistakes homeowners make in refusing to pay assessments is to assume that they can withhold payment because of their perception that the association failed to maintain the common property or for some other violation of the restrictive covenants.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 10 Jun 2011 11:49:21 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/lBMSHe</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Worth it or Wasted? $14K for a wall</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Orange County taxpayers are shelling out $14,000 to replace a wall in front of a neighborhood that has a Homeowner's Association.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 10 Jun 2011 11:44:18 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/kyo6Le</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: What newcomers to Florida can expect during hurricane season</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: This is my first hurricane season in Florida. Can you tell me what to expect? —]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 10 Jun 2011 11:43:16 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2011/jun/10/richard-white-what-newcomers-to-florida-can/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>FL Supreme Ct on indemnification of directors WENDT v. LA COSTA BEACH RESORT CON</title>
     <description><![CDATA[At issue is whether section 607.0850, Florida Statutes,2 authorizes indemnification of corporate directors in actions brought against the directors by the corporation itself. We conclude that section 607.0850 provides for indemnification in cases in which a corporation has sued its own director]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 10 Jun 2011 11:09:32 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/iNI28r</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>NY-based bulk buyer takes control of Palm Beach condo complex</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The Palm Court at Wellington in Palm Beach has been revived by a New York-based bulk buyer who bought over 90 units back in 2009 with a view to recycling the condominium units back into rentals in the $1200 per month range,]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 09 Jun 2011 20:38:43 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://therealdeal.com/newyork/articles/ny-based-bulk-buyer-takes-control-of-palm-beach-condo-complex</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Water shortage near crisis for West Palm Beach, managers say, watering limited t</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The drought has become so severe that West Palm Beach no longer has a source of surface water, its main way to provide drinking water for not only West Palm Beach but also Palm Beach and South Palm Beach.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 09 Jun 2011 16:58:21 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/k0Wm3S</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Fla. justices deny indemnity for foreign bank employee, approve it for condo boa</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The ruling reinstates the directors' indemnity claim against La Costa Beach Resort Condominium Association Inc., which had sued them for breach of trust.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 09 Jun 2011 14:53:01 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/56eba9582e434e63ab4705bad20fe597/FL--Business-Indemnity</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Bay County Commissioners weigh in on Bid A Wee controversy</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Two weeks ago Bay County Commissioner George Gainer threatened possible legal action against the Bid A Wee Beach homeowner's association for placing locked beach access gates in their subdivision.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 09 Jun 2011 12:33:48 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.wjhg.com/home/headlines/Bay_County_Commissioners_weigh_in_on_Bid_A_Wee_controversy_123462829.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title><![CDATA[Condo & HOA Boards Are Restricted Through Statutory Amendments]]></title>
     <description><![CDATA[Many of you were surprised about the Florida Supreme Court decision in Cohn v. Grand.  Some believed that the case doomed legislative efforts to cure shortcomings in the Condominium, Cooperative and HOA Acts]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 09 Jun 2011 12:31:13 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/msYv9f</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Less work, better than a lawn</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Two great but not so usual circumstances came together: a lawn man who also knows all about and cares for other plants and a homeowners association that does not demand turf.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 08 Jun 2011 09:48:08 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www2.tbo.com/news/community-news/2011/jun/08/BRCLASO1-less-work-better-than-a-lawn-ar-235451/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Dolphin Tower unlikely to be repaired until 2012</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Residents of Dolphin Tower who were displaced nearly a year ago because of faulty concrete will likely not return to the 15-story, downtown condominium building until mid-2012 — at the earliest.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 07 Jun 2011 19:52:46 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/kflSw5</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Trail of paint leads to arrest in vandalism of Palm Harbor cars</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Investigators have arrested the man they say damaged more than 20 vehicles overnight, including setting one vehicle on fire, dousing another with paint and slashing numerous tires.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 06 Jun 2011 19:58:05 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www2.tbo.com/news/breaking-news/2011/jun/06/1/car-vandals-strike-palm-harbors-deer-run-subdivisi-ar-235367/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Broward ready to sue senior condo to allow 50-year-old to live there</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Broward County government is poised to sue a 55-and-older condo in Coconut Creek’s Wynmoor community for trying to evict a younger man.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 06 Jun 2011 19:31:29 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/broward/blog/2011/06/broward_ready_to_sue_senior_co.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Car vandals strike Palm Harbor's Village of Woodland Hills</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Deputies said they found one vehicle set afire, another doused with paint and others with slashed tires in related acts of vandalism in the Village of Woodland Hills neighborhood.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 06 Jun 2011 12:45:05 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://suncoastpinellas.tbo.com/content/2011/jun/06/061239/car-vandals-strike-palm-harbors-deer-run-subdivisi/news/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Fines Adding Up for Traditions at Ruby Lake Subdivision</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The owners of long-troubled Traditions at Ruby Lake subdivision face $800,000 in city fines for a repeat violation of having tall grass and weeds.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 05 Jun 2011 21:11:25 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/m5sQdd</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo Line: Party funds not in the budget</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. What are the rules governing expenses for condominium associations in Florida? Can an association pay for a party or any planned get-together function from the operating expenses?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 05 Jun 2011 20:16:04 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/06/05/2249202/party-funds-not-in-the-budget.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: Do buildings have to have fire sprinkler systems?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. I heard that buildings have to install fire sprinkler systems or provide for smoke free shelter in the escape routes such as the staircase towers. Could you let me know where the source of this legislation can be found and are you aware whether changes to this law are being currently discussed?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 04 Jun 2011 15:38:30 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/jun/04/richard-white-do-buildings-have-have-fire-sprinkle/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Rob Samouce: Common misconceptions in governance of community associations</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Most condominium and homeowner associations (collectively known as community associations) recently had their annual meeting and annual election wherein new directors and officers came on board.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 04 Jun 2011 15:15:33 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/jpM7LC</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Former South Daytona mayor charged with bribery</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A few days later, on May 26, 2010, Clifton met with the purported investors' representative and discussed how to get the City of South Daytona code enforcement liens reduced on the River Club Condominiums. At the conclusion of the meeting, Clifton suggested that the City of South Daytona Special Magistrate for Code Enforcement, Mitchell, would reduce the city liens to a minor amount, in exchange for a cash bribe.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 04 Jun 2011 15:14:10 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/l2Rg0l</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Bank seizes condo land off University Parkway</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Royal Palms of Sarasota LLC, a Fort Myers company managed by Avihai Harpaz, has lost a $4.6 million foreclosure judgment on a loan originated by the now defunct Orion Bank.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 03 Jun 2011 20:56:14 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://insiderealestate.heraldtribune.com/2011/06/03/bank-seizes-condo-land-off-university-parkway/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Now is the time for associations and owners to check insurance policies</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Now is the time for condominium and homeowners associations and owners alike to carefully check what is covered – and not – on their insurance coverage. The last thing you want to do is wait until the worst happens and find out you are not properly covered for a claim.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 03 Jun 2011 17:12:41 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/06/now-is-the-time-for-associations-and-owners-to-check-insurance-policies.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Meeting the Required Insurance Coverage Before the Storm</title>
     <description><![CDATA[In two prior blogs, I discussed the importance of disaster procedures and the board’s emergency powers following a storm.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 02 Jun 2011 19:51:40 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/06/meeting-the-required-insurance-coverage-before-the-storm.html?wpmp_switcher=mobile</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Fertilizer use rules change today</title>
     <description><![CDATA[With the south Florida rainy season just around the corner, the Lee County Division of Natural Resources reminds everyone that fertilizer use rules change at the traditional start of the wet season, on June 1st]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 01 Jun 2011 14:22:46 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/knebYs</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Here's the history of grass in Florida — and how to get rid of it</title>
     <description><![CDATA[People hate their grass. They hate it more than Gov. Rick Scott. Liberals and conservatives agree that grass sucks water.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 01 Jun 2011 14:18:16 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/jrpCYI</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Citizens delays leave policyholders scrambling for coverage as hurricane season</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Some policyholders were scrambling for coverage days before the start of hurricane season today. That's because state-backed Citizens Property Insurance didn't provide quotes before their policies expired.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 01 Jun 2011 09:40:37 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/jTnAAu</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Association rules usually govern exterior color of condos</title>
     <description><![CDATA[It can be very confusing for owners in condominium, homeowners and cooperative communities to know what property belongs to them — and to the association. That's especially true when it comes to trying to figure out when you can paint your property, what color you can use and whether the association has a say it in it.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 31 May 2011 18:51:21 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-condo-hoa-questions-condocol-20110531,0,1471840.column</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Broward County Gets to Foot the Bill for Federal Lawsuit Over a Chihuahua</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Here are your tax dollars at work: The Broward County Civil Rights Division filed a federal lawsuit last week on behalf of a 68-year-old Deerfield Beach woman who says her Chihuahua is prescribed to her by a doctor for emotional support.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 31 May 2011 13:29:14 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/kBRYwQ</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>With Lightning out of playoffs, homeowners association dispute over sign fizzles</title>
     <description><![CDATA[When Steven Paul placed the "Go Bolts" sign in his yard two months ago, he was just another proud fan celebrating the Tampa Bay Lightning making the playoffs.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 30 May 2011 20:33:39 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/mtQElN</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>HOA denies telling woman to take down American flag</title>
     <description><![CDATA[So imagine how she felt when she claims her Homeowners Association told her she couldn’t fly her American flags year round.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 30 May 2011 20:27:51 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/j4mYVr</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Estoppel Etiquette</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Estoppels are one of those areas where many people think they know what is entailed in the process but most wouldn’t place a bet that they are 100% correct. Below is a question from a reader of this blog.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 30 May 2011 20:21:36 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/05/estoppel-etiquette.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Amendment to declaration alters property rights</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: I am interested in learning about the limits on association document changes that affect a homeowner's property rights.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 29 May 2011 08:55:35 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20110529/COLUMNISTS16/105290361/Amendment-to-declaration-alters-property-rights?odyssey=tab|mostpopular|text|FRONTPAGE</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Getting the job done: Manager favors 'proactive' approach</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Gwen Joyce has worked as a licensed community association manager in Florida for four years, the last three months with Preferred Management Services in Flagler Beach. That time frame has given her a first-hand view of the foreclosure calamity in the various associations she managed.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 29 May 2011 08:54:40 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-journalonline.com/business/real-estate/2011/05/29/getting-the-job-done-manager-favors-proactive-approach.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Community management firms hold their own, despite shaky economy</title>
     <description><![CDATA[While the housing downturn has affected most related industries, one sector surprisingly continues to do relatively well: community association management companies.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 29 May 2011 08:53:23 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/lk7V5F</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>St. Johns County Fire Officials Put Out Condo Fire</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A St. Augustine Beach woman is being treated at Flagler Hospital for smoke inhalation.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 28 May 2011 21:18:08 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.firstcoastnews.com/topstories/article/205788/483/St-Johns-County-Fire-Officials-Put-Out-Condo-Fire</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Cities to be blocked from crackdown on short-term rentals</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Beginning this week, cities won’t be allowed to impose any new rules against short-term rentals.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 28 May 2011 16:11:16 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/ll6DGx</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: Can remaining directors function as a board?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. I read your article religiously and look forward to your answers to the myriad knotty board problems. I am the vice president of the board and former president. Our condominium documents call for a seven-member board of directors]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 28 May 2011 15:56:05 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/may/28/richard-white-can-remaining-directors-function-boa/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Clearwater condo president charged in $300K real estate scam</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The president of a Clearwater condo community was arrested Friday, accused of using her community association position to scam a Dunedin woman out of almost $300,000.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 28 May 2011 15:29:11 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/kA32Ao</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>One Killed in Ft. Myer Heights Fire</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A man was killed in a two-alarm fire at the Prospect House condominiums (1200 N. Nash Street) in Ft. Myer Heights last night, authorities have confirmed.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 27 May 2011 22:03:55 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.arlnow.com/2011/05/27/breaking-news-one-killed-in-ft-myer-heights-fire/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo complex shuts off water after going native</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Three years ago, Whitaker, president of Orlando-based SMW GeoSciences Inc., proposed putting in native landscaping at the entrance to Lake Killarney Condominiums, a 200-unit complex in Winter Park.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 27 May 2011 10:15:04 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/print-edition/2011/05/27/condo-complex-shuts-off-water-after.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>South Florida pools may have to close in response to CPSC safety recall</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Some South Florida homeowner communities, condo complexes and hotels may need to temporarily close their pools and spas following a huge recall of safety drain covers announced by federal safety regulators Thursday.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 26 May 2011 21:28:32 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/kcrj5J</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Four Seasons accused of swindling condo owners</title>
     <description><![CDATA["I equated the Four Seasons with perfection," she says. "I couldn't possibly imagine that I'd be ripped off."]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 26 May 2011 17:08:25 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/lyePRs</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>The Impact of Cohn v. Grand Condominium</title>
     <description><![CDATA[On March 31, 2011, the Florida Supreme Court issued its opinion in the matter of Cohn v. Grand Condominium.  The result of this decision may affect many condominium associations, and quick action may be required in the form of amendments to Condominium Documents to ensure that recent changes of the Florida Condominium Act are indeed applicable in your community]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 26 May 2011 14:34:44 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://cuevaslaw.wordpress.com/2011/05/26/the-impact-of-cohn-v-grand-condominium/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>One hurt in second floor condo fire in Boca Raton</title>
     <description><![CDATA[An alert worker at a Boca Raton condominium pulled a fire alarm, called 911 and helped evacuate a resident after seeing smoke coming from the victim's second floor condo, according to Boca Raton Fire Rescue.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 26 May 2011 13:26:27 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2011-05-25/news/fl-boca-condo-fire-brf-20110525_1_second-floor-condo-fire-alarm-smoke-and-flames</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Wells contaminated in DeLeon, too</title>
     <description><![CDATA[While residents in the DeLand Country Club area on the south side of DeLand worry about a pesticide found in their drinking-water wells, people in DeLeon Springs, north of DeLand, are also worried about a killer beneath their feet: gasoline.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 26 May 2011 13:07:05 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://beacononlinenews.com/news/daily/3790</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Are You Ready for the Summer? Verify Your Community Pool is in Compliance.</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Its almost summertime and living is easy, right?  Well, it won’t be if your community pool faces state regulatory permit requirements or substantial renovations necessary to comply with federal and state laws.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 26 May 2011 13:01:36 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/jDNOrC</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>County officials Claim Bid-A-Wee Beach Gates are Illegal</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A legal battle is taking shape between Bay County and Bid-A-Wee Beach property owners. The county now claims the newly installed gates on bid-a-wees beach accesses are illegal. But the homeowners association is standing it's ground.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 25 May 2011 22:00:05 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/jc8ibD</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>CALL FOR ACTION: Are you a criminal?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Joel Rosario didn't think he'd have any problem passing the background check with the condo association of his new complex. He's an army vet and in school under the GI bill studying homeland security. But what happened to him will make you ask more questions about what information companies are keeping on you!]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 25 May 2011 19:04:20 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/iDfjjP</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Wesley Chapel community loses water when condo bills go unpaid</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Residents in the Wellington community in Meadow Pointe were angry Tuesday morning when water to the condominium complex was turned off.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 25 May 2011 19:03:07 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43174215</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Association for downtown Lake Worth condo owners sues developer</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The association that operates The Lucerne, a six-story condominium in the heart of downtown, sued the developer recently in Palm Beach County Circuit Court, claiming shoddy workmanship and failure to comply with building codes.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 25 May 2011 19:00:17 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/real-estate/association-for-downtown-lake-worth-condo-owners-sues-1498143.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Broward sues on behalf of Chihuahua owner whose condo allegedly discriminated ag</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Broward County filed suit in federal court this week on behalf of a senior citizen whose condo allegedly discriminated against her and her Chihuahua, Sweetie.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 25 May 2011 18:28:37 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/k2F53e</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Community association sues delinquent owners</title>
     <description><![CDATA[South Florida condominium and homeowners communities that have foreclosed on delinquent owners have been stimied by a state law limiting what boards can get from a bank for past due assessments to 12 months or one percent of the original mortgage.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 24 May 2011 15:12:53 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/lAOKtv</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Residents upset over HOA failures</title>
     <description><![CDATA[St. Lucie County code enforcement officers are visiting a gated community Tuesday morning where homeowners are fed up and ready to fight. Some of the residents say their HOA is cutting corners and putting their safety at risk.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 24 May 2011 14:39:08 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/iqY3m8</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Slammed by Hurricane 408 and tracking it all</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Well, here we are in Florida, among the worst in consumer distress according to Florida Trend, and Governor Scott signed the insurance “reform” bill. All of us are going to be hit really hard with the inevitable increases in the cost of insurance, and the onerous requirements for getting claims paid, if they can get it at all]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 24 May 2011 14:36:30 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/05/slammed-by-hurricane-408-and-tracking-it-all.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Forget city hall; this man fought his HOA .. and won</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Millions of Floridians are living in homeowner's associations, paying thousands of dollars in dues. But where is all that money really going?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 23 May 2011 20:04:47 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.cbs12.com/news/going-4732693-know-questions.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>A properly written letter can solve most problems</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q We have a unit that has several "seedy people" living in one of our homes. The owner is rarely there and we are not sure if these are his relatives or just friends or renters. They are a constant disturbance at all hours of the night.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 23 May 2011 10:30:30 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/os-community-living-052311-20110523,0,750632.column</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>It's not legal to discuss items that aren't on agenda</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: It appears that our condominium board is not acting pursuant to the law regarding open board meetings.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 22 May 2011 19:41:37 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20110522/COLUMNISTS16/105220312/It-s-not-legal-discuss-items-aren-t-agenda?odyssey=mod_sectionstories</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Boat owners flout the rules</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. Our monthly condominium fee includes the privilege of boatyard storage and use of a slip. Our association has a long-standing and well-known rule that each boat owner must give the boatyard/dock master an up-to-date copy of proof of his/her current boat insurance]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 22 May 2011 16:33:50 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/05/22/2224220/boat-owners-flout-the-rules.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Can homeowners association pay for pool lights?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q:The legal documents for our Sarasota homeowners' association only provide spending authority for "maintenance, repair and replacement" of the common areas. A request has been made to add lights to our two swimming pools]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 21 May 2011 22:33:52 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20110521/COLUMNIST/110529891/0/API?Title=Can-homeowners-association-pay-for-pool-lights-</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Fewer judges will be hearing Florida foreclosures as state money runs out</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Florida's courts are out $6 million after state lawmakers chose not to extend a one-time stipend aimed at reducing a foreclosure backlog.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 19 May 2011 20:14:27 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/lXkBQn</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo Buyers Can Press Suit Against Trump</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Donald Trump may have easily shaken off the mantle of presidential aspirant, but he's having a far more difficult time shaking a lawsuit filed by angry condo buyers who claim he misled them about his role in developing a luxury tower in Florida.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 19 May 2011 15:39:08 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/05/19/36684.htm</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Background Check Saved Condo Building From Adding Accused Killer as a Neighbor</title>
     <description><![CDATA[But back in June 2009, the Ocean Riviera building on the Galt Ocean Mile hired him to do a check on a potential resident that turned up about 30 criminal charges.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 19 May 2011 09:55:12 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/lY4zoi</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Lake Erosion</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The drought and extremely low water levels are giving us an opportunity to evaluate the health of our lake banks. Lake erosion in south Florida is a major problem. Shoreline erosion is not only unpleasing to the eye but also causes property damage and is a very a serious safety issue.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 19 May 2011 09:46:56 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/05/lake-erosion.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Florida Condominiums Can Use Emergency Powers after A Storm Hits</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Let’s assume that Hurricane Rina with her 160 mph winds has just cut a path of devastation across the Florida peninsula, knocking out power in Broward, West Palm Beach and Lee counties.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 19 May 2011 09:33:25 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/lEIBqh</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Homeowners' group join fight against Palmetto Park Road project</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The influential Federation of Boca Raton Homeowner Associations has joined the 11th hour push to stop the Palmetto Park Road widening project.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 18 May 2011 11:05:08 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/boca-raton/fl-brf-update-0518-20110518,0,3670951.story</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Grandparents say their condo association plans to refuse visits from grandchildr</title>
     <description><![CDATA[They called with a plea after receiving a notice stating their grandchildren could no longer visit them at the Penthouse Greens complex because they had reached the maximum number of visits within a calender year, which is 30.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 18 May 2011 10:34:09 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/jvlS87</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Gov. Rick Scott signs property insurance re-write</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A sweeping and controversial measure aimed at reducing costs to property insurers and liability for taxpayers was signed into law]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 17 May 2011 19:12:40 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/403455/matt-dixon/2011-05-17/gov-rick-scott-signs-property-insurance-re-write</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Eastside Westside and SB 408</title>
     <description><![CDATA[It’s not exactly a news flash that Broward’s a very, very large county, and we’ve found it challenging to find meeting places that are more convenient for our members. Because they’re all over the county, from the beaches to the edge of the Everglades,]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 17 May 2011 11:17:15 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/05/eastside-westside-and.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Who must repaint a condo door - the owner or association?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Can your condo association or HOA charge unlimited late-payment fees? Who's responsible for repainting a condo unit's front door? How can owners and board members track legislative bills? Can owners look up who voted in the last community election?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 17 May 2011 11:14:52 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-reader-questions-condocol-0518-20110516,0,1137082.column</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo association wants 89-year-old woman with dementia to pay, even after her c</title>
     <description><![CDATA[If the folks who run the condo association at Vista Pines were trying to prove their mighty authority, mission accomplished.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 16 May 2011 12:58:02 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2011/may/11/eve-samples-condo-association-wants-89-year-old/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Can HOA’s charge an Inspection Fee in addition to a Copying Fee?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[“Can an HOA impose an Inspection Fee to view official records? My HOA’s management firm has said that they require an ‘inspection fee’ of $20/hour to allow me access to the association’s official records]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 16 May 2011 12:45:42 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/05/can-hoas-charge-an-inspection-fee-in-addition-to-a-copying-fee.html?replytocom=3956</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Misguided board lets delinquent owners slide</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: Our condominium board refuses to enforce collection of condominium association dues on emotional grounds that "our neighbors and friends are hurting" and the board does not want to put liens on the condominium units for unpaid dues]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 16 May 2011 12:41:38 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/law/os-community-living-051611-20110516,0,2721349.column</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Four Seasons Accused of "Massive Fraud" By Condo Owners</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Sawa is one of nearly a dozen plaintiffs who say the Four Seasons tricked them into buying doomed condominium hotel units.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 16 May 2011 10:22:28 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/lWnTpR</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Granada Lakes Villas condo conversion unravels into maze of lawsuits</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A years-long legal battle has pitted the condominium association against the developer. At times, the fight has escalated to personal attacks.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 15 May 2011 18:41:42 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/leysbX</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Set policy to control open mic</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: We have an open mic after each board meeting. The past couple of months have become nothing but a gripe session for a few homeowners. They ask questions of the board and expect a response immediately, even though it may require some research, and they tear down the property manager and expect apologies from him for things they think he has done wrong. Is this what that time should be about?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 15 May 2011 15:37:33 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www2.tbo.com/lifestyles/life/2011/may/15/BANEWSO8-set-policy-to-control-open-mic-ar-207222/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>How associations will be affected by changed laws</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: I recently attended my condominium association's board meeting. At the meeting, the treasurer refused to turn over certain personal information about owners to the president. I then read about the new "freedom of information" act (of sorts) that was passed by the Florida Legislature.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 15 May 2011 15:35:41 -0500</pubDate>
     <link><![CDATA[http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20110514/COLUMNIST/110519680/0/APN?Title=How-associations-will-be-affected-by-changed-laws&tc=ar]]></link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: How can association get rid of bad tenants?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. We have a small HOA. We have a unit that has several "seedy people" living in one of our homes. The owner is rarely there and we are not sure if these are his relatives or just friends or renters.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 14 May 2011 16:16:53 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/may/14/richard-white-how-can-association-get-rid-bad-tena/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Five ways to prepare your condo and home for hurricane season</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Hard to believe hurricane season is nearly here, which means it is time to get ready for the worst by preparing your condo, home and community for the worst.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 13 May 2011 16:36:59 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/kHJ4wo</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Bidawee Beach to Lock Emergency Beach Access</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Panama City Beach council members decided against paying for a locked gate at the only beach access left open in Bid-a-wee Beach. Several weeks ago, the homeowners association put-up gates at all of the other accesses, saying they wanted to cut-down on crime and vandalism.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 13 May 2011 11:34:08 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/lWKTZB</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Local rules skirt ordinance for Florida-friendly grass</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The Florida-friendly ordinance dances around local ordinances, including homeowner association by-laws. It states: "Homeowners associations must follow the state statute which says they cannot prevent a homeowner from implementing a Florida-friendly landscape. They (homeowner associations) are permitted, however, to enforce restrictions which maintain the style of the neighborhood."]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 13 May 2011 11:18:22 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/kPW6qu</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Can HOA's charge an Inspection Fee in addition to a Copying Fee?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[ A reader of this Blog recently asked the following question:  "Can an HOA impose an Inspection Fee to view official records? My HOA's management firm has said that they require an 'inspection fee' of $20/hour to allow me access to the association's official records.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 13 May 2011 11:07:12 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/401499/donna-dimaggio-berger-esq/2011-05-12/can-hoas-charge-inspection-fee-addition</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>New condo-HOA measures target delinquent homeowners</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Florida lawmakers have passed new legislation regulating condominium and homeowners communities that could change daily life in association-governed neighborhoods.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 11 May 2011 09:07:14 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/jm5sNx</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo's Back Taxes Could Put Owners on Street</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Broward's tax department launched an investigation Tuesday to see whether 20 condo owners were saddled with property taxes that were owed by the developer.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 11 May 2011 09:06:06 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://on.msnbc.com/j7McQz</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Boynton couple face fine for big pickup</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Before they bought their truck, the Woods checked with their association and found it allows trucks up to 1.5 tons. They figured that was enough of an approval and didn't think they had to check with City Hall as well.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 10 May 2011 21:14:39 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/ipWNF2</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Governor to review new condo, HOA reforms</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Florida lawmakers have passed new legislation regulating condominium and homeowners communities that could change daily life in association-governed neighborhoods.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 10 May 2011 16:17:09 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://sunsent.nl/ik4UiO</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>'Despondent' Weston man sets himself on fire, BSO says</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A man apparently despondent about losing his job died early Tuesday after setting himself on fire on the patio of a condominium he was renting, officials said.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 10 May 2011 09:36:30 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/weston/fl-fatal-weston-fire-20110510,0,7069965.story?track=rss</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Question about boat slips must go to attorney</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: I am an owner in a condominium with indentured boat slips. Our rules are in accordance with the manner provided by FS 711. Recently our board advised our owners that the Florida law has mandated the leases may abrogate their right to the amenities as our indentured boat ships]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 09 May 2011 10:08:06 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/law/os-community-living-050911-20110509,0,4294217.column</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Paramount Bay Condos Up For Auction After $262 Million Foreclosure, But Are They</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Paramount Bay's luxury waterfront condo was scheduled to open more than two years ago. But stop by the 46-story blue glass building at 2066 N. Bayshore Dr. and you feel like you've wandered onto the set of some post-apocalyptic film.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 09 May 2011 10:06:29 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/lGolG4</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Board's job is to protect - not to pity</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: Our condominium board refuses to enforce collection of condominium association dues on emotional grounds that "our neighbors and friends are hurting" and the board does not want to put liens on units for unpaid dues.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 08 May 2011 16:41:16 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www2.tbo.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/2011/may/08/BANEWSO8-boards-job-is-to-protect-not-to-pity-ar-205450/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>HOA foreclosures climbing as associations seek 'revenge' on delinquent homeowner</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Fed up with late dues and mounting maintenance bills, some homeowner associations are motivated by spite, over sound business sense, to foreclose on delinquent owners.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 08 May 2011 16:39:48 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/lxOKxn</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: Document modification requires an attorney, members’ approval</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. We are a small condominium building and would like to change our building from a non-age restriction to an adult only building. Is this possible and what would be required?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 07 May 2011 09:05:34 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/may/07/richard-white-document-modification-requires-attor/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>How Lightning fan outwitted petty HOA over playoff sign</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Steven Paul, 28, is a Tampa Bay Lightning season ticket holder who's justifiably excited with his team in the Eastern Conference finals, eight wins away from the Stanley Cup.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 06 May 2011 11:51:22 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://yhoo.it/lgvgGZ</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Property insurance reform dodges last-minute amendments to pass Senate</title>
     <description><![CDATA[With his property insurance reform bill strapped to his back, Sen. Garrett Richter successfully maneuvered through a minefield of last-minute amendments designed to derail the controversial legislation Thursday night.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 06 May 2011 11:37:23 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.marconews.com/news/2011/may/05/property-insurance-reform-dodges-last-minute-amend/?partner=RSS</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Why neighbors oppose ballfield for disabled children</title>
     <description><![CDATA[About seven homes in Bridle Oaks lie less than 100 yards from where the Challenger Baseball league for disabled children hopes to build three small fields. The land is also known as Pinebrook Park, at the northern end of the Wellfield sports complex on Pinebrook Road in Venice.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 05 May 2011 17:55:09 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20110505/COLUMNIST/110509727?Title=Ernst-Why-neighbors-oppose-ballfield-for-disabled-children</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Florida legislature passes condo and HOA reforms, will you like them?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The Florida House and Senate have passed the latest reform bills, which will soon be sent to the Governor’s office for his signature or veto. If he does nothing, the bill still becomes law.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 05 May 2011 16:18:14 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/irQIk0</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: Stuart resident seeks clarification of lease rights with boat sli</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: I am an owner in a condominium with indentured boat slips. Our rules are in accordance with the manner provided by the FS 711.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 05 May 2011 16:17:41 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2011/may/05/richard-white-stuart-resident-seeks-of-lease/?partner=RSS</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Trump's Hollywood Condo Tower Looks Pristine, but Residents Say It's Anything bu</title>
     <description><![CDATA[a perfect tableau.  Life at the Trump Hollywood goes downhill from there.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 04 May 2011 20:32:25 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/jmFBBV</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Lauderhill approves $380,000 loan to condo association</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The loans, funded through the federal government's Community Development Block Grant Program, CDBG, are slated to pay for termite eradication, electrical work, balcony restoration, landscaping, a sprinkler system and other building façade improvements.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 04 May 2011 20:24:41 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/jMTsjl</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Running afowl of its own rules</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The whole peacock dust-up should just be a fun moment worthy of a hundred groaning puns.  Unfortunately, it is not.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 04 May 2011 20:19:55 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.yourobserver.com/news/longboat-key/Opinion/0504201111721/Running-afowl-of-its-own-rules</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Naples says 'no' to requiring beachfront owners to guarantee public access</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Opposition is mounting to a proposal to pursue guarantees from beachfront property owners that they will keep their beaches open to the public.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 04 May 2011 19:42:12 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/mHPUuc</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Homes Empty For Extermination Burglarized</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Residents of a Plantation condo building returned after leaving for a few days for termite extermination and found their homes ransacked.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 03 May 2011 16:55:02 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/iwMCAX</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Dirt roads have Wellington community kicking up dust</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Two roads that residents argue kick up dust that settles on their homes and in their lungs might be paved.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 03 May 2011 16:38:09 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/jjGcB0</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Golden years: Sun City marks a half century</title>
     <description><![CDATA[It was on an auto trip to Miami back in '65 when Clifford and Grace Beaumont spotted the billboard for Del Webb's Sun City on U.S. 301]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 02 May 2011 14:36:27 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/mG75ZS</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Clam Bay marker dispute was almost settled, but more talks loom</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The long-running dispute over how to mark a path for boats through the North Naples estuary has pitted the neighborhoods of Pelican Bay and Seagate against each other across the line of the Naples city limits.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 01 May 2011 21:23:30 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/may/01/clam-bay-seagate-pelican-bay-marker-collier-county/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Residents fear Saufley's toxins in their neighborhoods</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Now, with Escambia County's decision to move most of Saufley's waste to one of two private landfills in the Wedgewood and Rolling Hills communities, residents in those communities fear their groundwater also may become contaminated and they may face similar health problems.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 01 May 2011 18:32:04 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.pnj.com/article/20110501/NEWS01/105010324/Residents-fear-Saufley-s-toxins-their-neighborhoods?odyssey=nav|head</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Neighbors want 'seedy' residents to move out</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: We have a small homeowners association. We have a unit where several "seedy people" are living. The owner is rarely there, and we are not sure if these are his relatives or just friends or renters.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 01 May 2011 17:35:35 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www2.tbo.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/2011/may/01/BANEWSO8-neighbors-want-seedy-residents-to-move-ou-ar-203622/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Community Life: Association obligation is to make records available</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: I am having an issue with my homeowners' association. I have asked for copies of our board meeting minutes to be posted on the association website.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 01 May 2011 17:34:17 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20110501/COLUMNISTS16/105010348/1014/BUSINESS/Community-Life-Association-obligation-make-records-available</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Homeowner associations often on outside looking in on foreclosure cases</title>
     <description><![CDATA[President of Governor’s Run I, a sub-association of Lehigh Acres’ Westminster Golf Community, Philhower, 75, said his community is struggling to rebound from $18,000 in unpaid assessments from three homes over several years.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 01 May 2011 17:26:03 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/lOWs2g</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Dania condo resident charged in arsons at his building</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Authorities have arrested a suspect in a string of arsons this month at a Dania Beach condo building.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 30 Apr 2011 08:45:38 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/kan9nZ</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Rob Samouce: Do you really want to become a no-smoking property?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The question often arises as to whether a condominium association could ban smoking on the entire condominium premises.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 30 Apr 2011 08:23:25 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/muEH9V</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Florida House sharply divided over fire alarms</title>
     <description><![CDATA[In the session's closest roll call, the House voted 59-55 to kill a provision that would have allowed manual alarms to be removed from certain condominium buildings under four stor]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 29 Apr 2011 19:12:08 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/ipR5yx</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Can condo associations ban illegal immigrants?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Joan of Broward County has a condominium unit for rent and recently learned that her association will not allow illegal immigrants to rent or lease from any owner. She asks whether this is a legal rule.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 29 Apr 2011 11:05:14 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/mS2cwF</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Senate passes overhaul of property insurance laws</title>
     <description><![CDATA[In an attempt to protect Floridians from an economic disaster in the wake of a major hurricane, the Florida Senate passed a massive overhaul of the state’s property insurance laws on Thursday.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 29 Apr 2011 10:27:36 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/kGSYXJ</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: Upset Vero Beach homeowners consider boycotting annual meeting</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: I live in a homeowners community where there is much unrest about the board’s activities. Our annual meeting is scheduled for the end of the month and there is a movement to encourage homeowners to not vote, show up or turn in a proxy for the annual meeting.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 29 Apr 2011 10:07:50 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2011/apr/28/richard-white-upset-vero-beach-homeowners-annual/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>To force change, members must vote</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A receiver acts like a board. It must maintain and operate the association, but with no input from the members. The receiver has full rights to approve budgets, make special assessments, and force collections.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 27 Apr 2011 19:43:53 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www2.tbo.com/lifestyles/life/2011/apr/24/BANEWSO11-to-force-change-members-must-vote-ar-201761/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>HOA Delays Vote On Kids Playing Outside Ban</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The Homeowners Association in Volusia County was supposed to vote on Wednesday on a plan that would ban children from playing outside unsupervised.
But, WFTV found out that vote is being delayed.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 27 Apr 2011 09:20:37 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/g5ZI6m</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Easter-egg hunt brings trespass warning</title>
     <description><![CDATA[An Easter Egg hunt accelerated the ongoing conflict between residents of the Persimmon Place town home community with the issuance of a trespass warning to a member of the homeowner's association board of directors, an incident report said.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 27 Apr 2011 09:09:30 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/g0nXug</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Can a condo board publicize a delinquent owner?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Can a condominium association embarrass a unit owner by posting a late notice for maintenance payments on his front door? Can paying cash for a condo unit be a reason for an association to reject a prospective buyer? How should a community challenge a contractor's claim that a payment was never received?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 27 Apr 2011 08:40:52 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2011-04-26/business/fl-reader-qa-condocol-20110426_1_condo-board-condo-unit-delinquent-owner</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Baywinds seeking to uproot 600 trees; Commissioner wants tree code relaxed</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Environmentalists were irate when two Ibis HOAs revealed its plans in January to uproot 168 oak trees and replace them with palm trees.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 26 Apr 2011 13:51:54 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/westpalmbeat/2011/04/baywinds-seeking-to-uproot-600-trees-commissioner-wants-tree-code-relaxed/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Catalina Isles: City hopes to work on condos' woes tonight</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Ings has invited residents, many of them low-income seniors, and managers of the nine-building complex to City Hall in downtown Orlando to talk about what is wrong and how to try and fix the myriad problems.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 26 Apr 2011 13:49:58 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/egh08T</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>HOA balks at underground storage tank, thwarting hurricane plans for elderly cou</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The 500-gallon propane tank would be buried in the front yard of the home. Once in place, it would be out of sight to anyone in the neighborhood.  There's only one problem: The Garden Grove homeowners' association won't allow it.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 25 Apr 2011 22:36:21 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/hKLEZC</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Not looking like paradise for some Naples condo owners</title>
     <description><![CDATA[So you pick your piece of paradise and it's right on the ocean. It's a dream come true, right? But not if you live in one Southwest Florida condo complex right now. They've lost their peaceful ocean view and a whole lot more.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 25 Apr 2011 17:32:27 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.fox4now.com/story/14493296/not-looking-like-paradise-for-some-condo-owners</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo Assoc., Valet Company Refuse Responsibility For Stolen Vehicle</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A Hallandale Beach man whose minivan was stolen after he left it with the valet at a South Florida condominium building said the valet company and condo association are refusing to accept responsibility.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 25 Apr 2011 14:00:36 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/f8CBgI</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Two arrested after feud with environmental group turns violent</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A longstanding feud between an environmental group and neighborhood near Marco Island turned violent on Earth Day and ended with two arrests.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 25 Apr 2011 10:29:02 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/h77g5v</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Documents show a Scott push to shutter Citizens</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Gov. Rick Scott has secretly pushed to kill Citizens Property Insurance before his first term ends, a goal that alarmed even representatives of private insurance companies seeking to remove Citizens as a competitor, the Herald-Tribune has learned.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 25 Apr 2011 10:14:02 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/hjF3RL</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Big Hickory sands to receive a boost</title>
     <description><![CDATA[When Pelican Landing's snowbirds - and guests who stay at the Hyatt Coconut Point - return next season, their private beach will have hundreds of yards of fresh sand.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 25 Apr 2011 10:12:42 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20110425/NEWS0102/104250335/1076/Mutual-Omaha-Bank-establish-branch-here/Big-Hickory-sands-receive-boost?odyssey=nav|head</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Kiosk guards Naples community</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The converted condo community has installed a high-tech virtual access control kiosk created by the Whitestone Group, a Columbus, Ohio-based security company that has a regional office in Naples.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 25 Apr 2011 10:08:02 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/gVpJIA</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Swimming pool unsettles community</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q:We live in a villa community homeowners' association that is 26 years old. Our complex is not and has never been a condominium.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 24 Apr 2011 14:00:43 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20110423/COLUMNIST/110429749/2055/NEWS?Title=Swimming-pool-unsettles-community</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Florida definition of board meeting discussed</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: After reading one of your recent columns concerning the definition of a board meeting, I wondered if that interpretation included email discussions among board members where a quorum of the board receives the email.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 24 Apr 2011 13:58:31 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20110424/COLUMNISTS16/104240328/Florida-definition-board-meeting-discussed?odyssey=mod_sectionstories</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Children's and residents' rights can clash in neighborhoods</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A Cape Canaveral reader took exception to a recent column about a Volusia County homeowners' association that was considering a ban on children playing outdoors on common spaces, driveways and parking lots, including riding noisy toy vehicles such as Big Wheels.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 24 Apr 2011 13:46:49 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/e4We5z</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Get involved early to win HOA battles</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Don't like a school policy, Call your school board member. Unhappy with the condition of a county road, email your commissioner. Don't like a proposed federal bill, write your congressman.  But what happens when your neighborhood's landscaping looks bleak or the homeowner's association raises your fees without your input?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 22 Apr 2011 15:38:33 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www2.tbo.com/content/2011/apr/21/221216/get-involved-early-to-win-hoa-battles-experts-say-/news-money/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Monaco Beach Club residents sue condo association over Hurricane Wilma damages</title>
     <description><![CDATA[After paying huge assessments for repairs after Hurricane Wilma, condo owners at the Monaco Beach Club have filed a class-action lawsuit, seeking damages for an insurance claim gone wrong.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 22 Apr 2011 10:28:14 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/hvsp2c</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Neighbors feared man accused of Fishtales killing</title>
     <description><![CDATA[But Krebs' neighbors and the condominium association wanted him out immediately. "He shows up with the owner and a letter from an attorney and says, how dare we not allow him in just because a piece of glass was broken?" said Ieraci, who is also president of the Galt Mile Community Association, representing 15,000 residents.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 21 Apr 2011 09:29:48 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/fl-fishtales-stabbing-suspect-20110419,0,910754.story</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Mother of man beaten outside West Palm Beach gentlemen's club files lawsuit</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Attorney Wally McCall, who is representing Harvey, said the attack occurred at a nearby condominium complex. He also is suing the owner of a unit in the complex, the Bella Lago Homeowners Association and the company that managed the complex]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 21 Apr 2011 09:27:27 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/i9qFd0</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Flagler wins fight vs. condo developer</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A Palm Coast administrative law judge ruled in favor of Flagler County on its denial of 561 condominium hotel units proposed at the end of 16th Road next to the beach, attorney Al Hadeed told county commissioners Monday]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 20 Apr 2011 09:52:06 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/local/flagler/2011/04/20/flagler-wins-fight-vs-condo-developer.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Homeowner sues, says Largo should fix flooding</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Pinewood was notified about a "problem with the sign located within the public right of way" and it was "instructed to have it removed or relocated," according to a 1990 letter to Svabek from Largo.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 20 Apr 2011 09:44:14 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/homeowner-sues-says-largo-should-fix-flooding/1164729</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Beau Rivage residents speak in favor of switching from St. Lucie to Martin</title>
     <description><![CDATA[More than a third of the 560 residents who live in St. Lucie County's Beau Rivage area attended a town meeting Tuesday at the Port St. Lucie Civic Center to tell county commissioners how they felt about staying in the county.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 20 Apr 2011 09:29:44 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2011/apr/19/beau-rivage-residents-speak-in-favor-of-from-st/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>County considers repealing developer financial disclosure law</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Saying it is too difficult to enforce, the Marion County Commission’s chief legal adviser on Tuesday recommended that the board repeal a decade-old law requiring greater financial transparency for local developers.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 20 Apr 2011 09:23:18 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.ocala.com/article/20110419/ARTICLES/110419690/1001/news01?Title=County-considers-repealing-developer-financial-disclosure-law</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Vista Meadows owner agrees to maintain property</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The owner of the 27-hole Vista Meadows golf course has paid more than $13,000 in liens and forced-mowing expenses and agreed to keep the property maintained to avoid future fines, County Attorney Alan Polackwich said Tuesday.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 19 Apr 2011 17:55:54 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/fAtF8Q</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>For storm season, check insurance</title>
     <description><![CDATA[When it comes to protecting condominiums and homeowners communities from hurricanes, Florida law may not require as much property insurance as you may think - or need.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 19 Apr 2011 17:53:34 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/hjFLTb</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>A close encounter</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The Florida Legislature was just on the edge of taking down one of the cornerstones of pleasant residential living on the key, the requirement that no one in a residentially zoned area could rent for less than 30 days.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 19 Apr 2011 16:03:01 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.lbknews.com/2011/04/18/a-close-encounter/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Dutch lender takes Tarpon Point</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A Dutch private lending company got possession Monday of a luxury condo development, a housing development and a rock mine through a $340 million foreclosure - now it's exploring how to sell them]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 19 Apr 2011 16:00:14 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20110419/BUSINESS/104190324/1014/Dutch-lender-takes-Tarpon-Point</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Marsh Island withdraws request for annexation into Orchid</title>
     <description><![CDATA[John Von Hagen, president of the Marsh Island Homeowners Association, sent a letter to Orchid Mayor Richard Dunlop asking that the annexation request be withdrawn.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 19 Apr 2011 15:43:48 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2011/apr/18/marsh-island-withdraws-request-for-annexation/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>You can't restrict voting rights when lot sits empty</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: I live in a homeowners association composed of 250 lots. However, about half of these lots remain vacant with no homes built upon them. Most of these empty lots are owned by investors who never attend any of the board meetings, but still get to vote on membership matters.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 18 Apr 2011 12:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20110410/COLUMNISTS16/104100323/You-can-t-restrict-voting-rights-when-lot-sits-empty</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Island has antidote to recession</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Its hotels and vacation rentals are full.Its stores and restaurants are generating increased revenues. Its developers and builders are busy upgrading its housing stock. And its employees, both on and off the island, are finding jobs.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 18 Apr 2011 11:15:12 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/eG37xU</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Joe Adams: Governing documents guide common area alterations</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: Is there any provision in the Florida statutes for homeowners' associations regarding voting on a material change to the property, and how non-votes are counted? Are non-votes counted as "no" votes, or with the majority?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 17 Apr 2011 18:42:43 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20110417/COLUMNISTS16/104170323/1014/business/Joe-Adams-Governing-documents-guide-common-area-alterations</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: Changing allocation of costs needs 100% member approval</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. We live in one of the larger units in our condominium building. Maintenance fees and special assessments are billed to owners on a square footage basis, thus we pay more than our neighbors living in smaller units.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 16 Apr 2011 11:32:30 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/apr/16/richard-white-changing-allocation-costs-needs-100/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Does your condo or HOA use a Website or social media to inform owners? Why not?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[There is no reason for condominium and homeowners associations not to take advantage of Websites and social media to keep owner better informed.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 15 Apr 2011 19:13:39 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/04/does-your-condo-or-hoa-use-a-website-or-social-media-to-inform-owners-why-not.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Snook kill in Hutchinson Island neighborhood retention pond a mystery</title>
     <description><![CDATA[When Ken Hollis stepped outside to go to work Wednesday morning, he saw something out of the corner of his eye. There, floating in the retention pond of his community, were scores of snook carcasses.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 15 Apr 2011 10:23:24 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2011/apr/14/snook-kill-in-hutchinson-island-neighborhood-a/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Venice water bills unfair to condos?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Nobody likes to pay bills. But they particularly dislike it if they believe they are paying different rates than their neighbors.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 15 Apr 2011 09:40:14 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/dStCpn</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Gas-Leaking Scooter Causes Condo Evacuation</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Residents of a condominium complex in Altamonte Springs were evacuated on Thursday morning after police responded to what they thought was a possible meth lab, but it turned out to be a scooter leaking gas.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 14 Apr 2011 19:05:02 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.wftv.com/countybycounty/27542772/detail.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Man Suing Neighbors Over Alleged Illegal HOA</title>
     <description><![CDATA[An Orange County homeowner is taking on his neighbors. Jeff Busch is suing his entire neighborhood over an alleged illegal homeowner's association.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 14 Apr 2011 18:57:12 -0500</pubDate>
     <link><![CDATA[http://www.wftv.com/news/27549175/detail.html?sms_ss=twitter&at_xt=4da76e2f3a629d68,0]]></link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Broken Elevator Traps Some Sunrise Condo Residents</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Residents of a Sunrise high rise feel like they are being held prisoner in their own building after the elevator quit working nearly a week ago.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 14 Apr 2011 11:18:14 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://miami.cbslocal.com/2011/04/13/broken-elevator-traps-some-sunrise-condo-residents/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>HOA bookkeeper confesses to embezzling</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Police say a homeowner's association bookkeeper has confessed to forging 34 checks that total $31,248.73, telling police he needed to money to pay his children's college tuition and expenses.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 13 Apr 2011 22:26:50 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.cbs12.com/news/police-4731930-bookkeeper-money.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Paramount on the Bay loses $262M foreclosure</title>
     <description><![CDATA[In a $262.1 million foreclosure judgment that is one of the largest in South Florida in recent history, the Paramount on the Bay Condominium in Miami is headed to auction.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 13 Apr 2011 09:42:42 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2011/04/12/paramount-on-the-bay-loses-foreclosure.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Judge orders locks removed from Boynton Beach condo's pool and clubhouse</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Quail Run condo owners in Boynton Beach on Tuesday gained access to their clubhouse, pool and other amenities after the master association changed the locks.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 13 Apr 2011 09:22:41 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/hbsdkz</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Naples neighbors targeted by religious hate crimes</title>
     <description><![CDATA[They believe someone in their gated Naples community could be to blame for the religious persecution. "It has to be somebody here, or somebody who has access," Michael says.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 13 Apr 2011 09:15:12 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/f8tmaw</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Communities of Excellence Awards recognize efforts to provide services for resid</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Does your association use Paypal to collect maintenance payments? Train residents to be emergency response volunteers in case of a hurricane strike? Or use a polished Website to keep owners informed about board meetings and post governing documents?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 13 Apr 2011 09:10:36 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-community-awards-condocol-0406-20110412,0,2490333.column</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Let me tell you about "Stuart’s Folly"</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Stu Fisher is the association president of Devon in Kings Point and this is the story of his pool lift.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 12 Apr 2011 13:15:51 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/04/let-me-tell-you-about-stuarts-folly.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Lines drawn in sand over Collier proposal to ensure public beach access</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Last spring, the Beach Tower at Moraya Bay ignited a firestorm when it marked off its beach and kept the public from using it. Angry beachgoers packed the County Commission chambers demanding the county fight back. Moraya Bay later reopened the beach.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 12 Apr 2011 13:09:27 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/dZTOK7</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>PCB condo fire under investigation</title>
     <description><![CDATA[An overnight fire at a condo near the intersection of Thomas Drive and Xavier Street destroyed one condo unit, but Bay County Fire and Rescue personnel were able to get the blaze under control before it spread to other units.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 12 Apr 2011 13:01:56 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.wjhg.com/news/headlines/PCB_condo_fire_under_investigation_119690384.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>On what grounds can condo board deny applicant?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: While interviewing possible tenants renting a condominium unit from an owner, can we legally deny the applicant? What if they have a felony on their background check?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 11 Apr 2011 10:19:01 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/law/os-community-living-041111-20110411,0,5347378.column</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Can directors party together?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. We have a nine-member board in our Cooperative. Several of our shareholders claim that anytime five or more of them are in a room together, it constitutes a board meeting.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 10 Apr 2011 19:02:38 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/04/10/2157382/can-directors-party-together.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Board email issue remains unsettled</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q:Is there a requirement to make available to unit owners copies of emails sent to all condominium board members discussing or seeking opinions on a topic that may or may not be voted upon at a future board meeting?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 10 Apr 2011 18:39:22 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20110409/COLUMNIST/110409458/0/NEWS</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Grease fire was the cause of an early morning condo fire</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Officials say a grease fire started when a homeowner was cooking french fires and fell asleep]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 09 Apr 2011 15:14:53 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/article/186171/8/Grease-fire-was-the-cause-of-an-early-morning-condo-fire</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>What Does the Recent Florida Supreme Court Cohn v. Grand Ruling Mean</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The Florida Supreme Court's recent holding in the Cohn v. Grand case has generated much ado. That's not to say that this case isn't significant: it is. Commentary that the legislature is now powerless in the arena of association policy, however, misconstrues the decision in this case.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 09 Apr 2011 14:50:58 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/401499/donna-dimaggio-berger-esq/2011-04-08/what-does-recent-florida-supreme-court-cohn</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: Can insurance company increase coverage and costs on unit?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. I own a condominium where the association provides insurance on the building. I also carry insurance on my unit. In past years I have had a value on my unit of $50,000. I have received a letter from the insurance company that they recommend that I increase the coverage]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 09 Apr 2011 14:34:18 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/apr/09/ricahrd-white-can-insurance-company-increase-cover/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>One Miami Condo Associations File To Foreclose 54 Units</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The condominium associations that operate the One Miami complex in Greater Downtown Miami have filed to foreclose against the owners of 54 units in the two-tower project, seeking more than $650,000 in past-due maintenance fees,]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 08 Apr 2011 15:30:18 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.condovultures.com/News/ViewArticle/tabid/77/ArticleId/23577/One-Miami-Condo-Associations-File-To-Foreclose-54-Units.aspx</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: Owner of larger condominium unit protests paying higher fees</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: We live in one of the larger units in our condominium building. Maintenance fees and special assessments are billed among owners on a square-footage basis; thus, we pay more than our neighbors living in smaller units.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 08 Apr 2011 10:41:02 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2011/apr/08/owner-of-larger-condominium-unit-protests-paying/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Aventura police are investigating theft of more than $500,000</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A former Aventura condominium manager is under investigation for the misappropriation of more than $500,000 from the condo association.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 08 Apr 2011 09:20:58 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/04/07/2156384_aventura-police-are-investigating.html#storylink=twtuser</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Residents React to Turkey Creek Golf Course Closing</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The neighborhood was built around the course and now that it's closed...many residents feel like they may now be stuck in a bunker.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 07 Apr 2011 10:02:11 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/giWZ9D</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Century Village condo attorney wants to settle emotional service dog case</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A little old lady named Phyllis Schleifer and her tiny Chihuahua, Sweetie, might be able to end their fight against their Century Village condo soon. They might even be able to live there with the official approval of their condo board.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 06 Apr 2011 20:00:17 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/broward/blog/2011/04/century_village_condo_attorney.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Aquaterra rates irk Heritage Harbour CDD</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Ramsey, among other residents of the Heritage Harbour South Community Development District, said he and other property owners in the community are being charged too much for irrigation water,]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 06 Apr 2011 19:39:00 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.yourobserver.com/news/east-county/Front-Page/0406201111196/Aquaterra-rates-irk-Heritage-Harbour-CDD</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Court ruling: New laws may not apply to your condo or HOA</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A new Florida Supreme Court ruling makes one thing crystal clear about new condominium and homeowners association laws: They may not apply to your community if your governing documents do not specify they are subject to Florida laws and contain the words "as amended from time to time" or similar language.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 06 Apr 2011 09:44:40 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2011-04-05/business/fl-new-condo-laws-condocol-20110405_1_condo-and-hoa-laws-delinquent-owners-new-laws</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Growing vegetables a victory for these Fort Pierce condo dwellers</title>
     <description><![CDATA[During World War II, many Americans planted "Victory Gardens" to do their part for the war effort. While Americans are no longer fighting the Axis powers, they are fighting high prices, which is why one Treasure Coast resident has revived the victory garden concept.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 06 Apr 2011 09:31:47 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2011/apr/05/growing-vegetables-a-victory-for-these-fort/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Marco Island City Council: Seawall ordinance lags behind technology</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Marco Island’s seawall ordinance is as clear as a bell to Bob Mahar, the city’s building services official, but to petitioners from Tropical Isles condominium at 845 Collier Court, it appeared as clear as mud.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 05 Apr 2011 16:47:05 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/apr/05/city-council-seawall-ordinance-lags-behind-technol/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>As if we didn’t have enough problems</title>
     <description><![CDATA[I listened to Eric Glazer’s program Sunday to learn more about the latest headache for associations. E-mails had been alerting us to the Florida Supreme Court’s decision about new association laws as they apply to existing documents.  Great, just what we need…another problem.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 05 Apr 2011 12:25:13 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/fJFI1h</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>God versus man on the beach</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The battle of Singer Island's beach is but one skirmish in a broader war to stop natural forces from thinning sands along the East and Gulf coasts. It is a war without an exit strategy, for every engineering trick humankind tries either doesn't do much or makes the problem worse ---- and always at great taxpayer expense.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 05 Apr 2011 10:14:25 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/gGs1eH</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Florida Communities of Excellence Awards Names Turnberry Ocean Colony and Island</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Turnberry Ocean Colony in Sunny Isles Beach, and IslandWalk of Naples received top honors in the 2011 Florida Communities of Excellence Awards sponsored by the Florida Community Association Journal and the law firm of Becker & Poliakoff. The awards recognize communities from across the state for achievements that benefit residents, enhance property values and contribute to the quality of life in Florida.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 04 Apr 2011 14:35:13 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42417627</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Failed asphalt mix a mess for Wellington residents</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The problems stem from a mile of 50th Street South in Wellington's Equestrian Preserve that was unpaved for several decades, but in autumn got a coat of asphalt millings]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:12:29 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/eAAlCf</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo Line: Harassers affecting sale of unit</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. I lived in a condominium that I purchased two years ago. Due to harassment by my neighbors and the board, it became necessary for me and my family to relocate. I have placed the unit on the market with a real estate agent.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 03 Apr 2011 12:12:15 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/04/03/2143576/harassers-affecting-sale-of-unit.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Short sale defined, association implications outlined</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: What is a short sale and how does such a transaction affect an association's entitlement to unpaid assessments?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 03 Apr 2011 11:54:32 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/g4vj3Y</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title><![CDATA[Q&A: Behind-the-scenes condo election]]></title>
     <description><![CDATA[recently attended my condominium association annual meeting, during which the annual director election results were announced. After the members' meeting was adjourned and before the organizational board meeting was called to order, many of us owners noticed the new board members and the manager huddled together. This seemed strange.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 03 Apr 2011 11:51:43 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20110402/ARTICLE/110409904/2055/WIRE?Title=Q-A-Behind-the-scenes-condo-election</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Fed-up judges crack down on foreclosure disorder in courts</title>
     <description><![CDATA[White said a smattering of "maverick" judges began poking holes in foreclosures years ago before the media and lawmakers seized on problems in the fall. The judicial momentum has built since then.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 03 Apr 2011 11:49:22 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/h5svpG</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Make it green: Landscaping effects much broader than you will ever fathom</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Questions from Home Owner Association (HOA) volunteers often reveal a poor understanding about the charged task. Sometimes, the mindset is "How hard could it be? It’s just landscaping!"]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 02 Apr 2011 14:05:42 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/g6hqfZ</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Rob Samouce: New condo directors have 90 days to sign certification papers</title>
     <description><![CDATA[You just got elected to the board at your condominium association’s annual meeting. You are all fired up and ready to give it your best.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 02 Apr 2011 13:59:59 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/emp6fa</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Pets - Emotional support animals</title>
     <description><![CDATA[I am a pet lover and cannot conceive of living without them.    I still tend to believe the claims of health benefits of having pets.    The studies that Donna Berger mentioned in her previous blog are intriguing but not definitive]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 02 Apr 2011 13:50:55 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/gY3rnt</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: How are condominium fees calculated?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. We have been staying in Florida for the past two winters. When we are here we sometimes look at condominiums that we are thinking about buying. The biggest obstacle we have are the fees]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 02 Apr 2011 13:47:14 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/apr/02/richard-white-how-are-condominium-fees-calculated/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Resident in condo building living with major mold issue for nearly a year</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A Collier County condo with so much mold it can be seen through the windows from the street! The county wants it cleaned up and so do neighbors who say it's hurting their health, but now there's a fight over who should pay.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 02 Apr 2011 12:01:49 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/gR56Wq</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Adverse possession claims surging in Florida</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Imagine walking into your home and someone else was sitting inside saying they are taking it over. That's what's happening to thousands of people across the state. All the person has to do is pay your taxes and you could be put out.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 02 Apr 2011 12:00:22 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://on.msnbc.com/eQzJpe</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>County Sues Condo Over Prescription Pet</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Phyllis Schleifer claims she can't live without her Chihuahua, Sweetie, and now Broward taxpayers will soon learn just how far she is willing to go to keep the dog.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 01 Apr 2011 16:57:56 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/County-Sues-Condo-Over-Prescription-Pet-119073199.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Check rules on the use of golf carts</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Dear Poliakoffs: Assume that a private gated community in Wellington has an agreement for traffic control jurisdiction between the village and the homeowners association, approved by the village council. Does the sheriff then have to enforce golf cart laws under this agreement?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 01 Apr 2011 11:12:44 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/real-estate/check-rules-on-the-use-of-golf-carts-1364362.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Former vice mayor of Fort Lauderdale arraigned on corruption charges</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The services were provided by subcontractors who worked on the La Preserve and Georgian Oaks developments in Fort Lauderdale, which were built by Glenn Wright and Stephen Goldstrom.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 31 Mar 2011 11:33:28 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/fort-lauderdale/fl-cindi-hutchinson-arraignment-20110330,0,4773522.story</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>HOA Wants Kids Banned From Playing Outside</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A Central Florida homeowners association is preparing to vote on banning children from playing outside.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 31 Mar 2011 10:50:57 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/g8zsHa</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Now we return to the reality of fiscal survival</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Our  members are delighted that we’ve succeeded in our battle on HB 5005. The e-mails have been flying back and forth, sharing congratulations. So many people worked so intensely and expected to keep working all session that we’re giddy with the realization that it’s a monitoring process from here on.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 29 Mar 2011 21:50:02 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/dXueVK</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Bills turn up heat on delinquent condo owners</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Nearly midway through Florida's legislative session, condominium owners, board members and advocates are closely watching how lawmakers act — or don't — on bills that aim to help community associations deal with the state's foreclosure crisis and turn up the heat on delinquent owners.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 29 Mar 2011 21:36:23 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-condo-legislation-condocol-20110329,0,6936627.column</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Hundreds of problems found at troubled Orlando condo complex</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A team of Orlando inspectors went door-to-door in the hardscrabble Catalina Isles condominiums this morning, finding squalid living conditions and hundreds of code violations.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 29 Mar 2011 12:13:13 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/os-catalina-city-code-tour-20110329,0,4457685.story</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Code officers to check crumbling condos</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Orlando building inspectors are expected to swoop into a collection of crumbling condos near Interstate 4 today to determine if the damage is so extensive that residents need to leave.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 29 Mar 2011 09:06:23 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/hJuWE4</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Fort Lauderdale’s little secret: Condo market is quite healthy</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Downtown Fort Lauderdale and the Beach have a healthy little condo secret that few people seem to realize: Inventory is limited]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 28 Mar 2011 11:23:50 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/gjaEsx</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condominium Law: Associations don't impose residency rules</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: At a recent homeowners' association meeting, a member stated that directors are not eligible if they are not American citizens, or if they do not reside in the United States for more than half of the year.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 28 Mar 2011 11:08:48 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20110327/COLUMNISTS16/103270327/1014/BUSINESS/Condominium-Law-Associations-don-t-impose-residency-rules</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Kids' lemonade stand curtailed by their homeowners association</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Deep within the heart of a seemingly idyllic North Palm Beach neighborhood, something sinister lurks.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 28 Mar 2011 11:06:19 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/heCXvQ</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Community Living: Can condo board donate member funds to charity?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: Our board approved a donation to a local charity. The item was approved at a board meeting where it was not an agenda item, but added at the last minute. While I think it was a good and noble gesture, I question if the action was proper. Can you point me to any document that covers this action?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 28 Mar 2011 10:57:07 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/law/os-community-living-032811-20110328,0,3180103.column</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Suntree fire suspicious</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The cause of the fire is not yet known, but authorities consider it suspicious and are investigating, said Jeff Taylor, spokesman for Brevard County Fire-Rescue.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 27 Mar 2011 11:41:55 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110327/NEWS01/103270318/Suntree-fire-suspicious</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Freedom of speech clashes with neighbors</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q:I read your column every Sunday because my spouse is on the board of directors, and I am on the steering committee, in our condo community of 434 units.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 27 Mar 2011 11:40:28 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20110326/COLUMNIST/110329510/-1/news?Title=Freedom-of-speech-clashes-with-neighbors</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo Line: Owner refuses inspection for leak</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. Two units have evidence of water seepage, causing a mold problem. The owner of the top unit refuses to allow the board inside to inspect. He claims the leak comes from the roof and is the association’s responsibility to repair.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 27 Mar 2011 11:37:23 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/03/27/2132252/owner-refuses-inspection-for-leak.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Fire rages near homes in Suntree neighborhood</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Brevard County Fire-Rescue crews are at the scene of a fast-burning brush fire in preserve area behind the St. Andrews Isle subdivision in Suntree.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 26 Mar 2011 16:59:51 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/eRCPtv</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Synagogue ousted from condo unit</title>
     <description><![CDATA[After a crowded, tumultuous hearing on Wednesday, Special Magistrate Carolyn Ansay ruled that Mr. Feder’s use of the spare condo as a synagogue violated the zoning code. She gave him 30 days to end that use or face a $100 a day fine.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 25 Mar 2011 19:58:15 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/hyDcWv</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Quail Run condo owners remain locked out of pool, clubhouse</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Nearly 100 condo owners from the Quail Run development in Boynton Beach remain shut out of their pool, clubhouse and other amenities following a Friday hearing before Circuit Court Judge Timothy McCarthy.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 25 Mar 2011 19:51:42 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/hQDk6s</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>State offers free seminars about condo rules</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Want to learn more about condo regulations? The state Department of Business and Professional Regulation will have free educational seminars about condominium financial reporting and the complaint process.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 25 Mar 2011 17:04:31 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/seminole/os-brief6-this-just-in-032711-20110325,0,6554448.story</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Couple struggles to cope in condo still damaged from ’05 hurricanes</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A Miami couple is suing the condo board at Parc Vista Condominiums, saying the association has failed to fix hurricane-damaged roofs and caused homeowners to walk away from their properties.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 25 Mar 2011 16:54:26 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/hLEiqq</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Attorneys use new laws to help associations land softly</title>
     <description><![CDATA[South Florida attorneys who represent community associations are seeing continued stress and foreclosures, but many say condos and subdivisions are stabilizing.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 25 Mar 2011 11:36:30 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/e8ebSd</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: Board members need not refrain from socializing to avoid quorum c</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q:We have a nine-member board in our cooperative. Several of our shareholders claim that any time five or more of them are in a room together, it constitutes a board meeting. If it is not posted ahead of time, it violates the statutes.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 25 Mar 2011 11:14:50 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2011/mar/24/board-members-need-not-refrain-from-socializing/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Grieving widow fights condo board to keep pet</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A South Florida pet owner who also lost her best friend found victory after her condo board said her dog had to go.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 25 Mar 2011 09:55:22 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/fnPhKF</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Housing numbers can be deceiving. What can you read into them?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[In the past week, there have been several different surveys released detailing the housing market nationally, as well as in South Florida. These surveys have vastly different interpretations of the current marketplace, but in the end it all boils down to one thing; the economy still stinks!]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 24 Mar 2011 20:32:50 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.examiner.com/hoa-in-west-palm-beach/housing-numbers-can-be-deceiving-what-can-you-read-into-them?fb_comment=31223501</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Move to shut down Division of Condominiums, deregulate CAMS derailed</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A state House committee on Thursday struck down controversial provisions of a sweeping deregulation bill that critics said would gut laws governing oversight of condo community association managers, end Florida’s condo-dispute arbitration system and eliminate the Office of the Condominium Ombudsman.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 24 Mar 2011 15:19:21 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/03/move-to-shut-down-division-of-condominiums-deregulate-community-association-managers-has-been-officially-derailed.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>A well-informed and organized group of Floridians can make a difference</title>
     <description><![CDATA[On the 13th day of the 2011 Florida Legislative Session, House leaders proposed draconian deregulation measures for Condominiums, Cooperatives, Timeshares, Mobile homes, as well as Homeowners’ Association and Community Association Managers. Almost two weeks after the deadline to file legislation, legislators bypassed standard procedural rules and attempted to fast track these changes using special budget rules.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 24 Mar 2011 12:01:32 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/401499/donna-dimaggio-berger-esq/2011-03-24/well-informed-and-organized-group</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Holley by the Sea board takes resident to court</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Dan Ramsey’s problems with the Holley by the Sea Homeowner’s Association started a year ago when he wanted to comply with the covenants and provide a place for his boat alongside his home]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 24 Mar 2011 11:14:58 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://navarrepress.com/news/13/3163-holley-by-the-sea-board-takes-resident-to-court</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>10-day notice needed to cancel foreclosures in Broward</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Homeowner association boards have complained about delays in the foreclosure process. Lenders have to pay the past-due assessments once they take title to a property, reducing the boards' financial shortfalls.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 23 Mar 2011 09:54:59 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/business/realestate/housekeys/blog/2011/03/tenday_notice_needed_to_cancel_1.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Palm Beach County rejects breakwaters aimed at protecting beaches</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Rock walls proposed to slow beach erosion posed too great a threat to sea turtles, and potentially too high a cost for taxpayers, Palm Beach County commissioners decided on Tuesday.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 22 Mar 2011 19:51:35 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/fl-beach-erosion-palm-20110322,0,5773060,full.story</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>County kills Singer Island breakwater project, siding with environmentalists</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Palm Beach County commissioners killed a controversial proposal Tuesday to build a series of breakwaters off of Singer Island intended to buffer its beach from eroding.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 22 Mar 2011 19:08:41 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/county-kills-singer-island-breakwater-project-siding-with-1339289.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Judgment sends West Palm Beach condo ruins to auction</title>
     <description><![CDATA[What remains of the demolished 1515 Tower in West Palm Beach is heading to auction following a $39 million foreclosure judgment against the developer.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 22 Mar 2011 19:04:10 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/e1xVmh</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>HB 5005 would open Florida to abuses from the past</title>
     <description><![CDATA[My rabbi in Ohio, where we lived before moving to Florida, asked our class, "Why these Ten Commandments?" Our spirited discussion led us to the answer: Because it’s what the people were doing at the time.  The Commandments spoke to the existing evils.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 22 Mar 2011 11:52:31 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/fxtviL</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Bill targets condo regulations, ombudsman</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A new Florida bill seeks to deregulate condo community association managers and dismantle the state's arbitration system for settling owner and board disputes out of court.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 22 Mar 2011 11:46:53 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/realestate/fl-deregulation-condocol-20110322,0,3525240.column</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Have patience, TV viewers, ‘digital migration' may cause angry outbursts</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Other Kings Isle board presidents echoed many of Babbitt's points. Every homeowner association is different; they each have separate contracts with Comcast, some of which date back to the days when the provider was called Adelphia.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 22 Mar 2011 11:10:07 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2011/mar/21/anthony-westbury-have-patience-tv-viewers-may/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Where will the funds in the Division Trust Fund go?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[I just received verification that the current cash balance in the Division Trust Fund as of Friday, March 18, 2011, is $9,802,864.06.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 21 Mar 2011 19:40:34 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/401499/donna-dimaggio-berger-esq/2011-03-21/where-will-funds-division-trust-fund-go</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Should Florida dump the Office of the Condominium Ombudsman?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A new Florida bill proposes to do away with more government services, including the closure of the Office of the Condominium Ombudsman, the agency dedicated to assisting and educating condo owners and boards about the law]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 21 Mar 2011 10:34:35 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/fBWhWk</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Current statutes trump original documents</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: Our condominium was built in 1978 and our documents have never been changed. Over the years we have followed the statute that was dated the same as our documents. Now we have been informed that we need to make changes to comply with the current statutes. Some of these changes will conflict with our documents. What is the correct action?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 21 Mar 2011 09:37:50 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/law/os-community-living-032111-20110321,0,5216306.column</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Sweet deal on foreclosed Sarasota condo turns sour for investor</title>
     <description><![CDATA[But two years later, the seemingly super deal on the foreclosure has left Isaac mired in a bitter legal battle with a bank, and suddenly in a familiar position for property owners in Southwest Florida.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 20 Mar 2011 16:04:52 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20110320/ARTICLE/110329988/2416/?tc=ar</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>First Coast condo sellers finding it hard to move on</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Jacksonville-area condominiums, already battered by values that have fallen to rock bottom, are being clobbered by loan restrictions that effectively freeze sales in many complexes that have been hardest hit by the economic downturn.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 20 Mar 2011 15:58:20 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/eeFis6</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Owners caught between rock, hard place over lawn</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: I live in a large manufactured home community. Lawn cutting and recycled water for lawn watering are provided by our maintenance fees.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 20 Mar 2011 15:23:35 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20110320/COLUMNISTS16/103200324/1014/BUSINESS/Owners-caught-between-rock-hard-place-over-lawn</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>South Florida's fading retirement communities key to demographic changes</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The panicky exodus from American cities in the 1960s and 70s as blacks and Hispanics moved in has nothing in common with the changes to South Florida communities revealed in the 2010 census.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 19 Mar 2011 16:22:45 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/hxeS3J</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: Vote cannot be recalled or changed after final verified count</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. I belong to a condominium association that holds an annual owners meeting as required. Under unfinished business, a director brought up a vote that had been taken at a previous board meeting]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 19 Mar 2011 14:58:50 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/mar/19/richard-white-vote-cannot-be-recalled-or-changed-a/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo residents don't see eye to eye on blocked lakefront view</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Invasive weeds need to be cleared out, but other residents not on lakefront see no need to spend $100,000]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 18 Mar 2011 18:12:30 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/eXq7kX</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Should Florida dump the Office of the Condominium Ombudsman?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A new Florida bill proposes to do away with more government services, including the closure of the Office of the Condominium Ombudsman, the agency dedicated to assisting and educating condo owners and boards about the law. The bill also seeks to shut down the Division of Florida Condominiums, Timeshares and Mobile Homes.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 18 Mar 2011 15:34:17 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/03/should-florida-dump-the-office-of-the-condominium-ombudsman.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Downtown PAC wants voting booths in condos</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Action PAC, the downtown political action committee that’s trying to increase downtown voter turnout, saw an increase in turnout in last week’s mayoral election. But president Katherine Waldron believes the downtown condo voters would come out in droves if they had voting booths in their lobbies]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 18 Mar 2011 13:22:10 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/fQBQ3l</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>St. Petersburg Condo Fire</title>
     <description><![CDATA[St. Pete Fire Rescue spent part of the morning at an electrical fire at the Point Brittany Condominiums on Brittany Drive South off 54th Avenue South]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 18 Mar 2011 11:15:40 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.wtsp.com/news/article/181780/8/Condo-residents-evacuated-due-to-fire</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White:reader asks how to compare fees for different condos</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Are the fees in Florida based on occupancy or square footage or some other criteria? We have looked at some nice places where the fees are $350 or $400 per month. Then we talk to people we meet who live in mobile home developments who are charged more than $400.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 18 Mar 2011 11:02:51 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2011/mar/18/port-st-lucie-reader-asks-how-to-compare-fees/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Fort Lauderdale developer pleads no contest to theft charge</title>
     <description><![CDATA[developer Glenn Wright pleaded no contest Thursday to stealing $20,000 from a city homeowners association.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:12:54 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/eDpb01</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Countryway residents stage a coup after brouhaha over money, management</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A monthslong battle over control of one of north Hillsborough's bedroom communities ended this week with a coup.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 17 Mar 2011 11:22:21 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/gV1JeG</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Electing a condominium board</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: I'm new to living in a condominium and all the talk around the pool seems to be about the upcoming election of the board. What is this about?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 16 Mar 2011 12:57:53 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com/page/content.detail/id/522957.html?nav=5005</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Manatee addresses irrigation concerns</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Residents in the Mill Creek 7 Homeowners Association are concerned a recent problem with the pressure of irrigation water may mean more serious issues in the future.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 16 Mar 2011 12:37:12 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.yourobserver.com/news/east-county/Front-Page/0316201110802/Manatee-addresses-irrigation-concerns</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Burglars hitting gated communities in Parkland</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The Parkland officials said there have been 12 burglaries in the last two weeks carried out by criminals targeting affluent communities in the late afternoon and early evening hours]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 15 Mar 2011 21:09:22 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/ejZnjE</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Fliers at condo complex take aim at Sunrise police chief</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The Sunrise police chief was investigated by the State Attorney's Office last year after an anonymous letter accused him of halting the DUI arrest of a friend of a city commissioner.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 15 Mar 2011 16:09:00 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/ihzZAx</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>New Florida-Friendly Landscaping(TM) Class Available for CAM's</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The University of Florida/IFAS Extension today announced that "Florida-Friendly Landscaping™: What it Means to Your Community," offering two hours of continuing education credit to licensed Community Association Managers, will be presented for the first time]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 15 Mar 2011 10:59:54 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.pr-inside.com/new-florida-friendly-landscaping-tm-class-r2476928.htm</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Boca Raton police launch citywide police surveillance network</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Daniel Gewartowski, board member of the Glen Oaks Homeowners Association in Boca Raton, said he welcomes the idea and hopes police hook up to the two new surveillance cameras that monitor the community entrance and exit.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 14 Mar 2011 19:05:36 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/gal0YM</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>New bill could eliminate the Divi of FL Condominiums-Mgr regulation</title>
     <description><![CDATA[I was fortunate to be invited as a guest last week at the Broward Workshop’s State of the County address where Governor Rick Scott was the keynote speaker. Governor Scott talked about running our State the way a CEO would run a successful company. As such, he talked about eliminating non-productive assets or services that he does not see as being core functions of the State as well as controlling costs]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 14 Mar 2011 10:20:54 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/eaKl4P</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Insurance not an option if condo is in flood zone</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: My condo association dropped its flood insurance. They are suggesting owners purchase their own insurance. What are we to do about this and how can we get the association to pick the policy back up?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 14 Mar 2011 09:32:18 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/law/os-community-living-031411-20110314,0,6789174.column</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo Line: Clothes drying may have restrictions</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. Is it legal to ban the drying of towels or clothes on a rack on a balcony? Our condominium association is thinking of doing this.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 13 Mar 2011 18:40:59 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/03/13/2108320/clothes-drying-may-have-restrictions.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Seagate, Pelican Bay resume effort to resolve Clam Bay marker dispute</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The question of navigational markers in the North Naples estuary has pitted the neighborhoods of Seagate, which has boating access to the Gulf of Mexico through Clam Bay, and Pelican Bay.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 13 Mar 2011 16:14:16 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/mar/12/clam-pass-seagate-pelican-bay-foundation-markers/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condominium Law: Pools a hot topic for community associations</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: The board of directors of our condominium association recently informed us that we will have to upgrade/retrofit our swimming pool to meet new standards, and the cost is very expensive. Is there some sort of grandfathering for our pool?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 13 Mar 2011 15:27:17 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20110313/COLUMNISTS16/103130324/Condominium-Law-Pools-hot-topic-community-associations</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: Condo owner refuses access to inspect leak between units</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The unit above one of the units refuses to allow the board to inspect his unit. He claims that the leak comes from the roof and that it is the association's responsibility to make the repairs. We have had a formal inspection of the roof that did not report any leakage.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 12 Mar 2011 12:57:54 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2011/mar/12/richard-white-condo-owner-refuses-access-to-leak/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Cape Canaveral fire at condo complex ruled 'accidental'</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A Thursday night fire that left one Cape Canaveral resident displaced and caused at least $25,000 in damages to a condominium unit, has been ruled as accidental, fire officials report.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 11 Mar 2011 20:43:44 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110311/NEWS03/110311012/0/SPORTS07/Cape-Canaveral-fire-condo-complex-ruled-accidental-?odyssey=nav|head</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>HOAs' right to acquire property a law born of compromise</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Dear Poliakoffs: Your column is a godsend to those of us living in planned communities, and I depend on it to keep me updated on the ever-evolving legislation that affects the daily lives of our community. For this reason, I was appalled to read that the legislature passed an amendment to the Homeowners' Association Act during the 2010 legislative session which grants a homeowners' association the right]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 11 Mar 2011 20:39:58 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/real-estate/hoas-right-to-acquire-property-a-law-born-1314132.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Department of Mars: Condo Association Forecloses BEFORE Bank</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Once upon a time there was a condo unit slipping into foreclosure.  The owner had a $400,000 mortgage with SunTrust, a $180,000 second mortgage with CitiFinancial, and dues owed to the Condominium Association.  SunTrust began foreclosure proceedings, but it was the Condo Association that came up with the goods.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 11 Mar 2011 20:38:23 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/401084/rusty-collins/2011-03-11/department-mars-condo-association-forecloses-bank</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Live in a condo community or HOA? Learn about the law, for free</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Your best bet at living a comfortable life within a condominium or homeowners community begins with understanding your legal rights and responsibilities under state law. And what better way than finding a free education?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 11 Mar 2011 20:04:55 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/03/live-in-a-condo-community-or-hoa-learn-about-the-law.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Lawn care workers can't hide from pain at the pump</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The price of gas is shooting up like a weed, which means the price you pay for mowing that weed may also be going up.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 10 Mar 2011 12:34:16 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/gk1pJM</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Weston garden to continue to grow - for now</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A Weston resident at odds with her homeowners association’s request that she remove fruit trees and a vegetable garden growing in her backyard, will have some extra time to keep her organic garden growing.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 10 Mar 2011 11:10:48 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/ewiRDO</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Weston homeowner fights to protect her garden</title>
     <description><![CDATA[But the homeowners association where she lives has ordered Becerra to remove her fruit trees and the raised beds of vegetables and herbs growing in her backyard - or face paying $100 a day in fines.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 08 Mar 2011 21:20:28 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/f83S0V</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Plants hoarding water as CO2 rises, study finds</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Florida's vegetation has changed its structure over the last century in response to rising atmospheric carbon dioxide and ecologists see the change as a plant-based call-to-arms, heralding dry times to come.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 08 Mar 2011 17:23:33 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://on.msnbc.com/hefQrx</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Tear Down That Wall!</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The law says you can't block pedestrians, even if they're criminals.  HOA walls a problem]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 08 Mar 2011 17:22:42 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/hP70ze</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Community associations: Follow permit laws, or it could come back to haunt you</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Maybe the “sins of the fathers (and/or mothers)” is the best way to describe how what a board does to take shortcuts or sidestep procedures affects subsequent boards. Take for example this experience told to me  in response to a request we sent out asking members to  recommend companies that have provided good results for their associations]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 08 Mar 2011 15:16:15 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/h7GjZG</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Who's responsible for cable TV fee hikes? and other questions</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Who is responsible for paying cable TV fee hikes, the owner or the homeowners association? If your condominium association hasn't held an election in three years, what should be done? Is an HOA or condo board required to collect competitive bids on big contracts?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 08 Mar 2011 11:33:33 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/fYU84r</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Homeowners group urges community center referendum</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The time may not be right, financially, for an expanded $6 million Mackle Park community center, in the opinion of some Marco Island residents.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 07 Mar 2011 19:27:12 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.marcoislandflorida.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110307/MARCONEWS/103030326/1075/Homeowners-group-urges-community-center-referendum</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo Complex's HOA Cited After Fire</title>
     <description><![CDATA[An Orange County condo complex that caught on fire is now in trouble with the fire marshal. The Village Condominiums didn't have working fire extinguishers when a fire trapped five children in one of the units on Saturday. The homeowner's association has been cited as a result.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 07 Mar 2011 19:14:32 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/gxp2TB</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>‘The Wizard of PIC’</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Everyone who has been on Longboat Key for any length of time knows about the Public Interest Committee of Longboat Key or PIC.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 07 Mar 2011 14:38:38 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.lbknews.com/2011/03/07/%E2%80%98the-wizard-of-pic%E2%80%99/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Florida legislature to consider new real estate laws</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The 2011 Florida legislative session kicks off Tuesday, and several housing and real estate-releated measures will be considered by lawmakers. Homeowners insurance, foreclosure fraud and condo association fees will take center stage.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 07 Mar 2011 11:11:37 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/gkee0h</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condominium Law: Legal action may be owners' only recourse</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: I live in a "55 and over" community. The developer still controls the association and because of the bad economy, he is selling units to people under the age of 55. In addition, we have restrictions limiting pets, and the developer has allowed new owners to move in with dogs. Are we protected in any way by law?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 06 Mar 2011 17:41:03 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20110306/COLUMNISTS16/103060327/1076/RSS08/Condominium-Law-Legal-action-may-owners-only-recourse?odyssey=mod_sectionstories</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Mans runs into burning condo to rescue kids</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A neighbor rushed in to save several children who were still inside a burning condo.The fire broke out early Saturday morning at Village Condo Complex on Dolomite Drive]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 05 Mar 2011 15:20:56 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.cfnews13.com/article/news/2011/march/215019/Mans-runs-into-burning-condo-to-rescue-kids</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>St. Lucie County prepared to weather a firestorm</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Cooler temps, lower humidity and high winds add up to a combustible situation, for the Walden Woods community in Port St. Lucie.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 05 Mar 2011 11:11:21 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/region_st_lucie_county/st.-lucie-county-prepared-to-weather-a-firestorm---</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Group not cooperating with $1.5M beach renourishment project</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A badly eroding Collier beach is getting renourished at a cost of $1.5-million taxdollars. But that money spent could wash away if one condo association doesn't agree to work with the county.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 05 Mar 2011 11:02:26 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41915375</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>HOA a mess, file lawsuit to ensure rights are protected</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Dear Poliakoffs: Our HOA was mandatory until a year ago, when the then board decided (without a vote) to make it voluntary, although I can find no paperwork. The by-laws were never changed]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 05 Mar 2011 11:01:40 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/hoa-a-mess-file-lawsuit-to-ensure-rights-1142454.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Community living: Board can't change late fees on a whim</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: How much can the condominium charge as a late fee? If the documents show one amount, do the documents have to be changed or can it be done at a board meeting?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 05 Mar 2011 10:51:48 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/realestate/community-living-board-cant-change-late-fees-on-a-whim/1154987</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: Change in policies should be communicated to owners</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. In a recent article you answered a question where owners have the right to talk at board meetings for three minutes. You answered that the board should establish a policy regarding how a member can request to talk.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 05 Mar 2011 10:48:58 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/mar/05/richard-white-change-policies-should-be-communicat/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Rob Samouce: Is it time to trade in those old condo or HOA governing documents?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[You know how it is. Some of you have been keeping that old friend family car around way past its warranty. The new car payments have long since been paid and you have paying for expensive repairs now and then to try to stretch out its use before you finally decide to trade in the reliable old clunker for a new ride.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 05 Mar 2011 10:44:21 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/i2xwmV</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>City shuts down late night events at Upper Eastside American Legion post</title>
     <description><![CDATA[On March 4, Bayside Homeowners Association President Louis Bordeau sent an email to city staff, asking them to take action.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 05 Mar 2011 10:23:51 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/03/04/2097220/city-to-meet-with-uppereastside.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Should Florida condo and HOA laws be more equal?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Sure, there are a lot of major differences between condominium and homeowners communities, but isn’t there more room for more parity when it comes to how Florida law treats these shared communities?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 04 Mar 2011 10:48:18 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/gaqo2V</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White:Policies are roadmaps for assns,but boards can't overlook communic</title>
     <description><![CDATA[There have been numerous times when our boards have created policies. However, other than recording that in the minutes of the board meeting, they are not recorded or posted for the members' information. Should they be recorded elsewhere?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 04 Mar 2011 10:37:47 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/f8VQX0</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Longboat real estate brokerage sues condo investors</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Cityscapes International Realty Group of Longboat Key has filed suit against vulture investors who purchased 72 condo units out of foreclosure at the Bel Mare complex on Riviera Dunes]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 03 Mar 2011 14:31:46 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/hmCoEe</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo's turmoil over makeshift synagogue spills over at code enforcement hearing</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A Jewish civil war brewing in Century Village took a road trip Wednesday afternoon to a Palm Beach County code enforcement hearing room, turning what is normally a sleepy venue of mostly empty seats into a mob scene of agitated retirees who tested both the limits of the building's fire code and each other's patience.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 03 Mar 2011 10:28:34 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/hy0NaY</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Rot of Biltmore causes Belleair to talk of injunction</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Community members attended the session to air grievances over $41,000 in unpaid homeowners association fees, some of which date to the hotel's previous owners.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 02 Mar 2011 21:16:28 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/rot-of-biltmore-causes-belleair-to-talk-of-injunction/1154864</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo Column: Condos can't cut off utilities, but is cable TV a utilty?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Dear Poliakoffs: We live in a 47-unit condo in Palm Beach County. One of the owners has not paid for maintenance in 10 months. The association pays the water and cable. Can the association under Florida condo law shut off the unit water and cable for nonpayment of maintenance after notification?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 02 Mar 2011 20:37:44 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/real-estate/condo-column-condos-cant-cut-off-utilities-but-1293330.html?cxtype=rss_51226</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Ruptured gas line forces Satellite Beach condo evacuation</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Residents of the Las Olas Beach Club Resort condominium evacuated the five-story building in Satellite Beach after flames ignited when a 2-inch gas line ruptured.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 02 Mar 2011 18:43:35 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/g7eLjN</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Unstable HOAs-What You Need To Know Before You Buy-Tampa, Fl</title>
     <description><![CDATA[For Tampa Bay area home and condo buyers, it’s important to know that many homeowners associations (called HOAs) are in trouble financially, which might affect your purchase.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 02 Mar 2011 18:36:54 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://thetamparealestateinsider.com/home-owners-associations/unstable-hoas-what-you-need-to-know-before-you-buy-tampa-fl/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo developer accuses bank and real estate brokerage of libel and slander</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Sarasota developer Larry Lieberman has filed a lawsuit against Compass Bank and Colliers International South Florida, alleging the bank and real estate brokerage sullied his reputation by posting documents on the Web suggesting that a multi-million dollar loan used to develop the Savannah Preserve condo complex in University Park was non-performing.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 02 Mar 2011 12:30:44 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/gjgksC</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Control of Regatta Bay taken away from developers, given to homeowners</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Peter Bos says that "an avoidable mistake" made years ago is the reason why control of Regatta Bay is now being transferred from the developers hands to the homeowners.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 02 Mar 2011 10:14:51 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/gX0gP0</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Fort Lauderdale plans moratorium on controversial mega-developments</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The city plans to ban developers for up to a year from using controversial land-use regulations at the heart of recent proposed mega-developments.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 01 Mar 2011 20:50:43 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/fl-lauderdale-development-ban-20110301,0,4149569.story</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Dania condo residents upset over code inspections</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Dania Beach condo residents are wrestling with code enforcement issues after a city inspection of more than 500 units.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 01 Mar 2011 15:58:29 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/eqU8iK</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Boards should work with property managers, vendors, not for them</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The relationships between the board and the professionals they engage can be the difference between solvency and struggle. Good companies and good boards put the interests of the association first, using best practices in all areas.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 01 Mar 2011 12:16:44 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/e4a940</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Should delinquent condo owners lose Internet, TV service?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Fail to pay your Florida condominium association maintenance fees long enough and you may soon find yourself without Internet and TV service.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 01 Mar 2011 11:21:14 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/realestate/condos/fl-cable-tv-condocol-20110301,0,194313.column</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Joining club not optional at Estero's Vines</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The gated community, sandwiched between San Carlos Park and Estero, overwhelmingly supported a measure Monday that requires all new homebuyers to purchase a membership to its country club.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 01 Mar 2011 11:01:07 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011103010398</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Bullying Between Senior Citizens Often Goes Unnoticed</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Rohr, 67, believes the abuse is often organizational - from members of elected boards, like a homeowners’ association.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 28 Feb 2011 11:56:44 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/e37gjd</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Community Living: Who pays for maintenance on vacant homes?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: We have several vacant homes in our single-family home development. Over the years, the neighbors have been maintaining the outside - cutting the grass and trimming the shrubs]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 28 Feb 2011 10:50:42 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/law/os-community-living-delinquent-funds-20110228,0,2615772.column</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Association Wins Battle Against Bank-</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Interesting case reported from Southwest Florida appeal. The mortgage lender filed a lawsuit attempting to foreclose a mortgage.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 27 Feb 2011 15:53:26 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/fVi8n1</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Blogs provide an effective way for communicating complex HOA issues simply</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Former Lawyer turned author, Ryan Poliakoff has started a new project called PoliaKoff on Condo & Hoa Living, a blog dedicated to the latest laws, regulations and issues affecting Condominiums, HOAs and Co-ops throughout the United States]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 27 Feb 2011 14:47:32 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://exm.nr/geBmiH</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condominium Law: Don't vote where conflict of interest exists</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: I am on the board of directors of our condominium association. My husband works for the management company that we hired to oversee our community. I vote on the contracts and any increase in pay for services they provide. Can I do this under state law?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 27 Feb 2011 14:16:11 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20110227/COLUMNISTS16/102270326/1014/business/Condominium-Law-Don-t-vote-where-conflict-interest-exists</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Who pays for the party?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q:Our condominium board of directors purchases food and decorations for parties it throws for owners, seasonal renters and guests and treats the costs as an appropriate use of association funds]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 27 Feb 2011 14:15:31 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20110227/ARTICLE/110229592/2055/NEWS?Title=Who-pays-for-the-party-</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo Line: Should directors leave committee meeting?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. At a recent meeting of the budget committee of our condominium association, a member of the committee objected to the presence of more than half plus one of the directors of the association who were not members of the committee]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 27 Feb 2011 14:13:26 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/02/27/2083403/should-directors-leave-committee.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Boynton condo residents locked out of pool, clubhouse</title>
     <description><![CDATA[About 90 Quail Run condominium owners were locked out of their pool, clubhouse and other facilities this week, the latest step in a year-old squabble with the development's master association.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 26 Feb 2011 17:48:49 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/boynton-condo-residents-locked-out-of-pool-clubhouse-1228607.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Repairs underway at Mainstreet condos in Bradenton</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Repairs are underway at the Mainstreet at Bradenton condos, which city officials evacuated last summer after finding such serious water damage that the building’s structural integrity was in doubt.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 26 Feb 2011 13:04:16 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/igtxW0</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Community Advocacy Network Releases 'Managing in Times of Crisis,' 2011 Report</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The Community Advocacy Network (CAN, www.canfl.com), Florida's leading advocate for the interests of millions of community association residents statewide, released here today a summary report of its Second-Annual Florida Association Management Survey]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 26 Feb 2011 12:06:13 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.examiner.com/hoa-in-west-palm-beach/community-advocacy-network-releases-managing-times-of-crisis-2011-report</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Fort Lauderdale could pay $475,000 to settle old Palazzo Las Olas suit</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Almost $500,000 in tax money could soon be spent to settle a decade-old fight between Fort Lauderdale and developers over the fate of a prime piece of beach property.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 25 Feb 2011 11:52:00 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/e0BkhJ</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Developer sues group over lot assessments</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Medallion says the Cascades at Sarasota Residents’ Association wants to illegally levy quarterly assessments on 32 undeveloped lots the company still owns.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 25 Feb 2011 11:39:52 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/eT9wI0</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>100 evacuated in Cocoa Beach condo fire</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A couple was left homeless and more than 100 residents evacuated this morning following a fire at a 15-story beachside condominium.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 25 Feb 2011 11:25:25 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/ic8niB</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Landings residents want city to change parking regulations</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Some residents in The Landings neighborhood of Fort Lauderdale are hoping to convince city officials to tweak zoning laws in an effort to ban motor homes and boat trailers from being parked in front of homes in the neighborhood.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 24 Feb 2011 15:58:01 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/fort-lauderdale/fl-esb-landings-0224-20110224,0,1777309.story</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Foreclosure crisis forces Florida condos and HOAs to dump property managers</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The economic downturn and flood of foreclosures have taken a toll on Florida community associations, which have turned to self-management or negotiated to pay property managers less to deal with the bills, a new survey reveals]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 24 Feb 2011 14:11:22 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/gdW5Yr</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>New by-laws may leave HOA on shaky legal ground</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Board members of the Boulevards of Tamarac Homeowners Association say their association's new by-laws are designed to improve the quality of the neighborhood. But some homeowners say the new rules are too restrictive and leave the association open to lawsuits.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 24 Feb 2011 14:07:20 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/fumL8U</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Unit owner is responsible for roof maintenance expense</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Dear Poliakoffs: I live in a high-rise condominium and recently had to call a repairman to determine why my A/C was not working. The compressor is on the roof and the air handler is in a closet in my unit.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 24 Feb 2011 12:41:01 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/real-estate/unit-owner-is-responsible-for-roof-maintenance-expense-1278474.html?cxtype=rss_real-estate_25296</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Sinkhole trouble for one Ocala community</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Homeowners in the Fore Ranch community in Ocala can't enjoy long walks around their lake like they use to.  There's a sinkhole that's at least 30-feet deep and 20-feet wide that's stopping them.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 23 Feb 2011 21:29:07 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/hMRHTV</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Put up your dukes: Waterford Lakes isn’t going to be pushed around anymore</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The longer abandoned homes sit vacant, the more money homeowner associations such as Waterford Lakes must pay in maintenance fees to keep the neighborhood in good repair.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 23 Feb 2011 16:59:46 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/fmUsY6</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>More Responsibilities for Board Members</title>
     <description><![CDATA[It’s great that the law provides for associations to collect rents from tenants in which the owner is delinquent in maintenance payments, but who is going to do the work? A board member’s 'job' is not thankless enough?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 23 Feb 2011 10:49:07 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/hrh0kW</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>American Legion post commander responds to</title>
     <description><![CDATA[One does not usually associate the American Legion with loud, raucous parties. With its name and tradition, the legion brings to mind veterans and bingo clubs, not rave dance parities or underground music.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 23 Feb 2011 10:11:51 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/02/23/2080909/american-legion-post-commander.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Bing bank boom: Foreclosed homeowners say they don’t get their day in court</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Dubbed the ‘rocket docket’, the county’s foreclosure track cruises through several hundred cases daily, many ending in judgments for the lender and the subsequent scheduling of a foreclosure sale.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 23 Feb 2011 09:41:41 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/fjYJ2n</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Sweeping property insurance bill clears first hurdle</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A broad property insurance bill allowing certain rate increases and eliminating a requirement that insurers offer full sinkhole coverage cleared its first legislative committee Tuesday after three hearings and intense debate.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 23 Feb 2011 09:27:45 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/business/realestate/housekeys/blog/2011/02/sweeping_property_insurance_bi.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Should community associations get into rent collections?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[New existing and proposed laws make it easier for associations to siphon rent payments from deadbeat owners]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 22 Feb 2011 20:29:56 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-rent-payments-condocol-20110222,0,2123714.column</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>This news feed is brought to you by Community Associations Network</title>
     <description><![CDATA[CAN provides national and state RSS news feeds for condo and HOA information]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 22 Feb 2011 15:46:29 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/hEAEPm</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Good boards keep lines of communication open</title>
     <description><![CDATA[We’ve had Broward Coalition members ask us what other associations do to accommodate residents’ input at board meetings. This is one of the most valuable services the Coalition offers our members, because it allows for a wide exchange of procedures and ideas as well as goods and services via our e-mail blasts.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 22 Feb 2011 15:34:40 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/dPprwV</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Court to decide on whether law firm's records can be subpoenaed in foreclosure</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The 4th District Court of Appeals will hear arguments today on whether Florida's Attorney General can subpoena records from a law firm being investigated for foreclosure fraud.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 22 Feb 2011 15:20:25 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/g61H8S</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Fannie Mae cuts financing to 100 new Florida condo projects</title>
     <description><![CDATA[In the last six months, Fannie Mae cut mortgage finance availability to 100 new condominium projects in Florida, which will make it tougher for buyers looking for units in those buildings.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 22 Feb 2011 15:10:04 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/e6bxdN</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Wellington residents sue to stop equestrian festival road realignment</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Six homeowners are seeking an injunction to stop Wellington from granting final approval for realignment of a private road, alleging that their property rights were ignored and the village didn't follow its own rules when it allowed the work]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 22 Feb 2011 10:48:59 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/wellington-residents-sue-to-stop-equestrian-festival-road-1216579.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>HOA a mess, file lawsuit to ensure rights are protected</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Dear Poliakoffs: Our HOA was mandatory until a year ago, when the then board decided (without a vote) to make it voluntary, although I can find no paperwork. The by-laws were never changed. There have been no meetings to vote on by-law changes in the last 12 years]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 22 Feb 2011 10:28:21 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/hoa-a-mess-file-lawsuit-to-ensure-rights-1142454.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>LWR officials offer thoughts on search for manager</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Should the new Lakewood Ranch community manager be required to live within the community? Or just within easy driving distance?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 22 Feb 2011 10:19:31 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/gnbaKE</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Homeowner association adds insult to injury (video report)</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A couple in a senior community has fallen on hard times, and because they can't afford to pay HOA fees after the wife suffered a stroke, the HOA has placed a large "deadbeat" sign outside the couple's front door.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 22 Feb 2011 10:16:48 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/euhMRd</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Stalled Wind condo site loses $28M foreclosure</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The second phase of the Wind by Neo condominium in downtown Miami did not get off the ground, and now it appears headed to Wells Fargo Bank.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 21 Feb 2011 18:13:31 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2011/02/18/foreclosure-roundup-woolbright-faces.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>How can my condo association collect rent from deadbeat landlords?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[In his most recent blog, Sun Sentinel Reporter Daniel Vasquez asked if condominium associations should be in the rent collection business]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 21 Feb 2011 15:01:03 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/02/how-to-lose-a-tenant-without-even-trying.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Directors, officers cannot receive kickbacks</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: In a past column, you indicated that directors and officers cannot receive kickbacks or receive personal gain from positions they serve. Is there a specific chapter or section in the condominium act which covers this?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 21 Feb 2011 14:37:13 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/law/os-community-living-condo-kickbacks-020110221,0,3400963.column</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Can Belle Isle condos work together to get better prices?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[As buildings on Belle Isle take on expensive major renovation projects, one homeowner association president has proposed there could be strength in numbers, and if several of the buildings worked together on key contracts it could translate into savings for unit owners.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 20 Feb 2011 21:27:28 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/eqdrRZ</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Certain documents must be provided free of charge</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: I have read your column previously where you discussed the "Frequently Asked Questions and Answers" document that condominium associations must maintain and provide to owners and prospective purchasers.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 20 Feb 2011 15:38:32 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20110220/COLUMNISTS16/102200327/1014/business/Certain-documents-must-provided-free-charge</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Homeowner associations step up foreclosure filings</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Strapped for money to pay for property maintenance, many associations are foreclosing on owners who don’t pay fees, then renting the units to bring in cash.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 20 Feb 2011 12:37:04 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/hrEAUj</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Tampa condo group sues insurer for repairs</title>
     <description><![CDATA[It's not quite Keith Richards' fingers or "Ugly Betty's" smile, but a Hyde Park condominium association has set its legal sights on Lloyd's of London]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 20 Feb 2011 12:21:05 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/ijhC0S</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Law unclear on canceling non-paying owners' cable TV</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Question: I am the president of a 161-lot residential homeowners association in West Palm Beach. We recently renewed a contract with our cable television provider for seven years.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 19 Feb 2011 13:40:15 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/real-estate/law-unclear-on-canceling-non-paying-owners-cable-199998.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Does condo have a prayer with Century Village neighbors?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[A Century Village man found an alternative to making the 1-mile walk to an orthodox temple just outside the gates of his suburban West Palm Beach condo.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 19 Feb 2011 13:23:05 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/f8svmG</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Community living: Directors and officers answer to members</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: I have a hard time with the concept that Florida condominium law is akin to no rules of parliamentary procedure, or even common sense. I find it fundamentally flawed that an inferior body, i.e., the board, can assume the powers of the main body, the members.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 19 Feb 2011 13:11:40 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tampabay.com/features/homeandgarden/community-living-directors-and-officers-answer-to-members/1152316</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Dolphin Tower condo owners pressure insurer to pay for repairs</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Armed with an engineer's report that concludes a critical concrete support slab collapsed despite meeting 1970s building codes, Dolphin Tower condo owners have demanded that their Ohio insurance company cover repairs to the ailing 15-story building.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 19 Feb 2011 13:07:28 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/gH87pI</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Bonita Beach to get sand</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The Pelican Landing Community Association and Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa are waiting on state permits to place about 75,000 cubic yards of sand]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 19 Feb 2011 12:47:01 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20110218/NEWS0102/110218064/1092/RSS0117/Bonita-Beach-get-sand?odyssey=mod_sectionstories</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: What is the order of payment for delinquent fees of a unit?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q. Regarding nonpayment of assessments and maintenance fees: When a person sells their unit, in what order does the condominium get what is due them? Do taxes get paid first, mortgage, utilities, etc?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sat, 19 Feb 2011 12:46:25 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/feb/19/ricahrd-white-what-order-payment-delinquent-fees-u/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Neighborhood named "Firewise Community"</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The DeBary Golf & Country Club has been designated a "Firewise Community" after it cleared fire hazards, including more than 5 acres of brush.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 18 Feb 2011 20:58:11 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/volusia/os-brief5-this-just-in-022011-20110218,0,755089.story</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Caught on camera: Nude burglar steals sausages from condo assn (video)</title>
     <description><![CDATA[When condo resident Joe Brown discovered the condo community's sausage, intended for a pancake breakfast, had been stolen he knew exactly what he had to do.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 18 Feb 2011 16:12:02 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/eRENC9</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Broward condos attract bulk buyers</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Investment groups completed two more Broward County bulk condo deals in the past week.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 18 Feb 2011 12:40:57 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/business/realestate/housekeys/blog/2011/02/broward_condos_attract_bulk_bu_1.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Should condo associations be in the rent collections business?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Condominium communities across Florida struggle to collect maintenance fees from an increasing number of owners who fail to pay, and now some are turning their sites on tenants living in units of delinquent landlords/owners]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 18 Feb 2011 12:35:23 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/fzZ65S</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Board members must balance their personal and professional lives</title>
     <description><![CDATA[We wanted to speak for a moment this week about a very difficult task for board members: keeping personal business personal, and board business professional.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 17 Feb 2011 19:58:50 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/hsCQpX</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Bonita condo owners fed up with sea grapes</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Some Bonita Springs homeowners say their beachfront condo is ruined. Instead of a picturesque Gulf view, their balconies overlook a bushel of sea grapes. Now they're begging the county to trim the trees.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 17 Feb 2011 19:56:23 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://on.msnbc.com/fdL8WU</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Airport expansion reality sets in, Dania homeowners want out</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Aviation Director George had come to last week's Melaleuca Gardens Homeowner Association meeting to present his proposal to soothe the runway's noise impacts.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 17 Feb 2011 14:08:58 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/dania-beach/fl-dania-losing-20110217,0,1960401.story</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: Condo owner responsible for updated address, information</title>
     <description><![CDATA[I have talked repeatedly with the management company and the board of directors. They reported they had the correct mailing address as well as all of our telephone numbers of my partners.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 17 Feb 2011 13:42:22 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2011/feb/17/condominium-owner-responsible-for-updated/?partner=RSS</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Friendliness is no mirage at condo complex</title>
     <description><![CDATA[In the tranquil south end of the island, just past South Beach, Collier Boulevard curves left to reveal eight condos fronting the Gulf.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 17 Feb 2011 11:01:04 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/eqqCJU</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Homeowners leader slams utility bill anomalies</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Unity is strength. That's the message from the fledgling Homeowners Association, through chairman Larry Sacher, who addressed a packed meeting at Mackle Park.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 17 Feb 2011 10:40:44 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20110217/MARCONEWS/102170336/-1/NEWS0123/Homeowners-leader-slams-utility-bill-anomalies</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Air Force Veteran Fights Homeowner's Association</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Floyd Woodruff has survived the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War but now finds himself in a tough battle with his homeowners association.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 16 Feb 2011 20:33:42 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/gMoQ6h</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>NBC2 Investigators: New HOA law puts tenants in the middle</title>
     <description><![CDATA[You know the saying, "stuck between a rock and a hard place." That's what it feels like for Ryan Wipplinger and his three roommates in Fort Myers. They're suddenly in the middle of a dispute between the homeowner's association and their landlord.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 16 Feb 2011 19:07:34 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://on.msnbc.com/hkBvs8</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Navy wants Eaton Street access reopened</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Nearly a decade of plans for development at the Truman Waterfront in Key West contemplate access to the 33-acre parcel through Eaton Street. But, some now question that access with an overgrown fence and condo constructed on the site.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 16 Feb 2011 14:51:40 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.keysnet.com/2011/02/16/309295/navy-wants-eaton-street-access.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Chris Griffith: Pet droppings a big, smelly part of HOA restrictions</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Most condominium owners have a set of documents that perform little practical function other than taking up space on a shelf or in a cabinet. That is, if they bothered to keep them at all. Those documents are the rules for the association. The rules; you will obey them or start getting warning letters from the management company]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 16 Feb 2011 14:46:30 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/gqBCpA</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Santa Rosa lets subdivisions boot solicitors</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The Santa Rosa County Commission voted to allow subdivisions to ban door-to-door solicitations]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 16 Feb 2011 10:36:04 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.pnj.com/article/20110216/NEWS01/102160315/1125</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Man accused of collecting rent on properties he didn't own</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Deputies arrested a 43-year-old man Friday and accused him of collecting $30,000 in rent money on properties he didn't own]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 16 Feb 2011 10:12:38 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/e6gTNz</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Hopes rise for lamakers to change condo laws</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Mel Glickman of Boca Raton wants Florida lawmakers to make life even harder for condominium owners who fall behind in payments to community associations. He thinks legislators should give condo boards the authority to cut delinquent owners access to cable TV and Internet access.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 15 Feb 2011 16:48:21 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/fvdcLV</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>The view from the association grassroots - collections</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Broward Coalition member Nidia Repinski, President of Countryside at Welleby HOA e-mailed me about collections: I agree with your approach, as our community is now in a strong financial position, whereby in 2010 we collected over 100%]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 15 Feb 2011 12:06:01 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/eydfe4</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>MetroWest homeowners allege misuse of association funds</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The homeowners said the former head of their association was using the extra money to fund personal projects.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 15 Feb 2011 09:38:56 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/dLmDbW</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Pebblebrooke fire in North Naples considered suspicious by Florida forestry</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The brush fire that burned 16 acres Sunday afternoon in a wooded area of Pebblebrooke Lakes is considered suspicious, according to the Florida Division of Forestry.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 14 Feb 2011 15:13:56 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/eyKuJO</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Community Living: Make 3-minute rule work at board meetings</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: Please tell me where to find the three-minute rule regarding a board of directors business meeting? May residents in attendance interrupt and speak about issues?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 14 Feb 2011 10:04:47 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/hh3Yzp</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Board must collect assessments in advance</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q:I live in a condominium, and we have a large special assessment due for building repairs. In the past, assessments have been paid, but work has not started for four to five months.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 13 Feb 2011 15:46:36 -0500</pubDate>
     <link><![CDATA[http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20110213/ARTICLE/102131002/contactus?p=all&tc=pgall]]></link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Depth of financial report depends on revenues</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: We are a condominium association of 129 units with an annual budget of just less than $1 million. We have not done an audit in years. Every year, our residents vote to waive the audit requirement, so we just do a compilation.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Sun, 13 Feb 2011 15:39:12 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.news-press.com/article/20110213/COLUMNISTS16/102130333/1014/business/Depth-financial-report-depends-revenues</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Your association may soon file a lien on your home to recover prop mgt fees</title>
     <description><![CDATA[We all know that property associations are having trouble getting maintenance fees from record numbers of owners, but should your board be able to file a lien against your home for property management fees related to collecting those maintenance fees?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 11 Feb 2011 17:23:08 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/gIO4II</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Mortgage debacle</title>
     <description><![CDATA[As we all know by now, the lack of regulation of the mortgage industry has caused a crisis for homeowners – and associations.   As a previous poster observed, reverse mortgages are no exception.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 11 Feb 2011 17:18:21 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/eRkNEJ</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Search firm hired to find Lakewood Ranch manager</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The next community manager of Lakewood Ranch is likely to make between $120,000 and $160,000 a year, have at least 10 years of executive experience and could very well come from the state of Florida.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 11 Feb 2011 10:06:00 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/g5Ttql</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Check with officials before using reclaimed water on edible crops</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Q: I've been in charge of landscaping at our condo complex on the ocean for years. As a special treat this year I thought I would put in a couple of cement pots with herbs like rosemary, basil, thyme, etc. Our property irrigation is by reclaimed water.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Fri, 11 Feb 2011 09:45:59 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/f9dfaU</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Richard White: Condo board must hire contractors who are insured and licensed</title>
     <description><![CDATA[We are in the process of hiring a 1099 individual contractor. We have insurance that I believe is used for volunteer work. Can this be extended to include him? I am sure if it can cover him, there may be an increase in our premium.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 10 Feb 2011 15:19:00 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2011/feb/10/board-must-hire-only-those-contractorswho-are/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Condo must act promptly to enforce rules about pets</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Dear Poliakoffs: My issue concerns Daisy, a golden retriever that belongs to my daughter. For the past six years I have had Daisy for a weekend about every three months while my daughter and her husband are out of town.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 10 Feb 2011 15:17:17 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/fzkxfh</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Los Robles Park Replanted</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Los Robles Homeowners Association President Donald Dixon said, "We're excited about it. We're so impressed with the quality of the work that the city park division has done. Logistically, it was quite a job. In two and a half days, they have reforested this park and we are so pleased."]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 10 Feb 2011 11:37:33 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://www.wctv.tv/news/headlines/Los_Robles_Park_Replanted_115683239.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Handicap parking spaces painted over at Solaire condominiums downtown</title>
     <description><![CDATA[But the tower's developer soon painted over the blue lines, pulled down the handicap-only signs, and turned each of those extra-wide spaces into two regular spots to accommodate condo buyers during the housing slump.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Thu, 10 Feb 2011 11:14:00 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/hgRi8A</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Bicycle Facilities on Private Roads</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Joe asked: I live in an over-55 mobile home park community, and was recently elected to the homeowners association board of directors.  A resident who uses a 'hoveround' powered chair has expressed concern that when she rides her chair to the clubhouse she has to do so on the side of the road]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 09 Feb 2011 18:10:30 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://flbikelaw.org/2011/02/bicycle-facilities-on-private-roads/</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>AG investigating 3 law firms after consumer complaints about defaulted mortgages</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The Florida attorney general's office has confirmed the names of three law firms added to its foreclosure inquiry, including Kahane & Associates, which handles hundreds of home repossessions in Palm Beach County.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Wed, 09 Feb 2011 17:44:41 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/fSif16</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Can my association take my car for late payments?</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Readers ask whether associations can restrict pool for everyone and whether they can inspect association insurance records]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 08 Feb 2011 19:43:57 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://topicInfoLink</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>The view from the association grassroots</title>
     <description><![CDATA[The mainstays of association self-governance are the officers and board members.  The responsibilities can weigh heavily on them, and we speak often with them as they try to do a good job, follow the law and the docs, while keeping fiscally above water]]></description>
     <pubDate>Tue, 08 Feb 2011 14:35:22 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/condoblog/2011/02/the-view-from-the-association-grassroots-2.html</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Where's the fire? And other hot topics</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Condominium squabbles can rise to the level of annoying, unpleasant and even comical. But an emergency?]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 07 Feb 2011 17:54:53 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/fjKyMm</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Lenders compound court errors</title>
     <description><![CDATA[Florida's foreclosure backlog in the courts stands at 350,614. Palm Beach County's share is 32,284.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 07 Feb 2011 10:49:06 -0500</pubDate>
     <link>http://bit.ly/hee5b8</link>
    </item>
    <item>
     <title>Del Tura residents dedicate Feb. 1 to longtime community organizer</title>
     <description><![CDATA[So that's why the homeowners association board unanimously declared that every Feb. 1 would be Molly Walker Day.]]></description>
     <pubDate>Mon, 07 Feb 2011 10:46:31 -0500<
