Board members can vote by phone as long as the vote is treated as a board meeting and is accessible to owners via speakerphone

Michael Bogen devotes his legal practice to representing hundreds of condominium and homeowner associations. Bogen, who is admitted to practice law in Florida, Washington, D.C., and Nevada, also is admitted before the United States District Court in the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida. He is assistant executive director of the Condo Council, which provides education to over 1,000 association members.

EMAIL: column@Condo Law.com 30 years When I was 22 my father suggested that I get my license. I worked in the field for six months and realized that the timing wasn’t right. I left the field and got in when I was 30 and have been in ever since. Everyone has unique skills and talents. My passion for real estate and people is what has driven my career and it has served me well.

Lighthouse Point, Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach May a non-owner sit on the board of directors for our association? Depending on your association’s governing documents, yes. I usually see this clause in an association’s articles of incorporation. This applies to both condominium associations and homeowners’ associations. If the association’s governing documents state that a director does not have to be an owner or member, then almost anyone may serve as a director on the board of directors.

Approachable, professional, responsive, honest, trustworthy, factual, hard working and fun loving

Try and be relative to the market that we are in. If you are getting a mortgage, get and keep a current pre-approval letter. It will increase your chances of securing the property that you desire. If you are a cash buyer, be prepared to give verification of your cash to close. This also increases your chances of getting the property. Also, try to be relative to the current market. Sellers almost always want more than the market will the vote at the next board meeting. Is this legal? Generally, yes. If the board has a conference call and properly notices the conference call as a board meeting, and, has a speakerphone locally for any owners to attend and listen to the board’s conference call, then the vote is legal. If the board votes on the phone without any notice of a board meeting, the vote in itself is not proper. However, the board, at a following board meeting, may decide to ratify a prior decision. bear. It is a Realtor’s job to sell your property for as much as the market will bear. The sooner a seller realizes how close their property is priced relative to the market, the better off they will be. There is a price range that every property falls within (that is attractive to buyers) that will yield showings and offers – when a property is above that range, not much usually happens. The Rotary Club of Pompano Beach (Past president, 2006-2007) and currently on board of directors for John Knox Village condo association, the board waits to vote on the request at the next board meeting. This takes forever. Please help. It seems like many owners are having an especially hard time inspecting official records this year for some reason. The associationmust provide access to an owner who makes an official records request within 10 working days of receiving the request. If it takes longer, the owner may file a complaint with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation and obtain $50 per day in damages (not to exceed 10 days, or $500) that the owner had to wait to obtain access to

My wife and real estate partner, Cathy Prenner, have worked together for 20 years and we have 12 grandchildren. I have had a private pilot certificate since 2011. PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER ADVERTISING DESIGNER SPECIAL SECTIONS WRITER SENIOR SALES MANAGER REAL ESTATE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Broward and Palm Beach Counties Dade County & Out of Area the official records. Does an HOA’s use of its funds to pay for an anger management course for the property manager constitute a legal expense of the association? This is not a proper use of corporate (HOA) funds. Does the board of directors have the right to rejectmy decision to obtain a reverse mortgage on my property? GARRETT A. FOSTER DEBORAH DOCHERTY TRACY KOLODY ARIEL GONZALEZ TANYA PLATH MARIA SALES 954-425-1642 954-425-1029 954-425-1695 954-425-1053 954-425-1517 954-425-1640 purchase moneymortgage or “regular” mortgage. A purchase moneymortgage is a loan given to you to purchase the property. A reverse mortgage is money given to you in exchange for your promise to give your property to a bank once you either move out or expire. Some associations’ governing documents have provisions that require any owner to obtain prior approval from the board of directors before obtaining a reverse mortgage. As a result, there is no specific answer Imay give to you other than suggesting you look for such a clause (or have your attorney analyze your association’s governing documents) in your association’s governing documents.