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Condominiums
Condominiums are buildings made up of individually owned apartments or houses. They generally contain shared spaces like a lobby or roof, which are controlled by an association of owners.
336 Questions
What is the common problem in a condominium bldg?
Your answer depends on who's asking the question. For some residence, the 'common problem' is the neighbors. For the board, the 'common problem' may be the age of the building or the state of planned maintenance. Since not all condominium buildings are alike, each has its own set of 'problems'.
Condominiums can be both residential and commercial. Some condominium projects contain a mix of both. depending on the zoning. Those may have commercial units on the ground floor devoted to shops and restaurants and then residential units on upper floors. Generally, the owner cannot change the use once the project is established.
How do you live in a condo with satisfaction?
The first thing that comes to our mind when we plan to buy a condo is to live a much better life than we previously have, right? Not just you, but there are already a lot of people who bought a condo and thought that they are living a more satisfying life now. Of course, we all need to live in an environment where we can be safe and contented. That's Maslow's second hierarchy of need - safety!
You own a condominium according to its boundaries. For example, in a building, the boundary may be 'from the paint, in' and this means that you own the unit and the association owns everything else. As an owner of a unit, you also own a percentage of everything else -- roofs, walls, roadways, amenities, etc., according to your allocated interest, which is determined by the association ownership share represented by your unit.
Can a condominium association trespass tenants from common areas who cause problems?
Read your governing documents to determine the sanctions and the process for enforcing them against residents who disregard rules that benefit all. As well, the board is encouraged to act reasonably in these situations.
For example, if a tenant is in a wheel chair and requires access through common areas, trespassing this resident by forbidding access benefits no one.
It's also possible that the tenant is not knowledgeable about the rule being broken, so beginning the enforcement process starts with a civil conversation, a letter to the owner: some simple reminder instead of an all-out fight.
Note as well, that sanctions must be published to all owners before they can be used to enforce the governing documents.
What is the size of a standard parking spot in Florida condominium?
There may be no standard. Over time, parking facilities alter the size of parking slots for ownership or for public access in a mall, for example, given the current size of vehicles.
If an association was formed during an era when compact cars were popular, and today's SUVs don't fit in the slots, the association may want to address the issue.
A Google search returns these results given the query above:
"In North America, the width of angled and perpendicular parking spaces usually ranges from 2.3 to 2.75 metres (7.5-9.0 ft). For example, normal parking spaces in the city of Dallas, Texas are 8.5 feet (2.6 m) wide, while compact spaces are 7.5 feet (2.3 m) wide."
Can your friend paint your condo?
Work that is conducted on the interior of the condominium -- that you own, may require approval of the board. You can find these guidelines in your governing documents. Be aware that if your friend is not insured, bonded and licensed, any accident or damage done to common areas is your responsibility.
Is the attached garage of a townhouse common property of a condominium?
Depending on what's written in your governing documents, an attached garage may be a limited common element, that is owned in common, but available to not all owners, owned outright by the unit owner or a common element.
Read your governing documents to determine how your attached garage is owned. There is no standard.
Can a condominium manager enter your condo when you are not home without permission?
Read your governing documents to determine legal access by the association and/or its agents into your unit. Access may be permitted if a bone fide emergency is involved, and otherwise no access is permitted.
Can a wood-burning fireplace be installed in a condominium built in California?
Your first challenge will be to obtain a local building permit to burn wood indoors, which is generally prohibited in most areas of the USA unless that is your only source of heat during cold weather.
Next, read your governing documents to determine the level of design and materials documentation you must present to the association's board -- potentially the architectural review committee -- for their approval before you begin your renovation or installation.
How can a condominium association be converted to a homeowner's association?
The definition of condominium ownership is contained in the land-use documents filed in the local hall of records by the original developer.
In order to convert the land-use to another use, you are best advised to find a local, common-interest-ownership-savvy attorney who can help you understand the pros and cons of both types of common interest communities. As well, this attorney may be able to help you convert the land-use to the one you want.
Is the word condominium always capitalized?
The word condominium is not a proper noun. You did it correctly in your question.
How many years can a president of a condo association serve?
Read your governing documents to determine the service period for all directors of your association.
What actors and actresses appeared in Condominium - 1980?
The cast of Condominium - 1980 includes: Ana Alicia as Thelma Messenkott Richard Anderson as Henry Churchbridge Harold Ayer as 3rd Owner Richard Balin as Sig Harper Ralph Bellamy as Lee Messenger Larry Bishop as Julian Higbee Macdonald Carey as Dr. Arthur Castor Larry Carroll as 1st Newscaster Dane Clark as Pete McGinnity Linda Cristal as Carlotta Churchbridge Elinor Donahue as Audrey Ames Richard Eastham as Tom Forrester Barbara Eden as Barbara Messenger Brian Farrell as 2nd Lawyer Steve Forrest as Gus Garver Don Galloway as Jack Messenkott Duncan Gamble as 1st Lawyer Gary Grubbs as 1st Meteorologist Dan Haggerty as Sam Harrison Danna Hansen as Martha Cook Pamela Hensley as Drusilla Byrne Arte Johnson as Brooke Ames Jack Jones as Cole Kimber Len Lawson as 4th Owner Virginia Leith as Carolyn Garver Dorothy Malone as Molly Denniver Jodie Mann as Secretary Mimi Maynard as Lorrie Higbee Bruce Neckels as Pilot Lee Paul as Vic York Ines Pedroza as 2nd Newscaster Nehemiah Persoff as Conlaw Ernest Sarracino as Veteran Linda Stuart as Doris Branhammer Harry Townes as David Dow Jay Varela as Chief Meteorologist Nedra Volz as Mrs. Conlaw Carlene Watkins as Bobbie Fish Stuart Whitman as Marty Liss Bill Zuckert as Frank Branhammer
How far back can a condo association go back to collect fees?
There is no standard.
Read your governing documents to determine how far that association can reach into history for unpaid assessments.
Your state law may also limit the reach.
At the time of sale, all past-due assessments can be collected -- if the board has positioned its claim appropriately -- so that a new owner is not liable for unpaid assessments by a previous owner.
When a condominium is sold what must the seller provide upon the buyers request?
The answer to your question is going to be different in every state and nearly every county and community where you propose to purchase a condominium.
A local condominium-savvy real estate agent can help you understand what must be provided by the seller and what to demand if you are the buyer.
Also, note that the items may be different depending on whether the seller is a developer and you are the first purchaser, or if the seller is a current resident or rental-oriented owner.
Regardless of the status of the seller, you are best prepared if you provide details about:
- The financial health of the association, it's delinquency status of owners' assessments, reserve funding levels as dictated by current 'Reserve Study' documents, anticipated special assessments and so forth. Ask for three years' worth of financials.
- The board's ability to operate and govern the association and its assets. Ask for three years worth of board meeting minutes.
- The integrity and upkeep of the building and common areas involved with the purchase, including amenities.
- Other key details that affect ownership.
Is a crawlspace under a condominium considered part of the condo unit?
Please review your governing documents -- your CC&Rs, to discover the boundary definition for your unit.
Look for the section with boundary in the title.
There is no standard: every condominium is different from every other condominium.
Is the condominium liable to remove snow in the limited common element such as above ground parking?
Best practices dictate that the association is responsible to 'maintain, protect, and preserve' the common areas.
In addition, the association's liability policy covers accidents in common areas.
That said, it is reasonable to expect that the association will remove the snow and ice from common areas where people walk, park and drive. Lack of action by the association could be evidence of breach of duty.
As a personal comment, during high pile-up or unusual snow periods, the board can enlist residents to clear common areas. The board can work with its attorney and the insurance vendor to develop 'extreme weather condition' parameters and guidelines so that the work can be done by residents instead of vendors. This could save the association money.
The foregoing suggestion could part of any disaster or accident or emergency plan developed by the board to handle any kind of an unexpected event.
Whether or not it is better to buy a house or a condo will depend on what type of living space is being looked for. A house will usually give some privacy and is not connected to another building. A condo is always connected to another apartment and less privacy is available.
Can a Condominium Community restrict Handicap parking with reduced hours?
Condominium communities can develop restrictions according to their power given them by the governing documents. However, local, state and federal law regarding handicap access must be followed in crafting these restrictions. All handicap access statutes trump association governing documents.
Who takes care of the condominium and the grounds?
generally this is going to be your homeowners association within the condo, although it can many times be managed by a professional management company. I personally live in a PUD (Planned Unit Development) community, which is very similar to a condo complex. In my neighborhood, all of our property maintenance and insurance issues are handled through the HOA. If all else fails, you could contact your condo association and ask them.
hope this helps!
What is the average price for a condominium in California?
The average price for a condominium in California is about $400,000. Factors such as location, and quality of the condominium also affect the prices, even in drastic measures.
Do Declarations of Condominium have precedent over state law?
Not normally. Often governing documents tighten state laws.
Without more information, however, this answer can only be a best guess.
AnswerCondominium Master Deeds are generally written according to the provisions of state law. The chapter is generally cited somewhere in the beginning of the instrument. For example, a Master Deed in Massachusetts would state the following in the declaration:
Ramsey Lewis and Quincy Jones, being the owners of the land in fee simple more particularly described in Exhibit A, do hereby submit such land . . . to the provisions of Chapter 183A and do hereby state that the property shall be subject to each and all of the terms hereof and of said Chapter 183A . . . . Owners of condominium projects do not have the authority to over-ride state laws.
What is the average fee that a condominium property management firm charges?
Since there is no standard, there can be no average.
You could calculate an average of these fees after compiling data from among a set of local competitors that might not be willing to share these details with you.
Here's why: each individual fee depends on the condominium association's assets and level of service desired..
No two condominium properties, complexes, high-rises or communities are exactly alike, and no two boards are alike in their skills, shortcomings or business experience in operating a community.
Each has a separate location, a separate set of amenities, it's own terms for insurance coverage, its own age, its own status within the development process, its own set of governing documents, and so forth.
A condominium management firm may be willing to give you a list of associations it manages indicating an entry in each of these categories, and more, and give you a range of fees it charges for such a range of properties that it manages. Or not.
If you sample three condominium managers by asking each what they would charge you to manage your association, you can average the three answers you receive.
Another Answer
That said, above, an association manager that you'll choose is one that may be able to offer you a smörgåsbord of services, beginning with financial services. Other services you may want from an association manager include governance and the business issues that every association faces.
Beware of 'property' managers, who may specialize in managing 'property' -- i.e., apartment buildings, when what you really want is an association manager. Association managers understand associations, often non-profit corporations, with governing documents and state laws that apply directly to these kinds of living situations that involve real estate assets.
Dealing with a diverse set of owners always presents its own challenges: property managers are used to dealing with a single owner. Association managers understand how to handle multiple owners, often with different ideas about the real estate assets.
What are the ups and downs of living in a condo?
Living in a condo can be a good thing because they are usually quiet, nice looking inside and located in good neighborhoods. A con would be having to pay for your own repairs, instead of having a maintenance guy do it for free.
