What exactly is a condo association fee? and what does it go towards?
399231
Homeowner fees typically include homeowners insurance, garbage, and all exterior maintenance. (paint, roof, landscape & all amineties like pool club house etc.)\n\nOccasionally it may cover other items as shown in CC&R's (Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions). The CC&R's should be given to you at the time your contract to purchase has been accepted so you may review all the details of the project.  You should also be supplied a copy of the most recent budget and articles of incorporation.\n\nTypically the CC&R's limit the amount the HOA dues may increase on a regualar basis (most are annual but may vary from project to project)\n\nAnother thing to consider is a possible "special assessment".  This can be for some type of major improvment to the project.  For example my condo project voted to put a security gate at the front of the entrance.  The association took a vote it passed.  Thus we all had to pay the additional pro-rated charge. (very untimely I might add).\n\nIf you have not already purchased the condo I encourage you to review the pro's and con's of a condo vs. a single family residence.\n\nFor more thoughts about the pro's and con's you can see a question I answered on 4/6/06. (now resolved)
836691
If you are speaking about a Home owners association Code enforcement, usually your by laws will tell you what your method of appeal is....Start by reading them.  Most let you have some type of mediation or arbitration.\n\n...Unfortunately Home owners associations were initially formed to help keep your community better....now it has devolved to a legal way of taking your house!  I'll never buy into one again!!!
497624
They broker a deal between you and another party,usually shares in a business. They get a fee for this, sometimes from the seller as well
132599
You have the question I have been looking for, the perfect question right up my ally.  \nI do reserve studies and budgeting for condo/ HOA’s for part of my job.  As the last poster mentioned, check your CC&R’s for any thing you can find.  Second, get your hands on a copy of the most recent reserve study or budget.  This document will usually have a line item for deck repair or replacement.  If it doesn’t you may not be out of luck just yet.  Argue that most association include this type of repairs w/ those of the association because water damage or penetration in a failing deck could result in damage to other units (under you) or to the structure itself (their responsibility).  The only place I’ve seen an association flat out refuse to pay for fixing/repairing a deck is when the damage to the deck has been caused by the actions of the homeowner.\n\nConsider this; if a deck fails and someone falls though it, landing on the association’s common area and it’s the sudden stop on their ground that injures them, who’s paying for it?
128678
This may sound stupid cause i have no clue as what you should do.But at the same time i just had a conversation with an attorney friend the other day and he had a condo out there and sold it to someone and a year later that someone sold it for triple the amount..\nSo keep it cause in the long run it will pay off..
1098290
same as a house.  condos are considered one family residential properties.
157278
Dallas is not a cheap city. At that price for a condo, I would think it's a bad neighborhood. You can call the Dallas police department and ask. Otherwise, call the realty companies and ask them. They have to tell you why the price is so low.
1009456
Your condo, your business
155991
Lenders usually sell the loans on the secondary market. Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and FHa make up the majority of the conforming secondary market. They generally consider any condo complex 4 stories or higher to be a high rise and any less than 4 stories to be a low rise. \n\nHigh Rise units have additional fees passed onto the lender from these secondary market agencies. \n\nSo, in order to ensure they quote you an accurate rate they need to know what fees they may incur when selling the loan at a later time. Knowing how many floors are in a condo complex answers one of those questions. :>
86932
A condo policy will provide liability, personal property and some building coverage for interior walls.  The condo association will cover outside walls.  Depending on your credit score, location of the condo and how much coverage you need, I would ball park it at about $350 for the year.\nContact a local agent - http://www.insuremyhouse.com
124339
Ask the apartment complex owner for a copy-by law they have to give you one.  And you should have gotten one when you signed up for the apartment-if you didn't you are not responible for paying such a fee-if you didn't get one anyways
906910
Depending on the state they may have an agency, or an office of some type that assists with condo association issues.  I had to contact them in NJ and they were pretty helpful.
1141576
Because they charge a fee.
815798
i think that there is a fee involved with it
1099311
It is different with each organization. Yet, that should not be what you are basing the orgainzation you are interested on. \n\nRemember costs go towards various items, not just back into the chapter. There are fees that must be paid to the Nationals/Grand Chapter and then chapter fees and such. It ranges from chapter to chapter and org to org. If you get a bid from  an organization you will find out information on things you need. If the organization wants to inform you on the fees then you can ask, but that may not be the greatest idea if you are truly interested in the org.
898217
A condo is any living unit with shared property, like an apartment building or a townhouse condo.  But a townhouse is one house in a group of attached houses.  It can be condo or freehold.  If it is condo, the land is shared by all of the townhomes and condo fees are assessed for its mainenance.  The outside of the building may also belong to the condo corporation as well as the roof.  For freehold townhomes, each owner is responsible for the maintenance of the yard attached to his unit as well as the ouside and roof of his/her portion of the building.
486683
Sounds like some property developers have bought the land and want to build something.  This has happened so many times to residents of mobile home parks in the coastal communities in Florida.  High priced condos are going up where the mobile home parks had been for decades.  \n\nIf all of the residents are in the same position that you are facing, see if you can get the media involved.  Or the mayor's office.  It could buy you some time.