Tenants Now Paying Association Dues

The story is common all over Key West in the down turn of our economy. An investor owns a condo or townhouse, they owe more on the property then it is worth so they stop making payments. In the following years that it takes to foreclose the property is rented and the owner continues to collect the rent, but not pay the mortgage company or the association. At this point the association falls short of money and has to postpone needed repairs and maintenance or collect more money from the owners who are current. This puts a burden on the association and their members. It also has a negative effect on property values by making it harder for a new buyer to get financing. When their mortgage company sees a high number of owners not paying the association it makes no difference how good their credit is the property won’t qualify.

A new law passed by the Florida legislature makes it easier for condo and homeowner associations to collect back dues owned to them. They now have the right to collect the rent directly from the tenants until the dues are current. If the tenant is ordered to make a payment to the association, it counts as rent credit. The tenant pays the remaining balance to the landlord. For example, if a lease agreement calls for the renter to pay $600 a month including $100 association fees, traditionally they would have paid the whole amount to the landlord. Now, under the law, the tenant would pay the landlord $500 and the association $100.

When a renter is required to pay the association directly, they should keep a copy of the notice from the association seeking payment, as well as cancelled checks and/or receipts. If the landlord demands the entire $600, the tenant should send them copies of the documents and receipts showing their payments to the association.

“If the landlord files an eviction, it’s very important that the tenant doesn’t sit back and assume the payment to the association will protect them; they need to answer the eviction lawsuit,” In this situation the Landlord will not be able to evict the tenant for nonpayment only the condo association can. The law helps the tenant if they are doing what they’re supposed to do while the landlord isn’t.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JOANNE TARANTINO Earns NAR Short Sales and Foreclosure Certification Buyers and Sellers Benefit from REALTOR® Expertise in Distressed Sales

JOANNE TARANTINO with PRUDENTIAL KNIGHT GARDNER REALTY has earned the nationally recognized Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource certification. The National Association of REALTORS® offers the SFR certification to REALTORS® who want to help both buyers and sellers navigate these complicated transactions, as demand for professional expertise with distressed sales grows.

According to a recent NAR survey, nearly one-third of all existing homes sold recently were either short sales or foreclosures. For many real estate professionals, short sales and foreclosures are the new “traditional” transaction. REALTORS® who have earned the SFR certification know how to help sellers maneuver the complexities of short sales as well as help buyers pursue short sale and foreclosure opportunities.

“As leading advocates for homeownership, REALTORS® believe that any family that loses its home to foreclosure is one family too many, but unfortunately, there are situations in which people just cannot afford to keep their homes, and a foreclosure or a short sale results,” said 2009 NAR President Charles McMillan, a broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Dallas-Fort Worth. “Foreclosures and short sales can offer opportunities for home buyers and benefit the larger community, as well, but it’s extremely important to have the help of a real estate professional like a REALTOR® who has earned the SFR certification for these kinds of purchases.”

The certification program includes training on how to qualify sellers for short sales, negotiate with lenders, protect buyers, and limit risk, and provides resources to help REALTORS® stay current on national and state-specific information as the market for these distressed properties evolves. To earn the SFR certification, REALTORSÒ are required to take one core course and three Webinars. For more information about the SFR certification, visit www.REALTORSFR.org or call 1-877-510-7855.

Gulfview Townhouse Just Reduced!

Just Reduced...$499,900

3 Bedroom, 2.5 Bath Townhouse

Beautiful open water Gulf views in gated community. Out door deck area w/private pool & fountains. 2 upstairs balconies. Hurricane shutters for all windows. Carport with storage. One owner is a real estate licensee. Total annual insurance costs are $3,370. Bank is local and a decission would be made quickley.

MLS Link: http://keywestmls.rapmls.com/scripts/mgrqispi.dll?APPNAME=Keywest&PRGNAME=MLSLogin&ARGUMENT=8Aaav9tRjeIvgJEhSou08sKFOwQm9%2Bn%2BuJYQHXtJPOI%3D&KeyRid=1

Joanne Tarantino - CRS

Prudential Knight & Gardner Realty

(305) 294-5155 x244 ~ (305) 304-2012

(305) 295-0946 Fax

Joanne1kw@gmail.com

http://www.kwhomes.net

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"TALL on Real Estate Service"

No this is Not My Listing - 3814 Flagler Avenue, Key West, FL

This however is a great buy on this bank owned property (3814 Flagler Avenue, Key West, FL)! Can you believe it, a 5 bedroom 3 bath waterfront house on a huge lot (1/3 of an acre) just reduced to $699,000! In addition to the 3106 sq ft of living area there is also a two car garage. At this asking price that calculates to only $255/square foot. Remember the old days when waterfront property would go for around $800/sq ft? This has to currently be the best buy in Key West.

This property was purchased by an owner of a local real estate company (who has since left town) in 2004 for $1,050,000. It was originally listed for sale in June of 2009 for $1,250,000 and has just had its fifth price reduction down to $699,000. For any one who needs a lot of space and would enjoy living on a canal this is a great opportunity. Oh did I mention that it also has a pool, not just a little dipping pool but a hotel size pool. The seawall is 105' long with a step down. You could dock a couple of boats here.

Has anyone noticed how cold it has been in Key West? Worry not; this house has a real cool looking elongated stylish fireplace in the great room. Ok, something has to be wrong. Well, the former owner's wife had some unique taste in wall colors. That is easy to fix just try imagining off white as you walk through. Yes, she had probably been bugging her husband for some updating in the kitchen and the baths before the economy turned bad. He was right when he said they are perfectly fine the way they are. He was right, but in her defense they are really dated.

Ok folks, here it is a great chance for a waterfront "steal". Call me if you know of anyone who would like to see it. It is easy to show.

http://kwhomes.net
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Short Sales...Grrrr

Why is it that I am asked daily is my short sale not yet approved after months and months of waiting. This is the all too common question from buyers who have made offers on short sales. Buyers are pre-approved, brought in offers that are at the current value and then just wait. Banks seem to be in no hurry to approve these while taxes, condo fees, code violations fines and maintenance issues mount. We have all seen the murky green pool that now has fish living in it. In the Key West Association of Realtors MLS as in other communities there is a glut of short sales awaiting approval. Currently we have 149 residential short sales under contract as compared to 46 normal sales. A whole new cottage industry of short sale negotiators is flourishing but nothing has sped up.

What is wrong with this picture? I think a lot; only 1 in 3 short sales ever close primarily because the buyer eventually drops out. A short sale that never closes can only end up as a foreclosure and most times is resold for a price much less then the actual short sale offer. The banks end up losing money and when they do the US government seems to be there to help.

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http://joannetarantino.blogspot.com/
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Strategic Foreclosure

A new term has emerged in the ever changing real estate world. Just as none of us knew what a "short sale" was 4 years ago or a "flipper" 9 years ago, we now have chance to expand our vocabulary and incorporate "strategic foreclosure". A strategic foreclosure is when a property owner has the ability to pay their mortgage but chooses not to. This group now accounts for about one in every four foreclosures. This has created an ethical discussion for those involved.

You borrowed the money, you owe the money. Why should you not pay it back? Yes the property you own dropped below what you borrowed. The same house in your neighborhood can be bought for a fraction of what you owe. You think, just walk away from it and let the bank take the loss, but if the property had gone up in value would you be trying to give money back to the bank? I don't think so, that was not the deal. The loan was not contingent on property values staying up. If you loaned money to a friend and he lost it wouldn't you still expect him to pay it back?

On the other hand weren't the banks greedy making all the loans they could, encouraging you to lie about your income, the "no documentation liar loan"? Any one with a pulse could borrow half a million dollars. The bankers were receiving huge bonuses and the federal government was encouraging it all. You have a little savings for retirement or the kid's college fund. Now, throw it all away to support Wall Street? Didn't the banks know that they were taking a gamble making all these high risk loans? It was a calculated business decision based on the value of your real estate. They calculated wrong. You don't pay, they foreclose. It is all spelled out plain and simple in the mortgage documents.

Interesting question let me know what you think.

http://kwhomes.net/
http://joannetarantino.blogspot.com/
http://activerain.joannetarantino.com/