Miami-Dade property values rise for first time in four years - Miami-Dade - MiamiHerald.com
In a small conference room just outside County Hall’s commission chambers, Property Appraiser Pedro J. Garcia explained how county real-estate values rose almost 2 percent, to $190.7 billion, from a year ago, the first year-over-year increase since the real estate market slide began in 2007 – and a slight increase over his earlier estimate in late May.
“What we are seeing is a recovery period for Miami-Dade County,” Garcia said.
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Nice to see some good news for a change.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Thursday, June 28, 2012
The Consumerist » Condos Sold Without Owners’ Permission For 1/3 Their Value
The Consumerist » Condos Sold Without Owners’ Permission For 1/3 Their Value
"Imagine that you've recently purchased a condo for $100,000. The complex where it's located is about 90% rented, and 10% owner-occupied. The complex's owner struggles, and the whole neighborhood goes up for sale in a foreclosure auction. The new owners dissolve the condo association, since they own all of the rentals, or 90% of the homes in the complex. This gives the owners permission to sell the entire complex at once, including what used to be condos. Your proceeds from having your home sold out from under you: $33,000. You still owe the rest of your mortgage, but have nowhere to live. Condo owners in Reading, Pennsylvania experienced this nightmare recently, and there is no legal way out for them."
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Wow. That's bizarre. I think there are some missing pieces in this story. If a condo association is dissolved it would create a tenancy in common. I'm trying to figure out how owners of 90% of the interests in a tenancy in common can sell 100% of the property. Thanks to Mystery Reader for the pointer.
"Imagine that you've recently purchased a condo for $100,000. The complex where it's located is about 90% rented, and 10% owner-occupied. The complex's owner struggles, and the whole neighborhood goes up for sale in a foreclosure auction. The new owners dissolve the condo association, since they own all of the rentals, or 90% of the homes in the complex. This gives the owners permission to sell the entire complex at once, including what used to be condos. Your proceeds from having your home sold out from under you: $33,000. You still owe the rest of your mortgage, but have nowhere to live. Condo owners in Reading, Pennsylvania experienced this nightmare recently, and there is no legal way out for them."
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Wow. That's bizarre. I think there are some missing pieces in this story. If a condo association is dissolved it would create a tenancy in common. I'm trying to figure out how owners of 90% of the interests in a tenancy in common can sell 100% of the property. Thanks to Mystery Reader for the pointer.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Reliant Energy shuts off neighborhood's power, claims HOA not paying bills | abc13.com
Reliant Energy shuts off neighborhood's power, claims HOA not paying bills | abc13.com:
The Kleinbrook HOA, residents say, is not really an association of homeowners since the HOA is still run by the developer of the neighborhood, Mint Homes. HOA president Mark Falkenstein has not returned our calls or those of residents. "Since 2004, we've never had an accounting of what the expenses and money goes for," Cole said.
"I would like to know what they are doing with that money, because that's my portion and I know a lot of other homeowners have paid theirs. So where is the money going? What are they doing with it?" resident Amy Smith said.
Residents say they're now considering legal action against the HOA and might try to dissolve it.
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More trouble in Privatopia. Film at 10.
The Kleinbrook HOA, residents say, is not really an association of homeowners since the HOA is still run by the developer of the neighborhood, Mint Homes. HOA president Mark Falkenstein has not returned our calls or those of residents. "Since 2004, we've never had an accounting of what the expenses and money goes for," Cole said.
"I would like to know what they are doing with that money, because that's my portion and I know a lot of other homeowners have paid theirs. So where is the money going? What are they doing with it?" resident Amy Smith said.
Residents say they're now considering legal action against the HOA and might try to dissolve it.
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More trouble in Privatopia. Film at 10.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Righthaven receiver moves to fire CEO Steven Gibson - VEGAS INC
Righthaven receiver moves to fire CEO Steven Gibson - VEGAS INC
"The receiver, Lake Tahoe-area attorney Lara Pearson, filed papers in federal court in Las Vegas saying Gibson has been taking actions to harm the company, that she is terminating him and that she plans to have Righthaven sue him for malpractice."
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You may recall that Righthaven is or was a copyright troll outfit that was suing bloggers for posting articles from the Las Vegas Review-Journal and the Denver Post. This article says they filed 275 lawsuits based on assignment of the newspapers' rights. The whole shabby plan crashed and burned when federal courts ruled that Righthaven didn't have standing to sue, and/or that the defendants were protected by the "fair use" doctrine. The company ended up owing $318,000 in attorney fees to the defendants, didn't pay, and had its assets seized and turned over to a receiver. Now the receiver is fed up with Righthaven's post-judgment antics, including a possible appeal, and wants to get the creditors paid before all the assets are dissipated.
"The receiver, Lake Tahoe-area attorney Lara Pearson, filed papers in federal court in Las Vegas saying Gibson has been taking actions to harm the company, that she is terminating him and that she plans to have Righthaven sue him for malpractice."
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You may recall that Righthaven is or was a copyright troll outfit that was suing bloggers for posting articles from the Las Vegas Review-Journal and the Denver Post. This article says they filed 275 lawsuits based on assignment of the newspapers' rights. The whole shabby plan crashed and burned when federal courts ruled that Righthaven didn't have standing to sue, and/or that the defendants were protected by the "fair use" doctrine. The company ended up owing $318,000 in attorney fees to the defendants, didn't pay, and had its assets seized and turned over to a receiver. Now the receiver is fed up with Righthaven's post-judgment antics, including a possible appeal, and wants to get the creditors paid before all the assets are dissipated.
Monday, June 25, 2012
MissileBases.com
Missile Bases : not just for missiles anymore!
"Thank you for your interest in the unique underground structures we offer for sale. These historic cold war structures were each built at the cost of millions of taxpayer dollars. These earth-contact hardened nuclear-proof structures are some of the strongest construction ever built on the planet. No cost was spared. They are the 20th Century’s counterpart of the fortified castles of past centuries. They bring new meaning to the word "shelter". Centuries from now they will remain."
"Thank you for your interest in the unique underground structures we offer for sale. These historic cold war structures were each built at the cost of millions of taxpayer dollars. These earth-contact hardened nuclear-proof structures are some of the strongest construction ever built on the planet. No cost was spared. They are the 20th Century’s counterpart of the fortified castles of past centuries. They bring new meaning to the word "shelter". Centuries from now they will remain."
Vivos Underground Shelter Network - YouTube
Vivos Underground Shelter Network - YouTube
This is even better than an above-ground gated community. But these people haven't read The Masque of the Red Death.
This is even better than an above-ground gated community. But these people haven't read The Masque of the Red Death.
Outsourcing Sandy Springs - Video Library - The New York Times
Outsourcing Sandy Springs - Video Library - The New York Times
This is the video version of the piece I linked to below. I am in it.
This is the video version of the piece I linked to below. I am in it.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
A Georgia Town Takes the People’s Business Private - NYTimes.com
A Georgia Town Takes the People’s Business Private - NYTimes.com
"The prospect of more Sandy Springs-style incorporations concerns people like Evan McKenzie, author of “Privatopia: Homeowner Associations and the Rise of Residential Private Government.” He worries that rich enclaves may decide to become gated communities writ large, walling themselves off from areas that are economically distressed."
"The prospect of more Sandy Springs-style incorporations concerns people like Evan McKenzie, author of “Privatopia: Homeowner Associations and the Rise of Residential Private Government.” He worries that rich enclaves may decide to become gated communities writ large, walling themselves off from areas that are economically distressed."
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