M&E Associates of Miami, Inc.

Frequently Asked Questions

1.	What is an HOA?

2.	What is a Condo?

3.	What is property management?

4.	What is a property management company for?

5.	How can I reach M&E Associates of Miami, Inc.?

6.	What are CC&R's?

7.	What is a bylaw?

8.	What is a developer?

9.	What is a board of directors?

10.	What is a member?

11.	What is an assessment?

12.	What does my assessment cover?

13.	When are my assessments due? What is the late fee amount?

14.	How do I pay my assessments? Can I pay with credit card directly to M&E?

15.	What happens if I don't pay my assessment?

16.	What is a committee? How many committees are there? Requirements to join a committee?

17.	What is required of me if I am selling/renting my house?

18.	What is the screening fees? Deposit Fees?

19.	What is the fee for an estoppel? How do I submit an estoppel request?

20.	What is the fee for a 'PUD' aka condominium questionnaire?

1.	What is an HOA?

HOA, is an abbreviation for homeowners' association, which is the legal entity created by a real estate developer for the purpose of developing, managing and selling a community of homes. It is given the authority to enforce the covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs) and to manage the common amenities of the development. It allows the developer to legally exit responsibility of the community typically by transferring ownership of the association to the homeowners (AKA Turnover) after selling off a predetermined number of lots. Most homeowners' associations are non-profit corporations, and are subject to state statutes that govern non-profit corporations and homeowners' associations.

2.	What is a Condo?

Condo is an abbreviation for condominium, which is a form of housing tenure where a specified part of a piece of real estate (usually of an apartment house) is individually owned while use of and access to common facilities in the piece such as hallways, heating system, elevators, exterior areas is executed under legal rights associated with the individual ownership and controlled by the association of owners that jointly represent ownership of the whole piece. Colloquially, the term is often used to refer to the unit itself in place of the word "apartment".

3.	What is property management?

Property management is the operation of commercial, industrial and/or residential real estate. This is much akin to the role of management in any business.

4.	What is a property management company for?

A management company is contracted by the Developer or Board of Directors to provide such services as: General common area maintenance, Collection of assessments, supervision of subcontractors, obtaining proposals for subcontracted services, providing un-audited financial statements and collection reports. Overall management serves as a general clearing house for problem solving. In an advisor form they provide communications between owners and the Developers/Board of Directors. The management company reports directly to the Developers/Board of Directors.

5.	How can I reach M&E Associates of Miami, Inc.?

They may be reached the fastest via-online, by clicking on e-mail to direct staff member you are trying to reach. You may also reach them via-phone, by seeing listed numbers and/or visit them at their main office.

6.	What are CC&R's?

CC&R's abbreviation for Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions, which are the governing legal documents that set up the guidelines for the operation of the community as a non-profit corporation. A real covenant is a legal obligation imposed in a deed by the seller upon the buyer of real estate to do or not to do something. Such restrictions frequently "run with the land" and are enforceable on subsequent buyers of the property. Examples might be to maintain a property in a reasonable state of repair, to preserve a sight-line for a neighboring property, not to run a business from a residence, or not to build on certain parts of the property. Failure to abide by the set CC&R's may result in penalties, fines and/or legal action by the Association.

7.	What is a bylaw?

A bylaw most commonly refers to a city or municipal law or ordinance, passed under the authority of a charter or provincial/state law specifying what things may be regulated by the municipality.

8.	What is a developer?

A developer or property developer makes improvements of some kind to real property, thereby increasing its value. In legal form the developer may be an individual, but is more often a partnership, limited liability company or corporation. There are two major categories of real estate development activity: land development and building development (also known as project development).

9.	What is a board of directors?

Associations are non-profit corporations which have many business matters to handle and therefore a governing body is required to oversee its business. The Board of Directors is elected by the members of the association, or as otherwise specified in the bylaws. The limitation and restrictions of the powers of the Board of Directors are outlined in the Association governing documents found within the Resource Center page of this site.

10.	What is a member?

"Member" means a member of an association, and may include, but is not limited to, a parcel owner or an association representing parcel owners or a combination thereof, and includes any person or entity obligated by the governing documents to pay an assessment or amenity fee.

11.	What is an assessment?

An assessment is the owner's financial obligation to the Association during a given period of time - usually the budgeted fiscal year. The assessment is the owner's share from the budgeted monthly common expenses and is a binding legal obligation based on the governing documents.

12.	What does my assessment cover?

Assessments cover a range of operating expenses, if you wish to have an exact detail of the coverage you may refer to your association budget. If you do not have a copy of your current budget, you may request one from management. Just to give you an idea of some of the usual operating expenses:

Landscape maintenance for common areas
Utilities for common areas
Insurances
Miscellaneous maintenance for common areas
Taxes, Fees
Management Fees
Security Fees (If applicable)
Janitorial Fees (If applicable)

13.	When are my assessments due? What is the late fee amount?

The monthly assessments are due on the 1st of each month and delinquent after the 15th. A $25.00 Late fee will be charged if payment is not received by the 15th.

14.	How do I pay my assessments? Can I pay with credit card directly to M&E?

If approved by the Board, each year a coupon booklet is mailed to each owner. Coupon booklets depending on bank provider have specific instructions on how to make payments. If you are in an association that has a "Master" association and/or "Clubhouse", you normally will have a coupon booklet for each association. You may Not pay with a credit card directly to M&E, but some bank providers do except credit cards. If you have further questions, you may always e-mail anyone in the accounting department.

15.	What happens if I don't pay my assessment?

The CC&R's allow the Association to charge late fees and interest in most associations. Furthermore proceed with a lien on property and foreclosure proceeding non-compliance with lien. Management has the obligation to enforce collections policies set in your associations bylaws. Please keep in mind that payment of the monthly operating expenses incurred by the Association are dependent upon timely receipt of the owner's assessments.

16.	What is a committee? How many committees are there? Requirements to join a committee?

A committee is a type of small deliberative assembly that is usually intended to remain subordinate to another, larger deliberative assembly. Committees often serve several different functions some for example are as follows: Governance, Coordination, Research & Recommendations, Project management, and Reviewing. There are many committees most associations have at least two more known 1. VCC-Violations Control Committee- 2. ACC-Architectural Modification Committee- , but some associations create others such as: Crime Watch Committee, Social Committee, Community Development Committee, and many more. Requirements to join depend on the associations regulations set, but generally to join you must be a member of the association and be in good standing with the association: By A. Not have more than one month outstanding assessments B. Not have any violations are large history of violations C. Not have any litigation with the Association D. Not be absent for more than three (3) consecutive times from a Meeting without proper notification.

17.	What is required of me if I am selling/renting my house?

Inform your real estate agent of the existence of the Homeowners Association and provide them a copy of the governing documents. You are also responsible for informing the new owner about the Homeowners Association, how it operates and what the individual resident's responsibilities are. Don't forget to explain the assessment. We recommend this information be included in the listing.

18.	What is the screening fees? Deposit Fees?

These fees vary from association to association. The average screening fee is from $100-$150 Regular service of 7-10 Business Days and $125.00-$175.00 Rush Service of 5-7 Business Days. Money Order & Company check are the only acceptable forms of payment and they must be payable to the legal association name.

19.	What is the fee for an estoppel? How do I submit an estoppel request?

The estoppel fee is $200.00 Regular Service of 6-10 Business Days and $225.00 Rush Service of 3-5 Business Days. Money order or company check are the ONLY acceptable forms of payment and they must be payable to M&E Associates of Miami, Inc.

You must request the estoppel along with payment, be sure to include Fax # and Mailing address where the completed estoppel should be sent to. We DO NOT work with fax requests only originals. Remember each association requires an estoppel.

For an updated estoppel, please contact our Estoppel Department at 305-552-7855, ext: 109, Monday - Friday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

20.	What is the fee for a 'PUD' aka condominium questionnaire?

The PUD fee is $150.00 Regular Service of 10 Business Days and $175.00 Rush Service of 5 Business Days. Money Order & Company check are the only acceptable forms of payment and they must be payable to M&E Associates of Miami, Inc. You must PUD request in form with payment, be sure to include Fax # and Mailing address where the completed PUD should be sent to.