Mr. Hoffman, who has been em- ployed by the accounting firm since 1983, specializes in the real estate industry, estate planning and fiduciary taxation. SHARON MITCHELSON of St. Clair Shores has been named assistant controller for promo- tions at the Fourmidable Group, one of Southeast Michigan's largest property management companies. Ms. Mitchelson will supervise the Processing De- partment for accounts receivable and accounts payable at Four- midable's corporate office in Farmington Hills. She also will provide accounting support for Fourmidable's community offices. ❑ Do Your Homework Looking to move into a condominium? It's a good idea to read the association's bylaws. R.J. KING SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS I magine living in a condomini- um development which places a limit on the weight of dogs, requires permission for a par- ty of 15 or more people or disal- lows automobile repairs inside community boundaries, even for a flat tire. Now imagine flouting one of these restrictions, winding up in court for breach of contract and being asked to pay for court fees, legal representation and dam- ages. In some cases, violating res- idents may have to cover attorney fees for the condominium associ- ation initiating the suit. "People buying into condo- miniums don't expect to wind up in court, but they only own the in- side walls, not the outside or the common areas," said Arthur Y. Liss, a senior partner with Liss and Associates, a law firm in Bloomfield Hills which specializes in litigation proceedings. "With regard to the outside, the bylaws may specify what kind of furniture is on a deck, the color of the deck and the type of flowers in a garden, if a garden is allowed at all. When there's a dispute and it can't be settled, you can rack up thousands of dollars in attorney fees and get virtually nothing." A case in point: A condomini- um resident in Oakland County was sued in 1990 for falling be- hind in monthly association fees. The association, which brought suit, asked that the defendant make payment with interest for the back fees as well as pick up all attorney costs, which after three years in court totaled $14,000. The judge agreed to the asso- ciation's request, but only award- ed $15 plus a few nominal filing fees. In the court's final opinion, District Court Judge Ralph H. Nelson wrote: "This Court grant- ed (the Association) thousands of dollars in attorney fees in a pri- or matter involving a (resident) who, on numerous occasions, had a vehicle parked in a fire lane, be- cause that was a threat to the community. "In the present case, the Court does not find any reason to raise the Association above any other creditor by granting attorney fees, where there has been no credible evidence supporting the theory that this action ... was necessary to protect the well being of the community." So how to stay out of court? At- torneys advise potential buyers to read over condominium bylaws before moving in. If any restric- tions prove too irksome, other as- sociations may be more obliging. And if a dispute does arise, settle it out of court. Apart from potential legal en- tanglements, condominium asso- ciations have increased in recent years in response to mid- dle-class fears of crime, scarcity of land (which makes communal living more attractive) and cuts in local and state taxes. The same people who vote down taxes will pay monthly association fees to maintain their own roads, street lamps and landscaping. "The main benefit of condo- minium associations is that they keep property values up," said Bob Stillman, vice president of Crosswinds Communities Inc. in Novi, which has built over 1,300 condominium residences. "When you buy a condominium and drive by, the exterior always looks good because the commu- nity is paying for common main- tenance. "Associations keep costs down for everyone, and whatever you buy today and sell down the road, you want it to have curb appeal. People also can enjoy swimming pools or tennis courts at little cost." Stillman said association fees range from $75 to $200 per month, depending on the ameni- ties. He said fees may be more if there is a private security force. In many respects, condomini- um associations have formed a new layer of private government. According to the Community Associations Institute, there were 150,000 condominium groups last year, helping ad- minister the lives of 35 million people — or one out of every sev- en Americans. The average size of each condominium group was 543 housing units. ❑ Visit the Investment Specialists at Sterling Birmingham — William Wessels 646 8787 - West Bloomfield — Chris Yezbick 855 6644 - Southfield bank &trust Penalty for early withdrawal. Annual percentage rate effective as of July 1, 1994. — Jeffrey Thompson 355 9831 - Renaissance Center — Todd Hegler 393-4920 FDIC ENSURED Summertime is here. Now, let's talk about your hair. Tired of your thin hair problems? Call Raydiance and see what a customized hairpiece can do for your sense of style and self esteem. With Raydiance, there's no bonding, wefting, tracking, surgery, fusing or glueing. Let Raydiance's patented open net base design work for you this summer . . . and all year long. Call today for your free, private consultation. 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