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STYLE
A SURVIVAL GUIDE
to Buying, Owning
and
2006
Selling a Condaminiuni
sr:coma IL seuitme,
COOKING with STYLE
A condominium can be
The Culinary Team of The Ritz-Carlton, Dearborn invites you into "their" kitchen
for hands-on instruction in the preparation of an array of foods from around the world.
Participants will sit down to a fabulous dinner, joined by the culinary team, and learn
about wines to accompany the meal as well as tablesetting and presentation ideas from
Leslie Jacobs of Leslie Jacobs Associates. Guests may join the group for dinner only.
Classes are held on Mondays, 5:30 - 8:30 pm Cost: $120 Dinner only: $75
April 17 - Cuisine Chinois
May 22 - Iron Chef American Style #2
June 19 - South of the Rio Grande
July 17 - Summer Superstars
August 14 - Taste of Sicily
a wonderful home...or a disaster.
It's up to you.
ALAN HITSKY
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
September 18 -
Epicurean Delights of Michigan
October 16 - Cuisine of Champagne
To make reservations or for additional infrrmation, please contact Leslie Jacobs at
248.646.4517 or at ljredhead@aol.com. Dates and themes are subject to change.
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12
HOME & GARDEN { MARCH 30 2006
obert Meisner owns two
condominiums — in West
loomfield and Naples, Fla.
It might be easier for him to know
the nuances of owning a condomin-
ium. After all, he's been an expert in
condominium law for nearly 40 years,
helped draft Michigan legislation on
it and has written a weekly newspa-
per column about it for more than 25
years.
An attorney in Bingham Farms, he's
taken his experience and incorpo-
rated it into a 178-page, easy-to-read
paperback that should be a must-read
for anyone contemplating buying a
condominium — whether attached,
detached, a site condo or any other
form.
His book, Condo Living — A
Survival Guide to Buying, Owning
and Selling a Condominium, is a
little scary. Maybe the word should
be informative. "It's good for the pur-
chaser to know what he's going to run
into',' Meisner says.
Part One of the book includes chap-
ters on "Buying and Selling a Condo" :
• I'm Buying What?
• I Know My Rights
• Location, Location, Location
The section on "The Operation of a
Condominium Association" includes:
• The Cast of Characters
• Skeletons in the Closet
• Words of Wisdom
Meisner expects that most new
home construction will be condomini-
ums. With changes in state laws in the
last two decades, it is easier to develop
new subdivisions as condos, rather
than as platted home sites. "Most pur-
chasers may not even realize that it's a
condo project:' he says.
"And, unless you see a condo lawyer
before you sign the purchase agree-
ment, you're not in a position to ask
the right questions."
Nearly 50 percent of the book
is devoted to condo associations.
Meisner believes owners must take an
active role in the governance of their
property, or face unwanted conse-
quences.
RB
November 13 - Italian Countryside
December 11 - The Perfect Buffet
Visit our new office:
taa.
Does the condo board run the prop-
erty in a business-like fashion? Are
they somewhat aggressive in enforcing
the rules? Do they have their policies
in writing so there is continuity? Are
board members more interested in
saving money or in maintaining the
property?
"Boards can go from well-run to
disaster in one vote says Meisner.
He's a firm believer in boards that call
in management and legal experts.
"My central theme is that condo-
minium living is not for everyone.
Condominium living is replete with
pitfalls, trials and tribulations.
"Anyone who is interested in buy-
ing a condominium, regardless of his
socio-economic, religious, geographic
or age group, should birsgorg of the
legal and
practical
aspects of
life in a con-
dominium.
"What
should be
emphasized,
as well, is
that one
must have
Robert Meisner
a particular
personality
and disposition to enjoy condomini-
um living."
The author concludes his book with
maxims about condo boards. Such as:
"If something can go wrong in the
condominium, it will."
Meisner is a lifelong member of
Oakland County-based Congregation
Shaarey Zedek. His office, which has
four attorneys and two legal assis-
tants, advises purchasers and devel-
opers and provides facilitation and
mediation services.
"The perception out there is condo-
Minium living is care-free living. I call
it care-ful living!' ❑
-
"Condo Living - A Survival Guide
to Buying, Owning and Selling a
Condominium," 178 pages, $24.95, is
available from Momentum Books, 2145
Crooks Rd., Suite 208, Troy, MI 48084
(momentumbooks.com) and bookstores.