Product Description

New Neighborhoods is a non-fiction consumer's guide that details the most important aspects of buying or living in a Shared Ownership Community (condo, co-op, or HOA) as well as provides in-depth information on how to effectively serve as a board member or volunteer. It uses humor, anecdotes and a relaxed, conversational writing style to explain what has become a very difficult legal and social minefield.

The book guides readers through choosing their home; clarifies their rights and responsibilities; explains how associations operate, collect money and hold meetings and elections; and also details some of the crazy rules and regulations that have arisen around the country--and how to know when to follow them.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #84154 in Books
• Published on: 2009-08-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 246 pages

Review
Imagine that you've just opened up the board game Monopoly for the first time. You're sitting around the coffee table with your family and everyone's excited, then you discover that there are no rules in the box. In fact, there are no printed rules anywhere. So, being the ingenious parent that you are, you and your family come up with your own rules to play and Family Game Night proceeds unfettered. Nice job. But what happens when your family decides to play against another family, and they've come up with their own set of rules? What happens when you go to a tournament and everyone has defined the rules in accordance with their own Family Game Night? This is kind of what its like to organize a housing community. Everybody has the same pieces, and the same goal, but nobody quite knows what rules work best. That's where Gary and Ryan Poliakoff come in like Moses from the mountain and deliver unto us the definitive guide for living in these dens of litigious chaos, "New Neighborhoods: The Consumer's Guide to Condominium, Co-op, and HOA Living." Essentially, this is the rule book. It offers a point by point compendium for how condominiums, cooperatives, and planned developments typically work, so that when somebody decides to make their home a day care center next door, and suddenly your back yard succumbs to a child infestation, you have a quick resource for what you can do about it. You'll also learn the laws regarding what actually belongs to you, and what belongs to the community, what you can sell, and a general sense of what say you have in what goes on in your development. I say 'general sense' because every development is different, and in those gray areas where laws vary from state to state, the Poliakoffs have taken special care to point you in the right direction for further research. All of the information contained in "New Neighborhoods" would be a godsend in itself, as I've never seen such a book before that wasn't over 1000 pages and didn't have a plain leather face that had the word 'Law' printed in gold lettering on the cover. Indeed, "New Neighborhoods" has quite a bit of legalese in it, but the authors' delivery is often spot-on hilarious, and the comic illustrations offer wonderful relief to the complicated ins and outs of statutes, rules and regulations, collections, maintenance, et cetera, et cetera. The Poliakoffs speak with such a natural dialogue and verve that reading many of these chapters repeatedly is easy (which, believe me, you will have to do if you want to learn it). The chapters and subheadings are short and accessible for those who need to cruise through on high speed to find a particular section. The only regretful omission is that of a glossary for some of these overwhelming terms, but even that is miniscule in comparison with the vast amounts of knowledge contained in this short, expertly written, hand book. Even in my short adult life, I have amassed enough experience to understand the vast gray area that comes with living under a homeowner's association. Most of the time residents are powerless against the board, making each development feel like its own tiny dictatorship and, with "New Neighborhoods", The Poliakoffs have just handed us the Magna Carta. With cartoons. --Eric Jones for BookReview.com

About the Author
Gary Poliakoff, one of the world's foremost authorities on community association law, is the author of a nationally published treatise, The Law of Condominium Operations. Ryan Poliakoff is inaugural president of The Ocean Palms, a $100 million condominium property in South Florida.

Customer Reviews

A great book for anyone in a condo, HOA or co-op
I am the vice president of the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents. Not only was this book a valuable resource, but also a great read. As an insurance agent for over 25 years in Florida, many of the issues addressed in the book have been situations we come across everyday. With so many gray areas with regards to who covers what, not only is it important to understand your obligations but also those of the association. I started my post college life in a "normal" residential community, I "stepped" up to a HOA in a new single family home community. I soon after realized, when I tried to paint my house, how limited my rights where. I am now a resident in a high rise in south Florida and have learned to accept that "love thy neighbor" has a whole new meaning, you no longer need to love them or even like them, but you need to know you are "partners" with them and the old adage stands true, partner-"ships" are the toughest "ships" to sail.

As the Poliakoff's say, read your governing documents, I say read the book first!

New Neighborhoods-The low down on Condos, Co-ops and HOAs.
At last, New Neighborhoods, The Consumers Guide to Condominium, Co-op and HOA Living is the ideal introduction for everybody considering living in a shared ownership community. It describes the advantages and the responsibilities and it explains why the owners must be actively involved in the management.

The book achieves the delicate balance between reflecting the obvious expertise of the authors and the danger of being too legalistic. In fact the information in this book will be of direct value throughout the United States even though the specific laws vary from state to state. This is not a legal reference.

This book should be required reading for every potential buyer and for every person on the board of directors. It is exceedingly well written, is easy to read, and is truly informative. These opinions are based on 20 years experience in the field.

A must read for anyone considering condo living
New Neighborhoods is written by experts on living in a Co-op, HOA and condo living and gives you a great insight into how living in a home governed by an association affects you. This book is really an eye opener if you are considering condo living, things you may never have thought of are all covered in this easy to read, detailed book. Communication is key, when a condo buyer doesn't feel fully informed, it breeds unhappiness. Avoid any mis-communications, lack of information and any questions you might have by picking up a copy of this book.
I learned that in the United States over 60 million people live in shared ownership communities! This book can help anyone who does live in a shared ownership community to understand and know what their rights and their obligations are in this type of living environment. Learn the advantages and disadvantages of shared owner ship and use this knowledge to make an educated decision on if this is for you and your family.
This book is a must read before you make a decision on that condo!