Miami-Dade offering condo owners assistance if hit with repair assessments
MIAMI - Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava was present at a town hall in Aventura on Wednesday to discuss a new program the county is rolling out regarding condo owners facing special assessments for structural repairs.
Going forward the county will have a zero percent interest 40-year loan for qualifying condo owners facing special assessments for structural repairs.
The county knows the financial burden homeowners have faced because of these special assessments.
Many times, like the case in the 5050 NW 7th Street building, homeowners have had to pay assessment fees and mortgage payments on top of new housing costs because they were forced out.
The owners were out of their homes for more than a year after the building was deemed unsafe and repairs were made.
Homeowner Mayra Gutierrez, who lives in the 5050 building, told CBS4, "Luckily my unit is paid for but I was still paying the monthly maintenance fee and, so far, two assessment fees and paying rent at the other place. So, it's been tough."
"We are the flagship condominium municipality in the state of Florida," said Howard Weinberg, who has been mayor of Aventura for 90 days.
"I've already been hit, it's happening left and right," said Weinberg, referring to a $30,000 dollars special assessment he says he received for the condo where he lives.
According to the U.S. Census, over 40,000 people live in the City of Aventura. Local officials say over 90% live in condos. That is the reason the mayor says Miami Dade chose Aventura to launch this program.
Who qualifies?
Anyone making up to 140% of the median income for Miami-Dade County, that is $95,620 for a single-person household, $109,200 for a two-person household, and $136,500 for a family of four.
"We received a special assessment for about $50,000 dollars per unit," said Lillian Katzin, she already paid her share through a payment plan with interests. She is also over 65 years old and says it is difficult for people with fixed incomes to face unexpected charges.
"I think it's a fabulous program because first of all what is going to be happening in so many communities will be getting hit with this 40-year certification thing (for their condos) and have money for their reserves studies," said Katzin.
Mayor Weinberg said everything changed since Surfside (tragedy). "It's about no longer waiving reserves on infrastructure."
