Floridians deserve transparency in lifestyle community fees. This bill delivers it
Among the many reasons people want to call Florida home is the quality of the state's communities and the ability to enjoy year-round activities. That's why so-called lifestyle communities are so popular — offering residents amenities to socialize, play tennis and pickleball, swim, golf and enjoy a range of other activities.
It's like having a country club in your own backyard and Florida developers have been building them since the 1990s.
The amenities can help bolster property values, but just like joining a country club, they aren't free — and a confusing mishmash of homeowners associations and special districts can make it hard for residents to know exactly where their assessments and taxes are going.
However, a bill pending in the Florida Legislature aims to correct that with a package of consumer protections that give buyers and owners more clarity and long-term control over the amenities that may have drawn them to a particular community in the first place.
Community developers build these clubs to offer high-end fitness centers, pools, beautiful clubhouses, courses and courts that make lifestyle communities such desirable places to live, but the costs incurred to build and operate them are separate from the expenses related to common areas overseen by HOAs.
However, one judge in central Florida lumped club fees in with other fees like common area lawn care and landscaping.
Florida House Bill 579 would clarify that private recreational amenities are stand-alone entities with new, mandatory disclosures inclusive of additional financial reporting requirements so homeowners know where every dollar is spent.
This is good for Floridians because HB 579 simultaneously adds transparency and protection that are not in current state law.
For example, the recreational covenants under HB 579 would provide potential buyers unprecedented insight into how amenity fees are calculated, assessed, changed and spent. It would also let buyers knows who can use the amenities, who owns and operates them and how much profit (if any) they generate.
Importantly, HB 579 clarifies collection of amenity fees is not the homeowners' associations obligation, and rightly puts that burden on the amenity owner. And amenity owners would face annual caps on how much amenity fees could be raised each year. None of these protections are in current law.
In addition, residents would better understand where those fees go because HB 579 would amend the information included in an HOA's annual financial reports required under the HOA Act to include information provided to them related to amenity dues, amenities, and operational costs and expenses.
In addition, under current law, if the owner of an amenity wants to sell, it can — with only limited input from the homeowners with the most at stake. HB 579, by contrast, empowers homeowners with the first right of refusal to buy the facilities and a six-month notice period to decide. That's a huge improvement to Florida law, which currently does not include this option.
Florida's weather and beaches make it the Sunshine State, but the moniker could just as easily apply to the transparency laws that legislators have put in place over the years to protect consumers, homeowners and taxpayers.
HB 579 adds more sunshine to the books and ensures that residents in one of Florida's fastest-growing types of communities have the information and power they need to truly enjoy the lifestyle they were promised.
Jeb Bush is a two-time Republican governor of Florida, serving from 1999 to 2007. He is a leader in education and consumer advocacy. Bush is also a consultant for Lennar, which is a member of a coalition supporting HB 579.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Saving for a storm while it's already raining: Florida readies budget fund to offset federal cuts
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — With growing signs of a financial squeeze from Washington, including potential cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and FEMA, Florida lawmakers are preparing not just for state budget cuts but also for uncertainty in D.C. The state relies on federal dollars for nearly one-third of its budget and any disruptions from D.C. could have a ripple effect here on the state level. So, the question is, are lawmakers doing enough to protect Floridians from the unexpected?'I do not believe in raising taxes. We agree in the opposite. Cutting taxes, cutting spending, wasteful spending,' said House Speaker Danny Perez (R-Miami). 'What we're doing is, we are putting the state in a position that, god forbid, we are in a recession, we are in the 2000s all over again, we have a budget stabilization fund that would be able to backstop and protect Floridians from having to be in an uncomfortable position.' Senate and House leadership say they are leaning on the budget stabilization fund, the state's rainy day reserve, in case of a recession, rising costs, or federal pull-back. 'We're doing things to make Florida's balance sheet more durable and difficult times, and we're setting more money aside to have as rainy-day reserves if things get difficult, that's a win that's a win,' said Senate President Ben Albritton (R-Wauchula). But not everyone at the statehouse agrees that leadership's strategy is hitting the right mark.'You don't get to talk about saving money for a rainy day when it's still raining, when it's already raining on the people of Florida,' said State Rep. Fentrice Driskell (D-Tampa). House Minority Leader Driskell said we shouldn't be cutting funding, we should be expanding the budget. 'It seems to me there's a lot of hot air about this Budget Stabilization Fund. There's a lot of hot air about saving money for a rainy day. But guess what? You only get to do that after you've met all of your other obligations,' said Driskell. 'The question is, do I believe this budget prepares Florida for what could be coming out of the DOGE cuts or just the changes that come out of Washington, D.C? And I would say yes,' said Senate President Albritton. It's now day 102 of the 60-day session, and Budget Chairs have been working all week, racing to finalize the final spending plan, which is now expected for a Monday vote. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
18% of Las Vegas home deals fell through in April — but is it a sign the market is turning in buyers' favor?
Home buyers in Las Vegas are walking away from contracts in increasing numbers. High interest rates, financial anxiety and an oversupplied market are pushing many to rethink their purchases before closing. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) A recent Redfin report found 14.3% of U.S. homes under contract in April were canceled, marking the second-highest April cancellation rate on record, behind only the pandemic-era spike in April 2020. In Las Vegas, the rate was even higher: 18.6% of purchase agreements fell through, placing the city eighth among major U.S. metros for canceled deals. Here are two of the main reasons for the growing trend. Higher mortgage rates and skyrocketing home prices are driving many to the brink. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate hit 6.85% in June, more than double what it was during pandemic lows. That kind of increase can add hundreds — even thousands — to monthly payments when taxes and insurance are included. 'Groceries have been high, gas has been high, utilities have been high,' said Jillian Batchelor, a Southern Nevada realtor, in an interview with 8 News Now. 'So buyers are more payment-conscious or payment-savvy than they really ever have been.' And with inflation still weighing on American households, some prospective buyers are having trouble securing final approval. Others are rethinking whether they can afford the total cost once they see the final numbers — including homeowners association (HOA) fees and insurance premiums. Redfin agents nationwide are also seeing buyers hesitate due to broader economic and political instability — including layoffs, tariffs and federal policy uncertainty. Another recent Redfin survey found that nearly 1 in 4 Americans scrapped plans for a major purchase this year due to tariffs. Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says — and that 'anyone' can do it The housing market in Las Vegas is also experiencing a surge in listings. '[A] buyer goes under contract,' Batchelor told 8 News Now. 'And all of a sudden a week later they see, 'oh there's five more homes available in that neighborhood, this one might be nicer, this one might have more upgrades.'' With inventory now at a five-year high nationally, according to Redfin, this scenario is becoming increasingly common — especially in states like Nevada, Texas and Florida, where new home construction has surged. Buyers feel less pressure to settle, knowing there may be better deals just around the corner. That confidence is reshaping buyer behavior. According to Redfin's report, five of the 10 metros with the highest cancellation rates are in Florida — which is a sign that growing supply can tip the scales in favor of consumers. While Las Vegas may be an extreme case, the underlying issues — affordability and market saturation — are national in scope. From Riverside, California to Atlanta, Georgia (which led the country with a 20% contract cancellation rate), buyers are hitting the brakes. This shift may suggest that while the housing market may be cooling, affordability is still out of reach for many Americans. Still, Redfin economists predict some relief later in 2025, with home prices expected to drop modestly as demand softens. In the meantime, buyers are urged to do their research, stay flexible and be ready to walk if the numbers don't add up. As Batchelor put it, 'All of this is just an adjustment to probably (…) equalize the playing field — maybe a little bit more.' Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now This tiny hot Costco item has skyrocketed 74% in price in under 2 years — but now the retail giant is restricting purchases. Here's how to buy the coveted asset in bulk Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Axios
3 days ago
- Axios
Florida restaurant tips among lowest in U.S.
Floridians aren't the worst tippers in the country — but just barely. State of play: Tips averaged 18.2% in the first quarter of this year, per Toast's latest restaurant trends report. That's tied with Nevada for the third-lowest in the U.S., followed by Washington (17.8%) and California (17.3%). The highest was Delaware, at 22.1%. The big picture: Average nationwide tips at full-service restaurants rose from 19.3% in Q4 2024 to 19.4% in Q1 2025, according to Toast. "This is down from a pandemic high of 19.9%, but closer to what Toast observed in 2018 and 2019," per the report. Tips at quick-service joints held steady at 15.8%. How it works: That's based on data from restaurants using Toast; cash tips aren't included.
