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Nov 11, 2008 11:28 pm US/Eastern
Garbage Piles Up As Foreclosures Pile On
Click Here To Read Carey Codd's Blog
FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4) ―
Two months worth of garbage piled up at the New River Condos dumpster this week. The association says they do not have the money to pay to get it hauled away, and what's happening here is happening at more and more condos and homeowner associations in South Florida.
Increased foreclosures mean less money to pay the bills. The list of problems at New River Condos, like the garbage, grows every day.
"It's really depressing," said resident Kimberla Terry-Miller.
She says the condo association owes thousands of dollars for garbage collection, the electric bill to operate the washers and dryers, and the water bill.
"The end result of this property is we're gonna be shut down," she said.
They don't even have insurance. The problem Terry-Miller says is foreclosures. Many residents have walked away and with them go hundreds of dollars each month in condo fees.
"We need those fees to operate the property," said Mark Ardois.
Ardois lives in Fairway Greens in Pembroke Pines. There is no pile of trash there, but there are mounting problems because dozens of condos are in foreclosure. There is a pool they can't afford to clean, security gates that don't work and crime. They've suffered break-ins, squatters even an attempted murder.
Ardois says the banks that take over the property are not paying the condo fees like they're supposed to.
"That leaves the rest of us who are paying our fees in a pretty vulnerable position," said Ardois.
It leaves people vulnerable in Pembroke Pines and living in filth in Fort Lauderdale. As the flood of foreclosures grows, so does the garbage.
If you live in an association experts say you should attend your board meetings, ask questions and make sure they are spending your money properly. To read more click on
Carey Codd's Blog.
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