TRICKS OF THE TRADE!

The following info is pertinent to Florida only. For purposes of illustration, I am using Pinellas County.

"HOW DO I FIND HOA INFORMATION, AND WHO IS THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY?"

Here are a few tricks to help with this mystery-

1) ASK THE SELLER....Although they might not know offhand, there’s a chance they have received correspondence from them OR know a Board member. Some communities have a web presence that only residents know about.

2) Go to www.sunbiz.org:

• In the Left column select “LOOK UP A BUSINESS NAME”
• Choose the first link “INQUIRE BY NAME”
• Type in the name of your Subdivision in question, it doesn't have to be complete (ex. Try WESTLAKE VILLAGE)
• Scan the search results for something that looks like a community association (WESTLAKE VILLAGE CIVIC ASSOCIATION, INC.)
• Now click on the link, this will tell you who is the President, VP, Sec, etc. of the association.
• 411 the President, and ask them if they are self managed and who the best point of contact is. VOILA!

3) Finding a MANAGEMENT COMPANY is a little more tricky. Often, simply GOOGLING "HOA (enter name) MANAGEMENT COMPANY" will get you the info you need.

4) Another trick is to go to the Clerk's website (www.pinellasclerk.org):
• On left side halfway down select “Recording and Official Records”
• Choose ”Search Official Records”
• Type in the name of the HOA to search
• Select a LIEN that was recently filed.

Usually, an attorney does this for them, but read the Lien itself - it will show the name of the MANAGEMENT COMPANY in the body of the Lien.