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

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

The following info is specific to Florida ONLY. I have used Pinellas County for illustration purposes only. Each county will have different public records access.

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.