Condominium and planned community formation give developers and other property owners options in the sale and use of their property. With new construction, the decision to form a condominium or planned community may be based upon meeting ordinance requirements, wanting to achieve a certain design, or marketing reasons. Applying a condominium scheme of ownership to an existing non-residential property allows the owner to create units which can be sold or rented, as desired; it can also provide an option to an owner who has been trying unsuccessfully to sell a large rental property and believes smaller units will be more desirable, with the added benefit that the new unit owners will be contributing towards the maintenance costs of the building and land.
Whatever your reason, you need a lawyer who is well-versed in the legal requirements for the documents that create condominiums and planned communities, and who has a clear understanding of the proper management and control of these types of communities. The formation, governance and sales of condominiums and planned communities are strictly bound by the detailed state laws that permit them in Pennsylvania, known as the Uniform Condominium Act and the Uniform Planned Communities Act. It is important to comply with the legal requirements for the community. It is also important to have documents which assist the owner in marketing and selling units, and which work for the management and operation of the community throughout its lifespan.
I help my clients decide whether a condominium or planned community is appropriate for their goals and their property. Once you reach a decision, I guide you through the many choices that need to be made to achieve your project goals. I have many years of experience forming condominiums and planned communities, including the creation of "tiered" planned communities for large multi-use projects, combining a master association to oversee community-wide concerns with sub-associations which serve the needs of the individual sections of the community. I have also helped many clients create residential and non-residential condominiums for new construction, and create condominiums for existing commercial and industrial buildings.
My thorough knowledge of the legal and operational requirements of condominiums and planned communities has also enabled me to give guidance to condominium and community associations.
The services I provide my clients include:
- Formation of new residential, office and commercial condominiums and planned communities.
- Conversion of existing commercial and industrial buildings into commercial / industrial condominiums
- Preparing the Declaration, Bylaws and, where applicable, the Public Offering Statement required for the creation of the condominium or planned community and the marketing of units
- Preparing Agreement of Sale provisions addressing condominium and planned community matters
- Incorporating the association
- Preparing amendments to Declarations and Bylaws
- Preparing documentation required to transfer Declarant rights
- Assisting the Declarant in turning over control of the association as required by law
- Advising condominium and planned community associations in evaluating, enforcing and amending their regulationsResources:
Pennsylvania Condominium Formation Process information sheet
Forming a Planned Community in Pennsylvania
Contact me to explore how we can work together to meet your condominium or planned community needs. Email me at caedwards@caedwardsesq.com or call me at 215-504-8840.
215-504-8840