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BeachPlace Towers - 9.4% increase for 2018 [Merged]

pwrshift

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Got the 'proposed' budget for 2018 today - still has to be approved by the board Nov.6 and it calls for the following:


Marriott BeachPlace Towers - Platinum Annual

Property Tax Fee 98.40 - 5.8% increase
Replacement Reserve 411.67 - 11.6% increase
Operating Fee 1,188.04 - 5.1% increase

Total: $1,622.71 (2017 - $1,482.98)

$139.73 - 9.4% increase

Abnormal Increases: Bad Debt +57%; Telephone =26.6%
 

dioxide45

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Since it is only proposed, it likely also includes amounts considering fully funding the reserves. Something that is likely to be waived when taken to the ownership to vote. It was discussed in your thread about the 2017 MFs here.
 

hangloose

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Did Beachplace experience any hurricane damage from IRMA, this a one time special assessment add? Or no?
 

WBP

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Beach Place' maintenance fee has been above almost all other MVC resorts on the continent, since the get-go. The variance between Beach Place Towers maintenance fee, and other resorts on the continent (except Heritage Club), may be about the same today, as it was when BPT opened. I remember looking at BPT maintenance fee when the resort was in preconstruction sales, and thinking, wow, that's a lot of money. Then BPT opened, and I quickly realized that the resort could use another elevator or two.
 
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dioxide45

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Are you looking at an estimated budget or an actual MF invoice?
 

AlmostRetired

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The variance between Beach Place Towers maintenance fee, and other resorts on the continent (except Heritage Club).

Can't speak to MBT so sorry for going off topic but the Heritage Club has 2 rounds of golf plus cart per day covered in the MF. I believe this is the reason it may be higher than many. I do not own their but I have traded into it twice.
 

vacationhopeful

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While NOT a BP owner, I have stayed there twice and own multiple deeded weeks about a mile up A1A.

My opinion: The shopping mall is not (or I should say, never been) fully rented. The BP car parking fee is not cheap nor is getting in & out of the parking garage easy. While the resort appears in photos to be beachfront, after hiking 'over hill and dale' and then crossing at the light over 4 lanes of traffic ... you can then set your foot on beach sand.... after getting you, the family & beach pack mule to the water & sand.

Now, my resort up the road, has a shorter walk to the beach .. crossing A1A at the light. Need food or drink ... pick among several places featuring way more food choices. Sit outdoors looking at the ocean or indoors with A/C. Need a strong drink ... got that covered.

PS Beachplace rooms might be a tad nicer .. but I rather pay less MFs and spend less on TIKI bar drinks, resort car parking fees and have a shorter walk to the beach.

PS2 ... My MFs for a 2/2 lockout is under $900 yearly. Trades in RCI & II.
 

tgropp

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Are you looking at an estimated budget or an actual MF invoice?

It's the actual invoice. Hurricane or not, there is always an excuse on why there is always double digit increases. I have only own here for 7 years but can not believe the due increases. I own three Disney contracts and never see anything more than 5%. No wonder they can't sell contracts here
 

Saintsfanfl

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It's the actual invoice. Hurricane or not, there is always an excuse on why there is always double digit increases. I have only own here for 7 years but can not believe the due increases. I own three Disney contracts and never see anything more than 5%. No wonder they can't sell contracts here

Was it really only $1,500 last year? I thought it was much higher than that. If you really want BP just get a GV unit and book there with the Florida Club. BP does not fill up nearly as fast as Ocean Pointe. I reserved President's week a couple weeks ago but I probably got lucky on a cancellation.
 

SueDonJ

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Was it really only $1,500 last year? I thought it was much higher than that. If you really want BP just get a GV unit and book there with the Florida Club. BP does not fill up nearly as fast as Ocean Pointe. I reserved President's week a couple weeks ago but I probably got lucky on a cancellation.

Yep, just slightly higher than $1,500 and that was a huge increase over the year prior because fully-funded reserves weren't waived. (See 2017 MF for BeachPlace Towers [Proposed - may go up 11%].) This year's huge increase in probably due to a one-time "Disaster Recovery" fee like this year's at Ocean Pointe and last year's at all of the South Carolina resorts, in which case as long as there are no catastrophic storms in 2018 then the 2019 fees should be at least less the amount of this year's SA.

BPT Owners, please consider posting the approved 2018 MF's to the sticky thread here.
 

bogey21

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Just got my new invoice. MF's have gone from $1,500 to $1,940 per year. Their MF's have risen close to 100% in seven years. This is insane.

This is why I used to own Week at Silver Seas located 100 yards to North of Beach Place. Same ocean view and a nice pool. Clearly SS is no where as classy as BP but Week was dirt cheap and Resort had free street level parking right behind Resort. If I recall MFs were about half of those at BP.

George
 

MOXJO7282

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The problem with the location is its urban and beach so that adds up high MFs. I know some friends and I really enjoyed our stay there in 2015. It was well located and although across the street from the beach I didn't think it was that far.
 

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The 2018 proposed amount for gold was $1592.61 and for gold was $1622.33. I have not seen anything but just the proposed numbers so far. Irma caused damage and the facility was closed for some time so I can only assume the “extra” money is hurricane damage.
As for parking, if you are an owner there is no charge. To get the beach you do have to cross 2 lanes, not 4, and has been absolutely no problem for my family. I realize one mans trash is another mans treasure but I love staying in that location with great service, spectacular views, great restaurants, night life etc. It’s location, location, location.
I rented for several years and eventually acquired 4 weeks, 2 gold & 2 platinum, on the secondary market for a total of $8,000.00. By owning I have saved $1,500 to $2,500 for a weeks stay. With all that said, I am not real happy about the big increase but it is what it is and hopefully we are spared storm damage going forward.
 

dioxide45

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I guess this isn't unexpected as Marriott, a few years ago, wrestled control from a previously owner controlled and owner friendly board to one that now probably tows the "Marriott line",
 

pedro47

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How far is MBP from the beach (walking)?
 

hangloose

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How far is MBP from the beach (walking)?

MBP is basically right on the beach. It sits on top of BeachPlace Mall, which is right on A1A blvd. For MBP, you just have to take the elevators downstairs, take a short walkway through Beachplace Mall, and then cross A1A blvd. About a 5 min walk from room to beach (pending the elevators, which are still slow!).
 

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The problem with the location is its urban and beach so that adds up high MFs. I know some friends and I really enjoyed our stay there in 2015. It was well located and although across the street from the beach I didn't think it was that far.

While I have never paid attention to MBP maintenance fees, my initial thought is that its smaller footprint (limited landscaping, small pool, etc) help lower maintenance fees in comparison to other FL MVC beach properties. But, perhaps the urban nature of it...being on top of BeachPlace mall, parking, older bldg, etc...help compensate back to higher MFs?

While I don't and will not plan to own MBP, it has grown on me the more times I stay there. An urban beach location like MBP is harder to find. Great beach access, lots of shops/restaurants in walking distance, nice views from both sides (ocean and intracoastal), etc. Just wish Beachplace mall would eventually become more upscale instead of Hooters, hookah bars, cheap t-shirt shops, etc. Guess that's what sells though at this location in Fort Lauderdale?
 

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Crossing A1A is very easy as it is a 2 lane, 1 way street in front of MBP.
 

pedro47

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Thanks for the information about how to access the beach from MBP. I feel much better.
 

pwrshift

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November 17, 2017
Dear Marriott’s BeachPlace Towers Owner:

This letter is intended to provide background information on the impact of Hurricane Irma to the Association’s property as well as how that impact translates to the 2018 maintenance fee budget approved by the Board of Directors.

Marriott’s BeachPlace Towers was directly impacted by Hurricane Irma beginning on September 5, 2017. Broward County issued a mandatory evacuation order and the resort management team was allowed 48 hours to secure the property and evacuate the area. I would like to take this opportunity to commend Rajka Osim, General Manager, and the entire staff at BeachPlace Towers for the great work and care that they took in securing the property prior to the storm and in coordinating the clean-up and restoration of the resort.

From a property standpoint, the degree of damage at BeachPlace Towers varied from water intrusion inside some villas and public spaces to damage which necessitated the complete removal, disposal, and replacement of drywall and carpeting in many areas. The resort was partially re-opened for occupancy on October 1, 2017, and efforts remain ongoing to preserve and repair the Association’s assets and restore the resort to its pre- hurricane condition. The primary damage that occurred to the resort included:

  • Tree and landscape damage

  • Storm debris deposited on the pool deck

  • Water intrusion in some villas

  • Roof damage and exterior façade damage

  • Water damage to the floor and walls of the Activities center and 19th floor lounge

    The Board of Directors and the resort management team worked together to address hurricane cost issues and to minimize the cost of normal operations. As of this writing, the resort management team has estimated that the damage caused by Hurricane Irma will amount to $3,900,000. BeachPlace Towers Condominium Association’s insurance deductible for a named windstorm is $4,369,048 which is based on a percentage of the building value. This means Owners are responsible for the entire amount of the damage up to the amount of the deductible. Your Board of Directors has approved a 2018 maintenance fee budget that includes a one-time ‘Disaster Recovery’ line item in the amount of $367.61 per unit week to recover the costs of the damage from Hurricane Irma.

    Your Board of Directors and Management Team hold take very seriously their shared responsibility to protect the assets of the Owners and thank you in advance for your continued support.

    Warm regards,

    Anthony Fera

    President
    BeachPlace Towers Condominium Association, Inc.
 

pwrshift

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This letter appears to have been written by Marriott for a puppet condo association from which owners hear nothing. The letter is dated November but owners just now are getting them. The communication with owners by staff or the association was terrible after the hurricane. Virtually all hotels on the strip were opened after a couple of days including the Ritz right next door. Was MBP built to less than today's building standards? All owners could hear was a recorded message which told them nothing...no courtesy owner emails in the age of digital. You know what happens with one time increases...count on them being there next year too. I'll bet there will be lots for sale this coming year.
 

pwrshift

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[Link deleted after threads merged.]

This thread updates this one...it was worse than we thought? $1,940 a week for Platinum.
 
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JIMinNC

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This letter appears to have been written by Marriott for a puppet condo association from which owners hear nothing. The letter is dated November but owners just now are getting them. The communication with owners by staff or the association was terrible after the hurricane. Virtually all hotels on the strip were opened after a couple of days including the Ritz right next door. Was MBP built to less than today's building standards? All owners could hear was a recorded message which told them nothing...no courtesy owner emails in the age of digital. You know what happens with one time increases...count on them being there next year too. I'll bet there will be lots for sale this coming year.

Agreed that post-storm communication was poor, to say the least.

As far as the one time increase sticking around until next year, we had the same kind of Disaster Recovery assessment at Barony Beach Club for 2017 after 2016's Hurricane Matthew, although it was only $75. It was listed on the detailed 2017 budget as a special Disaster Recovery line item of the Operating Fee. For 2018, the Disaster Recovery fee went to zero, but the HOA just kept the 2018 maintenance fee at the same level as 2017 ($1351), so the increases in the other categories were absorbed by the elimination of the Disaster fee.
 

JIMinNC

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