A Tsunami of CDD Defaults – What To Do? – February 2009

Feb 24, 2009

February 27, 2009
Denise J. Ganz, Esq.

Community development districts are formed under Florida law to finance, manage and maintain basic infrastructure and services for community development. CDDs finance infrastructure improvements by issuing bonds payable from non-ad valorem special assessments levied on property benefitted by the improvements. Most long-established and built-out community development districts are not experiencing financial difficulties. However, as a result of the downturn in the real estate market, it is expected that a sizeable number of newer undeveloped or partially developed community development districts will default in payment of their bonds this year due to the failure of landowners to pay special assessments levied on their property.

If you are a financial institution holding a mortgage on property in a Florida community development district or a bank, bond fund or other institution owning CDD bonds, then you should be prepared to think about the following:

• Whether the CDD collects the special assessments securing its bonds directly or through the County Tax Collector, under the Uniform Method

• Why the method of special assessment collection matters

• How the CDD is collecting its operation and maintenance assessments and how O&M assessment liens can be enforced

• When special assessments can be accelerated

• The pros and cons of triggering foreclosure proceedings – should it be automatic?

• Whether foreclosure proceedings can commence immediately or only after a one-year waiting period

• Whether to purchase tax sale certificates or tax deeds on distressed properties

• The legal limits on CDD debt restructuring

• How landowner bankruptcy can impact remedies relating to assessments

• How entitlements can be maintained

• What to consider when purchasing CDD bonds after a default

Attorneys in the Public Finance Practice Group have participated in over 135 community development district bond financings since 1992. We are prepared to assist in navigating the complex issues arising from the upcoming expected wave of CDD defaults.

Denise Ganz is a Greenspoon Marder Law shareholder. If you have any questions regarding the information contained in this article or any other legal matter, please contact Ms. Ganz, your Greenspoon Marder Law attorney or any member of our Public Finance Practice Group.

About Greenspoon Marder

Greenspoon Marder LLP is a full-service law firm with over 240 attorneys and more than 20 office locations across the United States. With operations from Miami to New York and from Denver to Los Angeles, our firm attracts some of the nation’s top talent in key markets and innovation hubs. Our core practice areas include Real Estate, Litigation, and Transactional Services, complemented by the capabilities of a full-service firm. Greenspoon Marder has upheld a spot on The American Lawyer’s Am Law 200 as one of the top law firms in the U.S. since 2015, and our goal is to provide exceptional client service by developing a thorough understanding of each client’s business needs and objectives in order to provide strategic, cost-effective solutions.

MEDIA CONTACT

Natalie Villanueva, Director of Marketing
954.333.4308 | [email protected]

This Greenspoon Marder LLP Client Alert is issued for informational purposes only and is not intended to be construed or used as general legal advice nor a solicitation of any type. Please contact the author(s) or your Greenspoon Marder LLP contact if you have any questions regarding the currency of this information. The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision. Before you decide, ask for written information about the lawyer’s legal qualifications and experience.

News

A Tsunami of CDD Defaults – What To Do? – February 2009

Share

News & Events

News & Events