COMMON INTEREST

COMMON INTEREST DEVELOPMENTS

(And other shared property arrangements)

A common interest development can be a residential, commercial or mixed use development in which a number of owners have a separate interest in certain property along with an interest in shared property. SSL represents owners, developers, builders and apartment investors in forming all types of common interest developments, obtaining Final Subdivision Public Reports and preparing the associated project documentation. We have created the documents for a number of large and medium mixed use projects, master planned communities, residential, common interest projects and commercial common interest projects throughout the state. We also create “shelf” condominium projects, preparing developments that are currently rented as apartments for eventual sale as condominiums.

Our Team

Our Common Interest Development Team is headed by our partner, Cathy Croshaw, who has 20 years of experience working almost exclusively in this area. She is joined by a team of other partners, associates and paralegals, including Lisa Maxwell, Matthew Eisenstadt, Craig Tanabe and Jana Cole, with a wide range of real estate experience so that our clients’ work can be accomplished as efficiently as possible at the best possible billing rate.

Residential and Mixed Use Developments

Common interest developments are, by nature, complex. They are always heavily regulated and, more so when they involve a residential component. As residential development trends toward urban infill, higher density and mixed-use products, the potential complexity only increases. The mass of documents required by various statutes and regulations to be provided to a buyer are daunting in the best of circumstances. Our goal is to present all of the appropriate documentation in as organized a fashion as possible, in plain English, so that the documents are as user-friendly as possible, yet compliant with the regulatory and statutory framework within which they are created. Our premise is that project documents cannot be generic, but need to be specific to the vision of the project, the project’s configuration and design, parking arrangements, the projects’ location, amenities, technology, particular governmental requirements, including environmental restrictions, conditions of approval, storm water and other maintenance requirements. At the same time, our documents are designed to implement each client’s risk management approach and preferred dispute resolution process. Our philosophy is that the documentation of the entire development and sales process, from start to finish, including insurance, general contracts, subcontracts, professional agreements, governing documents, purchase agreements and disclosures, budgets, condominium plans, Association formation documents, warranties, SB800 documentation, rules and regulations, maintenance manuals and any other documents that may be appropriate for a particular project should be coordinated and consistent. SSL is experienced in preparation of all of these documents and advising clients regarding various approaches appropriate to a specific project. We review and/or prepare any and all ancillary documents which are incidental to the