Article Courtesy of the Sun Sentinel

By Joe Kollin

Published January 16, 2006

Anyone living in a condominium or thinking about it, take note.

You soon will have the chance to educate yourself about condos, everything from the law to the lifestyle.
State Condo Ombudsman Virgil Rizzo and Broward Community College's continuing education division are sponsoring several new courses.

"There are more condos in South Florida than anywhere in the state and more are going up every day," said Jerry Enloe, BCC's continuing education director. "A lot of people coming down from the North are living in condos for the first time and don't know what to expect."

On Jan. 24, Bill Raphan, an assistant to Rizzo, will teach a two-hour class on Condominium Business Management at 10 a.m. at the ombudsman's South Florida office, 1400 W. Commercial Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, just west of Interstate 95.

Capacity is 50 people so advance registration is necessary at 954-202-3234. The course is free. Further dates will be announced.

Meanwhile, BCC plans to provide four different courses at campuses throughout Broward, plus future online versions for everyone in the state.

Rizzo, who persuaded BCC to develop the classes, said the 2004 law creating his office requires it to provide education.

"Our courses will be basic and simple so that lay persons are able to comprehend the issues," Rizzo said.

The courses won't be connected to those taught by the private Community Association Institute, which is under contract to the state Department of Business & Professional Regulation.

Rizzo said those courses appear to be more geared toward managers and directors.

The first BCC course, to be taught by Rizzo, will be in February and "will hit the issues of interest to owners and prospective buyers," Enloe said.

Fee will be $25 and dates and times of the classes will be announced later. Enloe said the college is still working with Rizzo to develop the topics of the three other courses, each to be aimed at a different audience.