Confessions of Michigan Condominium King

Bingham Farms lawyer Robert Meisner writes a book about the do's and don'ts of condo living.

Lynne Meredith Schreiber / Special to The Detroit News

It's no coincidence that Bob Meisner is known as the condo king in legal and development circles in Michigan. That's the specialty that the West Bloomfield attorney chose not long after graduating from the University of Michigan Law School in 1969.

"My dad and uncle were lawyers, and I knew enough to know that it was probably smart for me to get involved in a specialty of some sort," said Meisner, whose boutique law firm in Bingham Farms specializes in community association law, commercial litigation and real estate and business law.

During his first job after law school, at the Court of Appeals in Lansing, Meisner carpooled with another lawyer friend who worked for the condominium section of the Department of Commerce. Meisner returned to Detroit a while later and sought out opportunities to get involved in the legal end of condominium life.

Now, after decades of representing condo and community associations, writing columns for The Detroit News and the Observer & Eccentric newspapers and teaching at several area law schools, Meisner has added the role of author to his list of credentials. His book, "Condo Living: A Survival Guide to Buying, Owning and Selling a Condominium," was published by Momentum Books late last year.

Condo dwellers "needed a manual of some sort," Meisner explained. "People buying condos need to understand what they're getting into."

The book is divided into issues to think about when buying or selling a condominium, the workings of the condo association and "Meisner's Maxims" on condo living, assertions like "Even when it's too hot in the kitchen, certain board members won't get out."

"I recommend that [condo dwellers] get involved in running the association because the condo association has an awful lot of power and effect on how you live," Meisner said.

Of course, he doesn't quite follow his own advice. Himself a condo owner -- Meisner lives in one now in West Bloomfield and owns three others around the country -- he insisted that "I try to stay out of my own association's business."

The book is available through Meisner & Associates, (800) 470-4433 or on the firm's Web site, www.meisner-law.com.

Meisner's Maxims

Here's a sample of Bob Meisner's tips for condominium living:

·  Maxim No. 4: Spend as little money as possible at whatever potential cost.

·  No. 5: What has learned will be forgotten, ignored or placed in purgatory.

·  No. 6: If you want to win friends and influence people, don't live in a condominium and don't serve on its board.

·  No. 12: If something can go wrong in the condominium, it will.