Insurance is designed to be there for us when we need it most. Without knowing  the full extent of our coverage, though, we may find ourselves with less  protection than we thought. For condominium owners, it is imperative to  understand …

Last year in New Jersey, a former property manager in Freehold Township was accused of embezzling $75,000 from homeowner dues. In a separate case, a woman, her husband and mother were charged with theft from an Aberdeen condo associatio…

Q I am a shareholder in a cooperative of 121 units and 152 parking spaces. My  question concerns the rightful use and maintenance of community property. Every  shareholder is entitled one parking space at a fee of $20 per month. The  addi…

 Communication—there is probably no single concept more important to fostering and maintaining  the relationship between homeowners, board members, property managers and  professional service providers within the industry than clear, effec…

In the typical suburban condo development, one must go to another location to shop— maybe to the mini-mall, or the big box store down the road. But in many of New Jersey’s urban high-rises, retail businesses and stores are often found o…

 Next to fire, perhaps nothing is more damaging to residential buildings and the  property of their occupants as leaks. Whether it’s a torrential deluge from the upstairs neighbor’s overflowing bathtub or a slow, seeping leak around the wi…

 New Jersey is known for having some of the very best urban opportunities in the  world—among the best colleges and schools, museums and libraries, as well as some of  the finest parks, the most interesting architecture, the most intriguin…

 For a crystal-clear picture of how an association is doing, there are few better  lenses than the community's budgets and financial reports. From an investment  perspective, they show the shareholders, managers, tenants, owners, and board…

 In the tough economic environment of the past few years, many condo owners have  faced job losses, pay decreases or just financial uncertainty. Unfortunately,  this sometimes leads to owners not paying their common charges.    “Obv…

 Money is a topic people are often skittish about discussing—especially when the discussion involves rising fees, or having to pay more money  for something. When you’re a board member or the property manager of a condo building or residen…