After nearly a decade of slow but steady progress back from the depths of the Great Recession, New Jersey is showing signs of real growth and prosperity.  According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, New Jersey added 61,000 jobs last y…

Trees may seem like the ultimate in low-maintenance landscaping; they’re naturally occurring, live for decades (sometimes centuries), don’t really require much in the way of watering, and sometimes don’t even need pruning.  But while all t…

Building maintenance follows a schedule based on the seasons, each of which presents a unique set of challenges to a co-op or condo. At certain times of the year, it just makes sense to do certain regular maintenance projects: weatherizing,…

Q. “Say if an owner is leaving the property and relocates in a different state (due to a layoff), and the property is not rented. Later on, the owner is filing a hardship and the property goes in foreclosure. Should the owner pay the HOA,…

Q.  Can a unit owner demand to see a copy of the monthly list of unit owners’ payments of the monthly HOA?                         — Interested Stakeholder A. “A unit owner can review a compilation of the association’s financial record…

Q. Is it illegal for a member on the HOA board to also hold a position on the board of directors of the property management company that the HOA hires and oversees?           —Concerned About Impropriety A. “There is nothing illegal a…

No matter what time of year, the addition of natural light into a living space can do more to boost the spirits of its occupants than just about anything else. For a dark kitchen, a gloomy study or a bedroom that lacks that special somethin…

Despite rain being essential to life on Earth, the consensus is that it’s mostly a bummer. And the only thing worse than rain outdoors is when it gets indoors. In a multifamily condo or co-op property especially, where one leak can affect t…

If you’re a co-op, condo or HOA board member or manager, you have to deal with vendors and service providers constantly; it’s a routine part of the day-to-day running of any building or association. There are always inspections to be done, …

Constructed as they are out of materials like brick, concrete, or even stone, the exterior walls of an apartment building or row of townhomes might seem nearly indestructible. But despite their hardiness, walls are not immune to assaults fr…