Q. Can a current board member advertise his re-election, or go around knocking on each door and telling owners who to vote for? Is this legal?        —Wondering If This Is Appropriate A. “Yes and yes,” says Jonathan H. Katz, a shareho…

Homeownership is a long-term commitment for most. In the context of a multifamily community like a condo or co-op, it’s not unusual for many owners and shareholders in the building to have purchased their units around the same time in early…

A decade ago, I was elected onto the board of a condo of a fairly young building that was plagued with assessments, lawsuits, and other issues. A previous board member—happy to pass on the troubled torch—came over to hand me a binder as pa…

The impacts of climate change are vast and interrelated. While natural factors like solar variations, the planet’s orbital shifts, and volcanic eruptions occur cyclically and have nothing to do with people, human activity adds significantly…

As members of co-op corporations and condominium associations, we often hear the term fiduciary duty bandied about.  But what does it really mean to be a fiduciary? Stated simply, the term ‘fiduciary’ means trust. When a person managing the…

A community’s governing documents, including its bylaws and house rules, are like a country’s constitution and laws. They are—or at least they should be—‘living’ documents that, like our state and national laws and constitution, occasionall…

AARP is conducting a survey about vital housing options like accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in your community. An ADU is an independent, permanent residential unit, containing a living area, kitchen, and bathroom, built on the same lot…

Construction industry research publisher Construction Coverage just released the 2024 edition of its Home Improvement Spending Report , with some interesting data specific to the New York-Newark-Jersey City metro. Key Findings for the…

While the economy has largely recovered from the unprecedented uncertainty and instability brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2024 release of a report on mortgage delinquency rates by U.S. city and state conducted by Construction …

When buying an apartment, be it a condo or a co-op, among the soundest advice for any purchaser is caveat emptor - buyer beware. In most buildings (especially older ones), it’s inevitable that there will be occasional and sometimes leng…