Co-ops, condos and HOAs draw prospective residents with a wide variety of appealing features, from proximity to an office or family member to amazing views, to the concept of having someone else mow the lawn, fix the roof, and maintain the…
After the long, cold, unpleasant winter, denizens of the tri-state area want nothing more than to bask in the long-dormant sun. Co-op, condo and HOA boards cannot, however, in good faith ignore the legwork that follows a seasonal transitio…
The latest boom of luxury real estate development in New York City has sent seismic waves across the Hudson into New Jersey. Developers and boards are locking into an amenities arms race to keep up with competition on both sides of the riv…
When it comes to offering social programs and amenities, respective requests, needs, and preferences can run the gamut. For board members and managers, having programs in place that cater to collective populations—toddlers to octogenarians…
When buyers purchase condo units, they also purchase access to the condo's shared amenities. Depending on the scale and financial demographics of a building or association, those amenities can be substantial; during the real estate boom of…
A building or association's budget may very well be the bane of every board member’s existence. This is especially true when it relates to the prioritizing of repairs and maintenance tasks. Given the safety concerns involved, these are amo…
Water Leak Woes Q I purchased a two-bedroom co-op in northern New Jersey almost two years ago. Before I moved in I had new flooring installed for thousands of dollars. Two weeks ago my cleaning person told me there was black water o…
Pet Problems Q I became disabled last year and subsequently applied to my board for approval to have a companion dog. Upon approval, I signed an agreement that restricted the dog from certain areas, and reiterated that the dog could…
Stairway to Heaven Q I live in a small condo association in New Jersey where the board and management company have notified the homeowners that they will be replacing the stairwells on the units. This work will be taking place over …