For residents on fixed incomes, or those who are already struggling to make ends meet because of a job loss, illness or divorce, any hit to their already-stretched-to-the-max budget can be devastating. So when a board levels an assessment o…

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, …

While not every co-op, condo, or HOA is struggling financially, every board should concern itself with the financial health of the community it governs. Here, financial pros give boards some tips on how to fortify their bottom line. 

A proposed Republican New York State Senate bill calls for an increase in the number of condo projects from the outer boroughs as part of a revised 421a tax abatement program  to spur affordable housing--a move that earlier prompted concern…

It's hard to imagine that seven months from now, the fifth anniversary of Superstorm Sandy hitting the East Coast will be upon us. The memories of that day on October 29, 2012, and its immediate aftermath, are still vivid for those who sur…

Spring is around the corner, and with warmer weather and sunnier days come lots of decisions about how to care for your building or HOA's landscaping elements. Here, landscaping and lawn care pros share some ideas about what boards can do b…

Making sure your building or association has adequate funds to carry out major capital projects - roof repairs, boiler/HVAC replacements, new windows, etc. - is a crucial part of your board's fiduciary duty, and conducting a capital assessm…

In late February, as reported by the Associated Press , a Massachusetts man crashed a homemade aircraft into the roof of a condominium building, resulting in the tragic death of the pilot. Because this happened in the middle of a Tuesday…

While most purchasers of condos and co-ops prefer conventional fixed-rate financing, there is a substantial market for variable rate co-op and condo mortgages. Generally referred to as ARMs (adjustable rate mortgages), these instruments ca…

Just like breathing and sleeping, slips and falls are a natural part of life—whether it's momentarily stumbling on a sidewalk or briefly losing your footing in the shower. Most of us would regard such incidents as one-offs. But judging by t…