In 2025, the first compliance requirements for Local Law 97 will become a fact of life for literally thousands of New York City co-ops and condos, and those who call them home. Local Law 97 is far-reaching legislation aimed at making New Yo…

According to a recent study by consulting firm Construction Coverage, the cost of buying a home in the New York City market is nearly half again as expensive as renting one. Then findings confirm a trend that’s been ongoing for a …

A new year always comes with reports of new trends in everything, be it fashion, food…or lobby and common area design in residential communities. Furnishings and design, like clothes, are the subject of style and vogue that morph and change…

Q. In this time of economic uncertainty and depressed Manhattan co-op sales, sellers have been willing to accept bids way lower than a board would allow. If a seller and buyer agree to enter into a contract of sale for an acceptable (to t…

Q.   Today shareholders at our Mitchell-Lama co-op in Queens were informed with less than 24-hours notice that there will be a film shoot taking place tomorrow on the property from 6:00 a.m. Thursday and completed 12:00 p.m. on Friday. Not…

Q. I live in a gated community and the manager seems to be controlling the board rather than vice versa. She has filled vacant board seats without an election—some new residents don’t even know that we’re supposed to hold elections. The b…

Q. How can a shareholder be protected from a board’s abuse of authority when implementing excessive fines on the community of shareholders? Some of the fines being imposed by the board are not defined in our bylaws or house rules. On occ…

The lobby of your building is more than just a transitional space between outdoors and in; it’s an important component in the life of your co-op or condo community.  It’s where you enter your home. It’s where your visitors (and potential bu…

These days, so much of what we do and own is defined—often redefined—by technology, including our assets. Cryptocurrency is a prime example. While not really ‘money’ in the traditional sense of dollars or pounds or euros, and in no way simi…

Along with competent, engaged leadership, good management is fundamental to the successful operation of any shared interest community—and the basis of good management is in large part spelled out in the contract between the community and it…