Any major change takes some getting used to and hiring a new management company for your co-op or condo is no exception. Even though you're anxious to ring out the old, you can't help but be a little apprehensive about whether the new com…

Michael Radomsky, on-site manager of a 16-unit prewar cooperative on Park Avenue, was hearing complaints from the residents about unpleasant cooking odors on the landings. To handle the building's problem, Radomsky put matters into the ha…

The certificate of incorporation, the proprietary lease (in some cases called occupancy agreements) and the by-laws are the three underlying documents that form the engine running your cooperative. The by-laws are considered by the courts…

If you've ever served on the board of a co-op or condo, the phrases capital improvements, emergency repair, asbestos remov- al and (these days, especially) lead paint abatement probably elicit particularly unpleasant associations. With ex…

With interest rates heading lower once again, now may be the ideal time to start hunting for a new underlying mortgage. But don't go off half-cocked. Board members who prepare well before entering the mortgage jungle always bag the bes…

Money. We all need it and want more of it. And just like any business your building needs to cover its expenses with its income. There are ways your building can make money without having to raise maintenance fees. Installing basement sto…

What do you look for when you're researching a possible new neighborhood? Movie buffs will tell you that it's essential to be near a state-of-the-art theater. Fitness conscious New Yorkers will want to investigate whether there's a good h…

Earlier this year, a survey of co-ops and condos indicated a surge of litigation between boards and building residents. Such lawsuits can be very costly for both the resident and the building. One important deterrant to frivolous or unnec…

According to the most recent survey by the National Association of Realtors, 41 percent of all new homes are purchased by first-time buyers. Whether you're shopping for a co-op or condo for the first time, or you've already been through t…

The initials following a person's name often reveal a certain level of educational or professional achieve- ment. Designations like M.D., D.D.S., J.D., C.P.A. and C.L.U. indicate the successful fulfillment of certain standardized requi…