In 1991, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) issued its Guide to Audits of Common Interest Realty Associations, more commonly referred to as the CIRA Guidelines. Much controversy followed this event as professio…
I have always thought of myself as a good person. I have a job, I earn a living, I buy American-made products, do community service, visit my parents at least once a month and freely admit to watching Melrose Place. As if that weren't eno…
emember when all your garbage was discarded into the refuse container, never to be seen again? The age of environmental awareness has not only forced the development of new ways to recycle refuse, but also new ways to dispose of it. Adapt…
Forget the dark, dingy room with uncomfortable chairs and crummy machines. Never mind running down to the laundry room with an armload of clothes to find that all the machines are in use. Those days are over. Imagine a laundry room that i…
How to Handle a Demand for Special Services Will you trade in your co-op or condo for a Florida address when you reach retirement age? Don't be so sure. More and more New Yorkers are choosing to age in place in the same apartment they fell…
One of the most important pieces of insurance coverage a co-op or condo building carries is its directors and officers (D & O) policy. This coverage protects the personal assets of board members from exposure in the event a lawsuit is fil…
At the Real Estate Board of New York's first residential convention last month, there was a sense of elation in the air. Not only was REBNY celebrating its 100th anniversary and the success of its new trade show, but there was a new sense…
Will you trade in your co-op or condo for a Florida address when you reach retirement age? Don't be so sure. More and more New Yorkers are choosing to age in place in the same apartment they fell in love with when they were in their prime. …
One of the most common problems in co-op and condo management is the failure of building boards and staff to maintain accurate and accessible records of the past performance and activities within the building. Recording the minutes of board…
Most co-op owners have never given much thought to the manner in which they took title of their apartments. But by overlooking this important aspect of such a significant purchase, some shareholders may have put themselves at considerable f…