Most people go about their days paying little attention to the labor performed by those who make their lives easier. From transit workers to service employees to government officials, how often does one stop to thank the people making every…
A condominium, cooperative, or homeowners’ association elects a board for a specific purpose: to manage the community’s day-to-day business, oversee special projects, and draft and uphold the rules and regulations that keep life orderly and…
Given that a condominium or co-op board is charged with representing the interests of a diverse group of homeowners or shareholders, it follows that boards themselves should embody the diversity of their resident population. In New York Cit…
The amount of time and energy invested by board members in the many decisions and projects surrounding the successful functioning of a building community can demand the kind of commitment and dedication required by a demanding part-time job…
The co-op application process is one of rigor and induced anxiety, whereby aspiring shareholders are scrutinized not only for their finances, but their character and demeanor as well. The length of the review varies by association, but it o…
Lawsuits are expensive endeavors, period. But what about everyday legal costs - contract vetting, sending documents back and forth, assessing prospective purchasers' information, and so forth? How can boards keep a lid on those expendit…
As we’ve recently seen in the news--from the Democratic National Committee email leaks about Bernie Sanders from last year’s presidential election, to the latest in the Trump-Russia brouhaha --emails aren’t always the safest and sec…
The rules are almost always different for co-ops, and that is most certainly true for occupancy issues. One of the initial reasons for the co-op ownership structure, both on the part of the those already living there and those buying in, w…
As more and more co-ops and condominium communities seek to attract residents, boards and managers have turned to attractive new programming opportunities for individuals and families. Whether it’s a rooftop Fourth of July party, a gardenin…
In the world of housing, discrimination is a very sensitive subject. A failure to understand it and abide by the laws could result in a lot of trouble, including for boards and owners at condos and co-ops. Avoiding such missteps involving…