It’s a refrain you’ll commonly hear from retirees who are weary of suffering through cold northern winters or hot southern summers: “When I retire, I’m going to live in New York for half the year and in Florida for the other half!” These …
Owners and shareholders trust their elected boards with their very lives . Okay... it's probably not a life-or-death scenario, but residents of co-ops and condos do put a great deal of faith in their association's representatives to have…
Not every co-op or condo in New York City has grassy areas on the property. But for those that do, the question of what is allowed on them often comes up. Sure we’ve all passed by buildings surrounded by lush grass lawns protected by a s…
Most board members can use all the help they can get when it comes to understanding the rules, laws, and other factors that guide how they will help govern their community. Senior board members are a terrific source of information, as is a …
"I wish someone had told me the nuances of trying to cultivate a community while also trying to manage a business,” said Pat Burke, the current president of the Fieldstondale co-op in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, when asked what he w…
When looking to buy or sell a unit in a condominium or cooperative, the layman may be forgiven for feeling overwhelmed. In the cutthroat world of New York City real estate, stakes are high, and to expect anyone who is undergoing a move to b…
Even the best boards can use a shot of 'new blood' now and again - for new ideas, fresh perspectives, and to give everyone in the community a chance to help govern it. But attracting new board members can be challenging. Listen to what a fe…
As in any healthy marriage, an association board and its manager must be compatible or else the relationship will oftentimes end in a messy divorce, experts at a Community Associations Institute (CAI) Big Apple panel told an audience of …
On the heels of a nationwide recall of a half-million hoverboards by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) due to a fire risk, co-ops, condos and HOAs are warily looking at ways in which to ban the usage of these two-whe…
One important attribute of any condominium or cooperative board is that it manifests the best interests of its owner or shareholder base. This requires a certain attentiveness, as the wants and needs of residents are likely to change over t…