In many ways co-op, condo, and HOA living represents the most basic form of representative democracy. Like the ancient Athenians, we gather periodically to elect a small group from among us to represent our joint interests and to oversee th…
In the world of co-ops, condos, and HOAs, management plays a slightly different role than it does in the rest of the real estate world. For example, in many rental buildings, the landlord or property owner often acts as de facto manager as …
Like any profession, property management has its moments. Managers often feel a sense of great achievement when they’ve done a good job for a client community, sorting out a seemingly intractable problem, saving them thousands of dollars, o…
Building owners - as well as co-op and condo boards - are facing the challenging task of complying with NYC’s array of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) laws, which are intended to measure, track, and report the energy efficiency of buildings …
Even before the pandemic, the part of the tech sector specifically serving apartment dwellers was evolving fast. Virtual doormen, package and delivery tracking, online portals for work orders, document access, and other resident business we…
October marked the beginning of heating season in New York City. For those of you who have cast iron radiators to heat your apartments, here’s a helpful tip: Radiator valves will turn your radiators on and off. Simple right? But did you k…
This past year was a year of contradiction in the real estate industry, both locally and nationally. 2022 began on the coattails of one of the strongest markets for homes in recent history. But by early spring, with inflation rising at a r…
Of the many consequential decisions boards and board members have to make on behalf of their communities, choosing a management company—or a manager within a given firm—is among the biggest. Managers are the point of contact between residen…
In the world of owned residential communities like co-ops, condominiums, and HOAs, the issue of leased or sublet units is often the elephant in the corner of the communal room. Most owners choose to buy their units because they want a stabl…
Electric bikes and scooters became ubiquitous during the darkest days of the pandemic, when food delivery workers relied on them to get them from one neighborhood to another quickly. With that increasing popularity however, has come increas…