Q. If a board chooses not to conduct a criminal background check on either a prospective employee or purchaser, could the board and/or board members be liable if that person commits a crime or other misdeed against the property or residen…
The history of multifamily housing in Boston’s Back Bay is one of reclaimed land, historic prestige, and sky-high property values. Originally a stagnant tidal basin, the area was filled in between 1859 and 1900 to create a French-inspired s…
Believe it or not, the minutes of your association’s board meetings are every bit as important as the issues discussed and the decisions made. They provide transparency and accountability for the board and a reference for current and future…
It’s an all-too-common pattern: nationwide, condo, HOA and co-op communities are experiencing steep increases in their insurance premiums while coverage is being reduced. Some are seeing their policies dropped altogether. It’s an alarming s…
Whether you preside over a tight-knit eight-unit condo on a quiet street in Cambridge, a sprawling association in Dorchester, or a legacy co-op building in the Back Bay, building credibility and trust with residents is crucial to your board…
Each and every multifamily community is different, with unique needs, expectations, and challenges. If you’re a regular reader of this publication, you’ve heard that refrain many times, across a broad range of contexts—including board gover…
Q. I live in a five-story condominium with 24 units, 24 designated parking spots, and six undesignated spots. ‘Designated’ means that only the 24 people with parking tags can park in any one of the 24 designated spots (but the spots are n…
Over the last 10 years, the Boston metro condo market has moved from a period of dynamic growth to something of a recalibration phase thanks to the pandemic and historically high interest rates. According to the National Association of Real…
On March 18, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac issued a significant update to their project standards and property insurance requirements. These changes reflect the realities of today’s housing market and focus on the long-term financial sustainab…
New England may not produce as many headline-grabbing HOA lawsuits as say, Florida or California, but when disputes in its condo communities reach the courts, they tend to be very specific. From battles over free speech to the “right to dry…