Hybrid meetings have been shown to increase resident participation in the governance of their building or association. That’s a good thing—but mixed in-person/virtual meetings require some preparation and intentional planning beforehand to …
Q. An existing townhouse condominium complex’s design components were approved by a local zoning board specifically built in a planned-unit development. Some conditions apply to preserving tree groves, the architectural and landscape inte…
Apartment dwellers often assume their winter heating costs are dictated by their building’s central boiler or individual electric meters—but that’s not entirely the case. While co-op and condo residents can’t just replace their windows or u…
The baseline definition of ‘luxury’ in today’s competitive real estate landscape is hazy at best, and constantly shifting. Every new development, no matter how basic, includes the term in its signage and marketing materials, and existing an…
A majority of American pet owners report that they regard their pets as family members, right alongside the humans. And just like living in close proximity with other people requires courtesy and consideration for neighbors, so does living …
One longstanding challenge for shared interest communities is that of recruiting members to serve on the board and the board’s subcommittees. Given that these are unpaid volunteer positions, many residents prefer to leave the job to others,…
When it comes to running effective annual community meetings, the battle is often won or lost before the meeting is even called to order. If the residents of a building or association are fundamentally satisfied with how their community is …
Q. Our condo has a sauna adjacent to our fitness room that’s at least 65 years old, and which has been out of service for at least 30 years. Our property manager considers the sauna an amenity, but it’s not listed as such in our governing…
If you’re reading this publication, you likely already know that managing a residential building or association is a high-stakes balancing act. Whether you’re a trustee carrying fiduciary responsibility or a community manager keeping daily …
As fall arrives in New England, the region’s condominium, HOA, and co-op sectors present a complex and competitive landscape. Unlike the single-family home sector, which faces severe inventory constraints, shared-interest communities have b…