Saving money by going green sounds great, but who has that initial capital in these tough economic times? The average person can’t afford the luxury of buying solar panels or driving a hybrid car, however, there are many energy-saving cha…

These 12- to 15-pound birds were once migratory animals, but they lost that instinct when they were employed as live decoys by hunters. In the 1930s, live decoys were outlawed and the captive geese were turned loose, multiplying exponential…

Montpelier, Vermont is not a big place. In fact, residents proudly explain that it is the smallest capital city in the United States. They will also patiently point out that, although only a couple hours from French-speaking Quebec, the…

With the arrival of the snowfall season in New England, most community associations are hurriedly pulling out their snow blowers and double checking their plowing contracts. At a few condominiums, however, the arrival of winter is being gr…

A building is, in many ways, like a body.If its residents are the soul, then certainly the mechanical systems that keep it running are at its heart. And just as one cares for one’s body by eating right and exercising, so too must managemen…

A building is, in many ways, like a body.If its residents are the soul, then certainly the mechanical systems that keep it running are at its heart. And just as one cares for one’s body by eating right and exercising, so too must managem…

If something’s broken, you fix it. If it's worn out, you replace it. It sounds like a simple equation, but when it comes to construction in cash-strapped times, it can be a case of easier said than done. As many condominiums’ f…

Q I live in a medium-sized HOA in Connecticut and we have a long-standing dispute in our community which I am hoping you can help resolve. First, our documents define the “condominium” as being composed of “the buildings, grounds …

 Although there seems to be no shortage of talking heads touting the beginning of  the end of the economic decline, associations (like the average consumer) are still struggling to do more with less.    It just so happens that servi…

New lending guidelines from HUD mean that FHA loan requirements will be significantly tightened for condominium sales. The new requirements could have a profoundly negative effect on the ability to sell or buy a condominium unit that…