Even in the best of economic times, preparing a condominium's annual budget is a tiresome task, fraught with uncertainty, estimations and shifting numbers. Now, factor in one of the most challenging economic downturns in a century with …

Q Recently I left my job and have decided to start my own business. Am I permitted to operate a business out of my condominium unit? –Enterprising Entrepreneur A “Like many questions involving condominiums, the answer…

Who Passes the Annual Budget? Q Does our condominium board of directors need to have our next annual budget passed by the condominium owners or can they pass it themselves? –Following Protocol A “In most s…

 Fresh from hoisting up the banking and automobile sectors, a newly muscular  Uncle Sam is now turning his attention to putting the skids on the real estate  meltdown. The Obama Administration earlier this year rolled out two major  housin…

Jack has heard talk that the board has voted to continue a contract with the poorly-run lawn care company the association has contracted with for years. Rumor has it that damage was done to a window by a careless worker and a complaint h…

While only a few states guarantee a “right-to-dry,” at the time of this writing, proposed legislation aimed to remove bans on clotheslines within condominium associations appears on several statehouse docket lists in New England. Arguments…

For many prospective co-op shareholders, finding the living space of their dreams is only half the goal. The other half involves making the cut before the co-op’s admittance committee, meeting all of the seemingly mysterious criteria th…

The premier New England Condo Expo drew visitors from across the region to the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston for a full day of networking, seminars –and a chance to win a host of prizes. The Expo was definitely the place…

One irony of modern life is that being in close proximity to your neighbors doesn’t necessarily make you closer to your neighbors. Often people live near each other and don’t know each other well. At best, people might know just a handf…

 There seem to be at least two contrasting views of expensive community  association recreational amenities – one that’s favorable, and another that’s cautiously skeptical. The first view is generally held by a minority of a  condominium’s…