Living in a community association can sometimes be – or at least feel – complicated. For most people, their home is their biggest single investment, and the value of that individual investment depends a lot on the cooperation of neighbors, …
Residents in co-op, condo and HOA communities are frequently quite busy. Boards consist of elected volunteers who nearly always have other jobs and lives. So while a professional management company can relieve much of the day-to-day operati…
On May 22nd, the 11th annual New England Condominium Expo returned to Boston’s Seaport World Trade Center for another full day of education, networking, and professional enrichment and opportunity for New England’s residential real estate c…
The board of a building or community association has a fiduciary duty to uphold its community’s governing documents, act in good faith, and advance the interests of the community at large. Occasionally, boards fail to carry out this duty – …
There are few things upon which most people agree, but a general dislike for paying more today for something that cost less yesterday is pretty universal. This goes for taxes, consumer goods, healthcare, and of course for monthly maintenanc…
Many co-op shareholders and condo unit owners arrive in their respective communities after a history of living as renters. Often they carry with them certain ingrained assumptions and expectations from having lived under a landlord. These a…
Q. The New Hampshire condo community I live in was established in 1974 and the Declaration cites in part: “Condominium use and ownership in accordance with the provisions of the New Hampshire Unit Ownership of Real Property Act (Chapter 4…
Q. We are retired, and chose to live in a 55+ community geared to an active-adult lifestyle. But summer is coming, and we’re concerned about the swimming pool stress we encountered last year. There is a sign posted at the pool that prohib…
Security is always a primary concern for homeowners. In a multifamily building without a doorman, the first line of defense is the front entrance – which more often than not features some sort of intercom system to enable visitors to announ…
Once upon a time, you usually greeted your neighbor in the hallway of your building as you were coming or going. But you haven’t seen or heard a peep from her in almost two months. You wonder if she is okay. So you ask the super one morn…