Ah, summertime! It’s a great time for property managers to kick back and relax! Except for that out-of-control grill fire on the deck of unit 31 that nearly jumped to adjacent units. And that pesky 13-year-old who broke his finger durin…
In today's harsh economic times, maintaining a healthy reserve fund is more important than ever. A community association’s reserve fund can be used to cover any number of emergency expenses from sudden repairs to legal costs. In additio…
When these decisions have to be made, boards must consider the best way to include residents in their thought process. And when the board of trustees comes to the conclusion that fees must be raised, hopefully they’ll announce it in a m…
Bad economic news is pretty much inescapable these days. You can’t turn on the TV without hearing about another round of layoffs or shaky consumer confidence. The stock market is unstable, retirement funds are shedding value, the housin…
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 …
Any manager or trustee who has been around for at least three years has noticed the recent sharp turn in the real estate marketplace—from red hot in 2005 to ice cold in 2008. How could that have happened? What are the politicians saying …
When the city of Newburyport incorporated in 1764, it encompassed less than 10 square miles and had a population of about 3,000 people. Today, the city still covers less than ten square miles and has a population of fewer than 18,000 res…
Looking for miles across tree-covered mountains and valleys. Heading up the slopes for a bracing day of skiing. Buyers who have long entertained dreams of finding that ideal New England vacation home are discovering some great opportunit…
Maybe it’s not as annoying as that trip to the dentist, but the annual budget comes around every year just like that dental appointment. And the budget process, say trustees, officers and accountants who are charged with completing it, d…
The Harbor Towers, a pair of 40-story residential buildings designed in part by noted architect I.M. Pei, offer some of the most exquisite views of the Boston harborfront and skyline. Once out of place in what was a district of warehouse…