For board members, the time spent serving their association and fellow residents can be among the most strenuous yet rewarding periods in their lives. For years, they make decisions that affect their community in the present and may co…
For most people, “foaming at the mouth” is just an expression. Attorney Ellen Hirsch de Haan has encountered the real thing – and not at an animal shelter, but at a condominium owners’ meeting. A former president who recently h…
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…
Since the board of a community association is usually composed of a collective group of unique individuals with their own perspective and opinions, no two boards are ever the same. However, there are certain overall, universal qualities…
Chris D’Errico has handled about 1,000 residential rentals in the Boston area since 2003. These days, more and more of his calls are from condominium owners. Unable to find buyers for their homes, they’re turning to renting them. “It’s up…
It’s an unfortunate fact of condominium life: Board members’ responsibilities and their personal agendas intermingle more often than they should. After all, it’s part of human nature to want the best for us or our loved ones. Fa…
The drawbacks of serving on a board are well known. For one thing, it’s a lot of work. Hours of work, of poring over spreadsheets, of talking to property managers and vendors and residents and tenants when you could be watching the big …
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…