Q. I am a resident owner in a 54-unit condominium association building on the far northwest side of Chicago. I write on behalf of a unit owner friend in the same building, who has been the resident owner since 2005. Her unit is on the sec…

Investing in real estate is one of the best ways to increase net worth. That's why it’s so important for board members to keep in mind the best ways to increase the resale value of the homes within their community. All too often, board memb…

Maintaining the exterior of a building goes beyond just looking good—it's about ensuring safety, following the law, and managing risk. As a city celebrated for its stunning skyline, Chicago has committed to a unique focus on facade integrit…

Whether you’re a manager or a board member, running a condo or HOA has never been an easy job. There’s always a capital project to fund, a contractor to hire, a dispute to resolve, a leak to repair… the list can feel endless.  That’s why C…

In multifamily residential communities where neighbors share common space, amenities, and maintenance—if not actual walls—establishing and maintaining boundaries can be tricky, both in the physical and nonphysical sense. This goes double fo…

While the pandemic may have turbocharged the use of Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and other virtual platforms for multifamily residential boards, the shift toward digital meeting tools has outlasted the crisis itself. For condominium and community…

It’s a fact: however harmonious a building or association is in general, there is always that one person—or perhaps more than one—who throws a wrench in the works. It could be the guy who seems to take pleasure in disrespecting the door sta…

As the climate crisis has worsened, governments at the federal, state, and local level have made attempts to legislate solutions. While necessary, that three-pronged approach can often make compliance a complicated process for multifamily b…

The stability and value of a shared interest community hinges on a lot of things; financial solvency, good governance, and proactive physical maintenance, to name a few. But another key component, and one that may be less obvious to the eye…

Residential co-op, condo, and HOA board members volunteer to help manage day-to-day life in their building or community, allocating their time to actively participate in decisions that affect the place they call home. They oversee crucial a…