A key to success and functionality in any relationship is clear and regular communication. In a residential community, part of achieving functionality is managing the information in the governing documents and records which detail the comm…
Differences and disputes happen. We’re only human, and that’s why laws and rules are in place. But, the federalist system of government we use in this country is far from the most efficient system. Layers and layers of laws, statutes, and …
Many aspects of the American work landscape have changed radically in the last two decades. As the service and information economies have overtaken manufacturing and other more traditional forms of labor, the old 9-to-5, office-bound workd…
Lawsuits are usually not an association’s go-to method for dispute resolution. Expensive and time-consuming, they can quickly turn into a financial burden and may create strained relations in the community. Unfortunately, in some cases …
You may be sitting at home on the couch scrolling through the TV listings—but rest assured that at that very moment, issues concerning your home are being discussed in the legislative arena. At any time, hundreds of thousands o…
Along with property managers, attorneys may be keepers of some of the best stories to come out of Chicagoland's condos and HOA communities. They hear and see (and litigate) it all, from the crazy cat lady who diversifies into African g…
You may think it’ll never happen to you. You're the nicest person around. You love your neighbors, and have never quarreled with the board of your condo community over anything. This is all great—but unfortunately, it doesn't amount to …
At any given time, there are dozens of housing-related bills—both major and not-so-major—being debated by lawmakers in Chicago, Springfield, and Washington, DC. This legislation can have a huge impact condo residents, boards, and those wh…
Property managers in Illinois have until October 1, 2012 to prove that they have met licensing requirements enabling them to perform the services of a community association manager. Discussed for many years in the state legisl…