As an attorney and an apartment dweller, Michelle F. has seen it all when it comes to living with difficult residents. “I lived next door to twin toddlers whose parents were both attorneys,” says Michelle, who in addition to being a real…
One of the trickier problems to deal with when you live in a co-op or condo is dealing with board members who sometimes let the power go to their heads. Even though they are entrusted with a great deal of responsibility to keep their a…
Remember your first day at a new school? Most likely, you didn’t know a soul, had no idea what the students were learning and you probably felt nervous, intimidated or maybe even afraid. In most cases, this is what it’s like to be a new …
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…
As the housing market in many parts of the country has floundered, many developers have taken creative approaches to stanch the outward flow of cash. In many markets, this means opting to convert portions of developments originally int…
In a sprawling urban or suburban environment, people can feel isolated, even though they live close to each other. While high-rise residential buildings and suburban subdivisions put many families near one another, living close doesn’t …
Nothing stays the same forever. As community standards, attitudes and populations shift and evolve, rules and regulations that once made sense or that reflected the views and standards of their day can become antiquated, irrelevant, or…