Category: On The Board

Groucho Marx once famously said, “I wouldn’t belong to any club that would have me as a member.” Not so for many in the world of co-ops, condos, and HOAs.  Shared communities often (if not usually) have an application process required for p…

Cooperative corporations and condominium associations are collectives of shareholders and owners, respectively. Both are governed by a board, the members of which are typically elected by those same shareholders and owners.  Immediately fo…

Talk to anyone familiar with common-interest community governance anywhere in the country, and they will tell you the same thing: apathy is rampant among residents of co-ops, condos, and HOAs. Not only is it difficult to get owners and shar…

In multifamily residential communities, where neighbors share common space, amenities, and maintenance—if not actual walls—establishing and maintaining boundaries can be a bit tricky.  Physical boundaries are often breached by things like …

The National Housing Conference (NHC) recently launched its latest venture in the organization’s ongoing effort to address the persistent affordable housing crisis in America: “Beyond Four Walls: Conversations on Affordable Housing,” a bimo…

According to a recent item published by the National Housing Conference (NHC), the Executive Council for Housing Affordability (ECHA) at the J. Ronald Terwilliger Center for Housing Policy sent a letter to Congressional leaders on Novem…

The relationship between a building or association's board and their property manager sets the tone for the entire community. Transparency, clearly-defined expectations, and accountability are hallmarks of a healthy, functional board-manage…

The scope and cost of maintaining masonry - let alone undertaking a comprehensive repair and restoration project - can be extremely daunting for building owners and boards. Unfamiliarity with materials and methods, lack of prior experience …

As your building ages, maintaining a roof eventually becomes too costly or bothersome and roof replacement is considered. As a property manager or owner, understanding current standards per typical building codes and manufacturer requiremen…

Everybody wants lush, green grass and vibrant, healthy plants and flowers on their building or HOA's grounds - but residents and boards today are equally concerned about issues of water use, soil erosion, invasive pests, and other environme…