The Chicagoland Cooperator's Condo, HOA & Co-op Expo last fall was by all accounts a huge success; the November 16, 2011 event attracted thousands of attendees from all across the region for a full day of education and networking. …
Last year the co-owners of a Chicago realty company that managed dozens of condominium properties were charged with fraud for stealing more than $2 million in assessment payments between 2005 and 2008. They trio covered up their fraud …
Insurance is designed to be there for us when we need it most. Without knowing the full extent of our coverage, though, we may find ourselves with less protection than we thought. For condominium owners, it is imperative to understand …
Legendary funny man Benny Goodman once said, “I don’t want to tell you how much insurance I carry with the Prudential, but all I can say is: when I go, they go, too!” The comedian hits on all-important issue: how much insurance is too mu…
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 …
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…
Noise is a key quality-of-life problem for almost anyone living in a densely-packed urban environment. It's the bane of many a condo-dweller’s existence, and over the years engineers, architects, and designers have tried any number of w…
When the power goes out and city dwellers are left in the dark, people assume they won’t be stuck in cold apartments for days. Just as we expect our hospitals to have backup power generators to save patients who are on life support syst…
It goes without saying that individuals and associations alike need to be properly covered by insurance; that's just common sense. But the wide variety of choices can make obtaining that coverage a daunting process. To help boards and HOAs…
Q I am the president in our condo community, which has a swimming pool. The question has come up as to whether or not a lifeguard is required by law. One of the other board members is insisting that because we are a private community, …
Q We are an established vintage lakefront condominium property. Since conversion to a condominium form of ownership, the association has adopted several policies according to the state condominium act. They are given to each new owner a…