Every co-op and condo association has a board— and by extension, a board president. Presidents and CEOs of major corporations are usually compensated handsomely for the time and effort they're expected to devote to their job, but a build…
As construction and home ownership continue to be a growth industry in New Jersey, one issue that will be faced by more and more HOA members is the transfer of power from community developers and sponsors to the new homeowners who w…
Living in a co-op or condo means shedding many of the worries that come with renting or owning a single-family home. There are no worries over mowing the lawn or fixing that crack in the driveway. The doorman looks after your packages an…
In 1997, a racially mixed couple wanted to sublet a co-op apartment at the Beekman Hill House Apartments in New York City. Nicholas A. Biondi, then-president of the Beekman Association's board of directors, refused to approve the couple'…
Most homeowners love the idea of having a swimming pool, athletic court or health club as part of their association's grounds because it adds value to their property and it gives them something fun to do throughout the year. But HOAs tha…
In any business, much of the decision-making process is based on the bottom line—is there more money coming in or going out? How do this year's profits compare with last year's? Are we getting the best deals from suppliers and vendors? …
If laws weren't made to be broken, they at least need to be amended once in a while. As a community's residents change—and the world in general changes around the community—yesterday's rules and bylaws can become outdated or no longer su…
Consider this scenario: You just found the perfect home for your family—equipped with beautifully manicured lawns and a great community of people. Unfortunately, the association bylaws state that your children can't play hockey with thei…
Owning a condo or being a member of a homeowner association is a something many New Jersey residents know a thing or two about. In 2004, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) estimated that 970,000 existing co-ops and condos were so…
A giant shrub trimmed to resemble a stock car? Shutters painted an eye-shattering fuschia? Eight not-so-tiny reindeer blitzing across the roof? Some people's idea of design heaven is almost certainly someone else's idea of aesthetic purg…