2012 January
Focus on... Management/Board Relations

 It’s the same dilemma that single-family households across the United States are  facing: How much money can we afford to pay for the services we want? And  should we stretch ourselves thin, taking more out of our bank accounts to pay  fo…

When your community, co-op or condominium building is externally managed, the bills get paid, assessments get collected, light bulbs get changed, and lawns get mowed. And believe it or not, it’s not little elves that take care of these …

 With smart-phones dominating the cellular market, people now have Internet  access anywhere and everywhere they go. While shopping and “googling” are leading reasons to use the Internet, the rise of social media has radically  changed the…

When visiting different doctors, have you noticed that they all have different personalities? One doctor is friendly and talkative, but another is the polar opposite—he forgoes the chit-chat, completes a thorough examination, and says g…

Citizens over the age of 65 comprise nearly 13 percent of the U.S. population—just under 40 million seniors. By 2030, it is estimated that 72 million Americans will be over the age of 65, nearly doubling those numbers. Where this volume …

The economy cratered—to use a term in popular parlance at that time—in September 2008, with the collapse of too-big-to-fail Lehman Brothers. While the measures undertaken by the federal government and the Federal Reserve averted complet…

 One of the biggest issues in the real estate industry over the past year has  been the speculation that government-sponsored mortgage programs Fannie Mae and  Freddie Mac will be ending. For the past 70 years, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac  …

 Descriptions of “vintage,” “refurbished” and “pre-owned” can persuade the decision toward some purchases—cars, computers, that perfect James Dean-era leather jacket—but for South Florida homebuyers, the allure of shiny and new is often to…

 Sometimes in the heat of the moment, when disagreements are at their worst, the  possibility of solving a problem without going to court seems remote at best.  Arguments may have been brewing for days or weeks with each side becoming more…

Q Our association holds monthly meetings on the same time, day and location every month. Notices are posted in the elevators and common areas one week in advance—yet no one attends. If binding votes are required to be in the presence of …

Q We have recently found that a member of our co-op's board of directors had  covertly taped the conversations during a board meeting and a board interview  with a prospective purchaser. We have also learned that she has submitted this  t…