Q I recently bought a co-op in Kew Gardens, and I am now living what is starting to seem like it will be a nightmare. When it came to the closing, I was only told of an assessment of an extra $60 each month, and, while this was a compl…
No matter if they're overseeing a towering high-rise or a sprawling suburban association, co-op and condo boards usually have their fair share of problems to be solved and emergencies to be defused. Talk to enough people who have dealt…
Co-op and condo boards are made up of resident volunteers who want to serve their building communities and have a hand in its governance. While some board members actually make their living as attorneys and have a working knowledge of …
The last couple of years have been tempestuous for everyone involved in the real estate industry, and the New York market is certainly no exception. But the city’s residential real estate is extraordinary in that during the current rece…
As the legislature in Albany and the New York City Council are in full swing, legislation of every type is being proposed, debated, and considered. As one might expect, the budget is front and center in these recessionary times, but ho…
In a high-cost, high-density real estate landscape like New York City, when disputes arise in a multifamily building, tensions can escalate from annoyance to litigation very quickly. In rental buildings, problems can range from lack of…
In managing the affairs of a building or a community, all board members are far from equal in their abilities and skills. Some bring experience in construction or a background in law, finance, or other professions that can be helpful to…
Q I am a rent-stabilized tenant in a non-eviction plan Queens co-op. (It was converted in 1986.) A shareholder gave me a ballot proxy so that I could attend the annual meeting of the co-op. Am I allowed to ask questions at this meeting…
Most board members are volunteers—some may have experience with certain aspects of running a building, but most come to the job relatively green, armed only with a sense of responsibility and a desire to serve their building community. S…
The Cooperator headquarters in Midtown Manhattan again played host to a group of real estate industry professionals gathered to discuss their strategies and challenges, trade anecdotes (both the positive and not-so-positive), and me…