Are HOA Fees Tax Deductible?

Posted by & filed under HOA Management.

Tax season is always a stressful time of the year. One of the questions HOA residents commonly ask is, “Are HOA fees tax deductible?” The answer, though, is not as simple. Are HOA Fees Tax Deductible? A homeowners association runs a community by imposing certain rules, preserving its aesthetics, and maintaining various aspects of the… Read more »

Ready to Rent?

Posted by & filed under Q&A, Real Estate.

LANDLORD SAFETY CHECKLIST Two Forms of Exit There must be at least two ways to leave the premises in the event of a fire or other emergency. It can be windows or doors, but the windows have to be big enough for an adult to get through. Smoke Detectors Make sure smoke detectors are installed… Read more »

Does Winter Get You Down? It May be More than Just the Weather

Posted by & filed under Health.

Most of us rue the end of summer—sunny days, mild nights, vacations, the beach, ball games, picnics and so much more. Although fall and winter bring holidays, the warmth of a fireplace and football (actual and fantasy), for many people the winter months mark the return of seasonal depression.   It’s known in medical circles… Read more »

Questions and Answers about Parking

Posted by & filed under Parking, Q&A.

Q: Why don’t we have enough parking? A: Developers want to build the most homes possible to make the most money, so they often allot the fewest parking spaces required by law. Unfortunately, that leaves the association to deal with the shortage.   Q: Why can’t we park on the street? A: The association’s roads… Read more »

Important notice from Blackstone Management

Posted by & filed under blog, Board Members, Health, HOA Management, Safety.

Dear Valued Customer,   As 2022 approaches, businesses across all markets throughout the US continue to be burdened by extraordinary circumstances nationwide challenging clients, consumers, suppliers, and employees both professionally and personally. The recent fast-spreading Omicron variant of COVID-19 has derailed holiday plans, canceled events, and left businesses understaffed across the nation. We are proactively… Read more »

D.C. Authorizes Virtual Meetings and Electronic Voting for Condominium Unit Owners’ Associations

Posted by & filed under Board Members, HOA Management.

The pandemic has presented many challenges for condominium unit owners’ associations, including how meetings can be conducted and making sure all voting and quorum requirements are met. On October 25, 2021, D.C. City Council and Mayor Muriel Bowser enacted new emergency legislation that, in relevant part, amends subsection (f) of Sec. 2. Section 303 of… Read more »

Are You Ready for Cold Weather?

Posted by & filed under Home Improvement, Safety.

Fall is the time to prepare for winter—cold and wet conditions not only make you miserable, but they can damage your home. Some winterizing can wait, some can’t. Make a list of what needs to be done, and tackle the time-sensitive tasks first. Here’s a simple checklist from the association to help you get a… Read more »

Mail Delays (USPS)

Posted by & filed under HOA Management, Real Estate.

The United States Postal Services began changing first-class mail delivery time frames in October. This change may result in payments, parking passes, account statements and other mailed items from our offices taking longer to arrive to you. For fast easy access to your account or to make payments online please visit our website www.blackstoneAM.com on… Read more »

Joint Venture Acquisition

Posted by & filed under Apartments, Real Estate.

We are pleased to announce the successful closing of a joint venture with Matador Capital Management and Riverbend Investments for the fee simple interest of Caroline Drive Apartments a 58 unit apartment community in La Plata, MD. (Established in a tranquil, residential neighborhood close to downtown La Plata, MD. Convenient to Rt. 301, major shopping,… Read more »

How the Budget is Prepared

Posted by & filed under cpa services, Education, HOA Management.

Each year you receive a draft of the proposed budget for review and comment. A lot of work goes into preparing the budget. It’s a complex activity that has to start early so the budget can be finalized and approved prior to the beginning of the new fiscal year. Here’s how we do it: The… Read more »

Master Homeowners Associations: Is Your HOA Its Own Master?

Posted by & filed under Board Members, HOA Management, Real Estate.

Imagine your surprise. You buy a home in a community knowing full well that you’ll become a member of your local homeowners association only to learn that your homeowners association is really a subassociation and you’re bound to follow the rules of a bigger “master” association. If you’re thinking, “I’ve never heard such a thing,”… Read more »

History of Memorial Day

Posted by & filed under Holiday.

Originally called Decoration Day, from the early tradition of decorating graves with flowers, wreaths and flags, Memorial Day is a day for remembrance of those who have died in service to our country. It was first widely observed on May 30, 1868 to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers, by proclamation of Gen. John… Read more »