Category: Real Estate

February 12, 2025

Despite a certain groundhog having seen his shadow, winter will come to an end before we know it, recalling the Hal Borland quote, “No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.” The quote is often used to mean that even in difficult times, there will eventually be a change for the better. For the… Read more »

January 24, 2025

What the Nationwide Injunction Means for Condos & HOAs A federal court has issued a nationwide injunction temporarily blocking the enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), originally set to take effect on January 1, 2025. The CTA mandates condominium and HOA board members to report beneficial ownership information (BOI) to the Financial Crimes Enforcement… Read more »

January 15, 2025

Believe it or not, squatters do have rights, depending on which state the property is located in. Understanding the different squatters’ rights in the U.S. is critical to both landlords and tenants. Landlords can know how to navigate eviction without infringing on squatters’ rights. Meanwhile, tenants or squatters can protect their rights. Why do Squatters… Read more »

January 11, 2025

Community associations will remain a top choice for homebuyers in the coming year as the U.S. housing market is expected to see improvements in inventory, home sales, and prices coupled with more stable mortgage rates. Projections from the Foundation for Community Association Research, an affiliate of Community Associations Institute, estimate 3,000 to 4,000 new condominium communities… Read more »

May 6, 2024

Whether your new home is just down the street, in a nearby town or across the country, moving can be stressful. There’s a lot of work to be done before that final box is unpacked—more than many expect—and it’s easy to overlook the details that pile up the closer you get to your departure date…. Read more »

March 5, 2024

U.S. homeowners can lower home energy bills, lower federal income taxes and increase home comfort by making energy efficiency home improvements that qualify for up to $1,500 in federal income tax credits. Consumers who make energy-efficient upgrades can also reduce their personal carbon footprint because using less energy at home means emitting less pollution too…. Read more »

September 12, 2023

We want you to be aware of changes in the marketplace which are continuing to increase insurance costs, so that you can make necessary adjustments to your budgets ahead of time. The information is generalized. If you need specific budget estimates for a given account, please reach out to your community manager. On average we… Read more »

June 15, 2023

According to Merriam-Webster the basic definition of the word home is “one’s place of residence: domicile.” It might be a mansion in the country, a tract home in a suburban neighborhood, or an apartment in the city. Home is simply where we live. But home is also much more than just a place. Our homes… Read more »

February 5, 2023

There’s nothing as serene as a warm, crackling fire on a cold, winter night. There’s also nothing more dangerous if your chimney is damaged. Broken or cracked chimneys can let heat, smoke and toxic gasses, such as carbon monoxide, into your home. Your home could even catch fire. Chimney damage is often obvious, but sometimes… Read more »

November 30, 2022

We have been notified that House Bill 107 passed in Maryland in this year’s legislative session requiring all multi-family residential properties to complete a reserve study by October 1, 2023. This bill requires an updated study every five years of the reserves needed for future major repairs and replacement of the common elements of cooperative… Read more »

September 20, 2022

We’ve got an election coming up, and even if you’re unable to attend the membership meeting and election, you can still vote by proxy. A proxy is the written authorization that allows one person to appoint another (the proxy holder) to vote on his or her behalf. State law and the association’s governing documents specify… Read more »

October 22, 2021

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 »