Category: Real Estate

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 »

February 2, 2022

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 »

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 »

October 14, 2021

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 »

June 3, 2021

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 »

April 23, 2021

Though time-consuming, finding tenants for your property owners is of paramount importance. You need to prioritize key selling points to garner quality leads and then deliver a positive living experience in order to maintain tenants and reduce turnover. According to Invesp’s Khalid Saleh in an article entitled, “Customer Acquisition Versus Retention Costs,” attracting a new… Read more »

March 15, 2021

ACH (Automated Clearing House) is a network used for electronically moving money between bank accounts across the United States. It’s run by an organization called Nacha (previously NACHA – National Automated Clearing House Association), and may also be referred to as the ACH network or ACH scheme. Payment processing via the ACH network has existed since the 1970s. ACH moved… Read more »

January 13, 2021

The 2021 billing season for Community Associations and Homeowner Associations is in full swing. Over the past 90 days, millions of homeowners all over the country have received some sort of communication piece, invoice, or Coupon Book to generate the lifeblood of each association – The Homeowner Assessment. Budgeting and billing has taken up a… Read more »