March 20, 2025

With the rise of social media, HOA board members often find themselves navigating online communication. Social media can be a useful tool to keep homeowners informed and engaged. However, it can also lead to miscommunication, conflicts, or even legal issues if not handled properly. This has led many to wonder whether or not there should… Read more »

February 15, 2025

While mainly governed by your association’s bylaws and governing documents, most states have legislation that provides HOA proxy voting rules. Most indicate the requirements for a valid proxy vote and its limitations. What is Proxy Voting? Proxy voting occurs when a homeowner’s association member authorizes another person to cast votes on behalf of the members…. Read more »

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 »

February 1, 2025

Homeowners associations are governed by a set of documents, among which are the bylaws and the CC&Rs. There will come a time, though, when you will need to amend those documents. Continue reading to learn how to change HOA bylaws and CC&Rs. How to Change HOA Bylaws and CC&Rs: Is It Even Possible? A homeowners association’s… 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 »

December 18, 2024

All Blackstone Management offices will be closing on the dates below in observance of the upcoming holidays. Christmas Holiday: Closed Wednesday, December 25 and Thursday, December 26. Office will reopen on Friday, December 27, 2023, at 8:00 AM New Year Holiday: Closed Wednesday, January 1, 2025; Office will reopen Thursday, January 2, 2025, at 8… Read more »

October 15, 2024

In these tough economic times, many of us are trying to stretch our dollars and keep our debt as low as possible. The following tips from the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC), offer easy ways to save: -Empty the change in your pocket into a jar each night. Pocket change can add up to… Read more »

October 2, 2024

Identity theft is a problem any time of the year. But, while consumers are focused on giving during the holidays, crooks are focused on taking. If there’s one thing consumers don’t need, it is dealing with identity theft during the holidays. The National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) offers the following tips to help consumers… Read more »

September 17, 2024

Summer vacations have come to an end, but that doesn’t mean all work and no play. With cooler weather, beautiful scenery and an array of local festivals, fall is the perfect time of year for weekend getaways close to home. For travel ideas, activity suggestions and trip planning, visit www.Recreation.gov. A partnership of 12 federal… Read more »

June 26, 2024

A reserve study is a vital capital planning tool for HOAs and condominium associations that provides directional guidance and an in-depth analysis of community assets. The initial reserve study requires an onsite inspection and thorough examination of the reserve fund status to establish a prioritized schedule of capital improvement projects and a reserve funding plan… Read more »