January 10, 2020

#Askingforafriend It has taken me a while to work up the nerve to ask this. m so embarrass?. ‘Please don’t use name or location on anything that could possibly trace this back to me. Not that it matters, I’ve opened a new email account on a public computer in order to submit this, so you… Read more »

December 30, 2019

Chances are at some time in your life, you’ve made a New Year’s resolution — and then broken it. This year, stop the cycle of resolving to make change and then not following through. If your resolution is to take better care of yourself and get healthy, you will have a much better year if your resolution sticks. Here are ten… Read more »

August 27, 2019

Do you have a board member who likes to push others around? Find out how to tame your HOA or condo board bully. Some board members ought to come with mute buttons or protective gear for the rest of the board. They are the bullies. While most board members find ways to work together and… Read more »

March 21, 2019

We have added a great new tool to the Blackstone Management Vendor desk. Notifications: vendors will get notifications when maintenance/repair requests are assigned to them in our system. This will allow all vendors working with Blackstone Management to track all outstanding work and RFP requests. Scheduling: vendors now can set appointments for maintenance work at… Read more »

January 15, 2019

The pros and cons of owning a house or condo that’s part of a homeowners association cover pretty much everything and the kitchen sink. Your relationship with the HOA can be reassuring, annoying, and sometimes even risky. On the plus side, the HOA often foots the bill for major expenses, such as when a roof… Read more »

September 11, 2018

Hurricane Florence, now a Category 4 storm, is approaching the US East Coast with winds of more than 130 mph. The hurricane is expected to make landfall in North or South Carolina sometime between Thursday and Friday, just after the average peak of the hurricane season. Many areas are at risk of devastating winds, rainfall, and flooding. Governors… Read more »

September 3, 2018

I recently received the following request from a multifamily investor: “Can you please send me a marketing plan post purchase for an apartment building I am buying (my bank wants this)?” This is a fantastic question! When you approach a bank to finance your apartment deal they most assuredly will want to see your apartment… Read more »

June 29, 2018

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 »

June 14, 2018

NEW MARYLAND LAW PREVENTS DEVELOPERS FROM RETAINING DISPROPORTIONATE HOA VOTING CONTROL A new law, effective October 1, 2018, will prevent developers from retaining disproportionate voting control after selling a majority of lots within a homeowner association (“HOA”) subdivision. This law ends the practice where some HOA developers created governing documents that gave them multiple votes… Read more »

May 21, 2018

The scene was tense, with shouting, threats, and concerns about objects being thrown. Despite repeated pleas for quiet, anger and tension hung over the room. Menacing faces glared at the speaker in front at the head table. Is this a description of the latest episode of the Jerry Springer Show? No, it’s just another dysfunctional… Read more »

April 25, 2018

Being a member of a homeowner association (HOA) or community association board is an important role and one that should not be taken lightly. After all, you hold responsibility for members of your community, not just in a business sense, but also as a neighbor and friend. If you are an HOA or community association… Read more »

April 24, 2018

Noise is an inevitable reality in condominium communities. Condominium dwellers live in such close proximity, it’s essential that we consider the effect noise will have on our neighbors when deciding on floor coverings, where to mount the flat-screen television or when to knock out a wall.   We—you and your neighbors—all have a right to… Read more »