Association Disclosure and Board Action in a Down Market
The sub-prime lending tsunami has rippled across the U.S. economy, even reaching the Washington condominium and homeowner association industry. Theoretically, an association's obligation to follow statutory and common law disclosure requirements should remain constant irrespective of whether the Dow Jones Industrial Average and housing market are soaring or slumping. However, practically speaking in a rising market when most everyone is makng money, disclosures have been know to loosen; whereas, in a down market, disclosure statements are . . . to read more of this article by Daniel Zimberoff, Barker Martin P.S., click here.

Decks and Balconies source of Pleasure and Problems
Decks and balconies greatly enhance the enjoyment of any home or condominium. Yet we find that they are often the cause of expensive problems. Further, if left to deteriorate, they can be downright dangerous. What causes the problem: Most often, as with many building problems . . . to read more of this article by Dave Pioli, P.E., Criterium-Pioli Engineers click here.

Legally Speaking: Dealing with Insurance Deductibles
As most condominium homeowners and board members know, insurance deductibles on master policies for condominium associations have skyrocketed from what used to be $500 deductible to $5000 and heading for $10,000 to avoid smaller claims. In a nutshell, this is the paradigm for a very hard insurance market.  Insurance has morphed into a complexity not contemplated in the earliest English statutes dating back to the year 1601(1). Therefore, in today's hard insurance market . . . to read more of this article by Cynthia B. Jones, Rafel Law Group PLLC, click here.

What Every Community Association Needs to Know About Life Safety Systems
Community Association managers have a diverse and difficult job. They must know about building construction, taxes, contracts, painting, landscaping, electrical problems, appliances, life safety systems and a thousand other things. I suspect that the only way to be a truly successful community manager, handling multiple properties, is to wear a superman suit to work everyday. One area that is critical to the safety of the owners and residents is . . . to read more of this article by Smith Fire Systems Management click here.