If your building's mortgage is coming due soon, you're not alone — and you're definitely not prepared for what's coming. Don Einsidler, president of Einsidler Management, reveals the harsh reality facing co-op boards as interest rates skyrocket from the low threes to over six percent. Einsidler shares actual loan scenarios from his portfolio, explains why many boards are dangerously unaware of their loan maturity dates, and provides a roadmap for communicating these inevitable cost increases to shareholders.

If your mortgage was refinanced around 2015, this episode could save your building from budget disaster. Don't wait until the last minute to face the music. Habitat's Paula Chin conducts the interview.

How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

It's true that construction projects tend to go over budget, behind schedule, and drive residents crazy. Matt Resnick, senior director of project management at AKAM, explains the hidden costs that can blow your budget before construction even begins, like attorney fees and special inspections that boards often overlook. Resnick reveals how the right project manager can actually save money through better contractor negotiations and smarter scheduling that reduces expensive delays. Plus, get insider tips on assembling the perfect team when your building faces complex challenges like neighbor access agreements or asbestos issues. Habitat's Carol Ott conducts the interview.

How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

Surprise! You might be subsidizing your commercial unit owner's expenses. This eye-opening conversation with property management expert Greg Poverelli, senior property manager at Harlem Property Management, reveals a costly mistake that's bleeding money from countless condo buildings across New York City.

Many boards discover too late that their commercial units have been dramatically underpaying common charges for years — sometimes by tens of thousands of dollars The culprit? A dangerous mix-up between offering plans and actual governing documents that lets commercial owners off the hook for their fair share of building expenses. In this episode, Poverelli shares real examples, including one Harlem building that recovered $7,200 in a single special assessment and thousands more in ongoing monthly charges. He explains exactly how to investigate your own building using public records and discusses the possibility of recovering years of underpayments. Habitat’s Paula Chin conducts the interview.

How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

If you're struggling to get enough votes to update your building's outdated governing documents, Mark Levine, principal at EBMG Management, offers a roadmap for success. You'll discover why a West Village co-op needed multiple attempts to ban smoking, and how they finally achieved the crucial two-thirds majority needed for amendment approval.

Levine offers practical strategies for overcoming common obstacles like poor meeting attendance, and shows how effective communication campaigns can turn indifferent residents into engaged voters. Learn why understanding your building's demographics is essential before proposing changes to policies covering everything from current issues like e-bike fire hazards to polarizing topics like flip taxes.

You'll also hear about leveraging technology and hybrid meetings to boost participation, plus how to tap into your management company's experience with similar buildings. Whether you're dealing with quality-of-life complaints or bylaws from the 1980s, this episode provides the tactical insights needed to successfully modernize your building's governing documents. Habitat's Emily Myers conducts the interview. 

How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

If your building was suddenly hit with a 400% insurance premium hike, who do you turn to? That was the question facing a Queens co-op after a devastating fire. Vik Shingwani, a property manager at First Management Corporation, reveals how strategic management helped reduce their renewal from $750,000 to $510,000 — still high, but a significant improvement. Shingwani offers practical insights on navigating catastrophic claims, managing affected residents, and implementing preventive measures that insurance companies actually respond to. Habitat’s Paula Chin conducts the interview. 

How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

Do you know why an effective capital reserve plan is crucial for your building's financial health? Learn how one Chelsea condo transformed their approach to multi-million dollar projects in this eye-opening conversation with Sara Gierloff, CFO of MD Squared Property Group. Here she reveals practical steps to track expenses, align investments with project timelines, and properly communicate with unit-owners. You'll gain insights on the pitfalls of relying solely on financing, why the standard "10% rule" for reserves is often inadequate, and how to avoid surprise assessments that frustrate residents. Most importantly, you'll understand how to develop a flexible capital plan that adapts to changing costs — without breaking the bank. Whether facing Local Law 11 repairs or elevator modernization, this episode helps you prepare for your building's future and avoid the dreaded cycle of emergency assessments. Habitat's Emily Myers conducts the interview. 

How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

It's coming: the convergence of multiple critical compliance deadlines that could devastate your building's finances. Hear how one 63-unit co-op is tackling the triple threat of Local Law 11, garage inspections, and Local Law 97 carbon emissions requirements — and how your building can learn from their mistakes. Peter Lehr, director of property management at Kaled, offers practical insights on bundling projects, working with the right consultants, and making the right decisions for your building, based on your potential fines. With 80% of NYC buildings expected to miss Local Law 97 compliance by 2030, knowing how to "buy time" with a realistic compliance schedule could save your building significant money and headaches. Habitat's Carol Ott conducts the interview.

How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

Who will show up for your co-op or condo’s annual meeting and will you have enough shareholders or unit-owners to conduct the necessary business at hand? That’s the pressing question as thousands of New York’s co-op and condo boards begin the annual meeting season this spring. Greg Finger, vice president and director of property management at Finger Management, recounts the tale of one condo his firm manages that didn’t achieve a quorum — the first time —  and in this episode he explains the simple strategy that worked the second time.  Whether you're  dealing with apathetic residents or critical financial decisions, you'll learn exactly how to craft notices that motivate attendance and protect your building's financial future. Habitat's Carol Ott conducts the interview.

How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

Labor law insurance claims continue to threaten insurance coverage for buildings, but there are some actionable items co-op and condo boards can take to reduce this exposure. Sean Kent, senior vice president at FirstService Insurance Brokers,  explains what they are, and how a 250-unit Bronx co-op overcame an insurance crisis when labor law claims threatened their coverage. Habitat’s Emily Myers conducts the interview, and in it Kent explains the difference between admitted and excess/surplus carriers (with premium differences of 100-300%), why timing is everything during insurance renewals, and what the “new normal” costs are for insurance and umbrella liability coverage.

How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos

Budget shortfalls are a nightmare. But manipulating the numbers to create artificially low assessments or maintenance increases can have even worse consequences in the long run. Kyle Gregory, managing member and operating partner of New Way Management, explains how boards can successfully manage their building finances without falling into common traps. Gaming operating costs might be tempting, but ultimately it can damage potential sales and create distrust among buyers. Gregory offers sophisticated approaches to addressing budget deficits, and addresses the long-term consequences of short-term financial maneuvers. Habitat's Emily Myers conducts the interview.

How To Run Your Building: For Co-ops and Condos