Behind many co-op and condo property management switches are stories of broken trust, hidden problems, and boards desperate for answers. Andre Kaplan, CFO at Orsid New York, and Scott Soifer, Senior VP at Maxwell-Kates, reveal some of the uncomfortable conversations that need to happen and why boards sometimes hide critical information during the hiring process. One Jackson Heights co-op cycled through three firms in five years before anyone delivered the truth about their finances. Another building discovered over $100,000 in unpaid bills after hiring a new management company. Learn how to spot institutional dysfunction, and the art of rebuilding trust when everyone's patience has run out. Habitat’s Carol Ott conducts the interview.

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

You probably think your board is managing your building’s finances responsibly. But are you certain? In this episode, three of New York City's leading property management CEOs discuss case studies that expose how buildings can easily spiral into crisis. Peter von Simpson of New Bedford Management, Michael Feldman of Choice Management, and Dan Wollman of Gumley Haft Management share stories about inheriting buildings with conspiracy theories running wild and boards in denial about their financial reality. The conversation reveals why some buildings operate for years with maintenance charges that don't cover actual costs, and what it really takes to rebuild trust when a community is fractured. Through these real-world scenarios, the managers reveal patterns that repeat across buildings, and what your board can do to course-correct before it’s too late. Habitat's Carol Ott conducts the interview.

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

Something fundamental has shifted in NYC property management, and Kyle Gregory from New Way Management and Margaret McAdams from Buchbinder & Warren are pulling back the curtain. They reveal why compliance work has ballooned from 25% to 60% of their time, how buildings are navigating impossible choices between assessments and deferred maintenance, and why even large management firms are struggling to adapt. You'll hear about a building forced to spend millions on an emergency conversion and learn why the old playbook for running co-ops and condos no longer works. If you've ever wondered what's really happening behind those rising maintenance fees or why your building seems to be in constant crisis mode, this conversation explains everything. Habitat's Emily Myers conducts the interview.

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

If you’re thinking about switching management companies, buckle up. You might be preparing to sabotage your new management relationship without even realizing it, particularly if you leave important details about the state of your building unsaid. In this roundtable discussion, Stuart Halper of Impact Real Estate Management, Howard Mandel of TKR Property Services, and Anes Radoncic of Venture New York Property Management share why the first thirty days can determine success or failure and the critical questions boards should always ask. This episode offers hard-won wisdom about setting realistic expectations, navigating difficult conversations, and why transparency matters more than you think. Habitat’s Carol Ott leads the discussion.

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

Planning and executing building projects is a board’s key task, which sounds much simpler than it actually is. Complicating the task is timing, financing and communicating to building residents. Habitat’s Emily Myers speaks with Ira Meister, President of Matthew Adam Properties; Anton Lekic, Co-Founder of Murray Hill Management; and Jamie Sikorski, Senior Vice President at AKAM, to understand how this plays out in the real world and what works and what doesn't.

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

Changing managing companies can be a fraught endeavor, but it’s a hurdle many boards will face at least once. Habitat’s Emily Myers sits down with three seasoned NYC property management experts: Mark Levine (Principal, EBMG), Robert Ferrara (President, Ferrara Management Group), and Evangelos Fantakos (CEO, Highrise Property Management) to reveal the hidden challenges that emerge during transitions and share stories from the trenches — including one building facing $70,000 in compliance fines and another caught in litigation during a board coup attempt. These industry veterans discuss everything from navigating sponsor conflicts to rebuilding trust with residents, plus the critical mistakes that can cost your building dearly. Whether you're unhappy with current management or simply want to understand what makes transitions successful, their insider perspectives will help you avoid costly pitfalls and make informed decisions for your building's future.

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

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