The first comprehensive architectural and cultural history of condominium and cooperative housing in twentieth-century America. Today, one in five homeowners in American cities and suburbs lives in a multifamily home rather than a single-family house. As the American dream evolves, precipitated by rising real estate prices and a renewed interest in urban living, many predict that condos will become the predominant form of housing in the twenty-first century. In this unprecedented study, Matthew Gordon Lasner explores the history of co-owned multifamily housing in the United States, from New York City’s first co-op, in 1881, to contemporary condominium and townhouse complexes coast to coast. Lasner explains the complicated social, economic, and political factors that have increased demand for this way of living, situating the trend within the larger housing market and broad shifts in residential architecture and family life. He contrasts the prevalence and popularity of condos, townhouses, and other privately governed communities with their ambiguous economic, legal, and social standing, as well as their striking absence from urban and architectural history.

This straightforward, easy-to-read book outlines homeowners' rights and obligations and explains the complexities of living in a community association. It explains how associations operate, collect money, hold meetings and elections and how residents can serve effectively as board members or volunteers. With humor and a conversational writing style the authors explain the pros and cons of those unique new neighborhoods where ownership is shared.

When it comes to understanding the legal rights of condominium owners, as well as the dynamics of condo association boards, nobody knows condos like Robert M. Meisner! An attorney specializing in community association law ... adjunct professor at two Michigan law schools ... extensive lecturer and prolific author ... Meisner is a nationally recognized specialist on condiminiums. In Conco Living, Meisner shares his wit and wisdom accumulated from more than 35 years of practicing community association law. If you've ever thought about buying or selling a condo, or joining a condo board, read this book first!

The majority of people now live in cities and for many that means apartment living. Apartments are where we spend our time, make our homes, raise our families and invest our money. Apartment living requires that we try to get along with our neighbours and make decisions collectively about the management of our buildings. This book examines how different housing markets, development practices, planning regimes, legal structures and social and cultural norms affect people’s everyday experiences of apartment living.

Joel Beath and Elizabeth Price explore this question drawing inspiration from a diverse collection of apartment designs, all smaller than 50m2/540ft2. Through the lens of five small-footprint design principles and drawing on architectural images and detailed floor plans, the authors examine how architects and designers are reimagining small space living. Full of inspiration we can each apply to our own spaces, this is a book that offers hope and inspiration for a future of our cities and their citizens in which sustainability and style, comfort and affordability can co-exist. Never Too Small proves living better doesn’t have to mean living larger.

This book is an absolute must for condominium buyers. The smart buyer is putting smart money into the condominium market and loving every minute of the new American lifestyle. This book outlines how to earn a heafty return on your investment while living maintenance free and easy; how to understand the rules, regulations and association fees; what are the finer points of pets, pools and parking; and the top questions you need to ask before you sign.

Condoland casts CityPlace – a massive residential development of more than thirty condominium towers just outside Toronto’s downtown core – as a microcosm of twenty-first-century urban intensification that has transformed the city skyline beyond all recognition. Built almost entirely by a single private developer, this immense neighbourhood took decades to plan, design, and develop, but the end result lacks a sense of place and is not widely accessible to those who need homes: only a small number of its 13,000 units constitute affordable housing, and public amenities are limited. James T. White and John Punter journey through the forty-year development of Toronto’s largest residential megaproject, focusing on its urban design and architectural evolution. They also delve into the background, summarizing the tools used to shape Toronto’s built environment, and critically explore the underlying political economy of planning and real estate development in the city. Using detailed field studies, interviews, archival research, and with nearly two hundred illustrations, they reveal an alarmingly flexible approach to planning and design that is acquiescent to the demands of a rapacious development industry. Condoland raises key questions about the sustainability and long-term resilience of city planning.

The Condo Owner's Answer Book covers all of the common issues with condos and condominium ownership presented in easy-to-follow question and answer format.

In the Make Money series, renowned real estate investor andbestselling author Gary W. Eldred shows you how to profit from thesafest, most reliable wealth builder in the world-real estate. Withcoverage of all the fundamentals-from finding the right propertiesto financing and managing them-Eldred shows you the ropes so youdon't have to learn important lessons the hard way. Unlike generalguides to investing in real estate, each title in the Make Moneyseries gives you the specialized expertise necessary to fullyprofit from a select investment strategy. Make Money with Condominiums and Townhouses shows homebuyers andinvestors how to travel the road to real estate wealth-often withlittle or nothing down. As an affordable investment vehicle,condominiums and townhouses offer numerous advantages over othertypes of rental property-they require relatively little day-to-daymanagement, they tend to attract more desirable tenants than otherrental properties, and they offer low risk and high returns. Fullof time-tested techniques and proven money-making strategies, MakeMoney with Condominiums and Townhouses will show you how to: * Relax while you put your money to work * Find properties with high rates of appreciation * Evaluate homeowner association finances * Choose profitable locations * Understand the changing demographics that may affect yourinvestment * Finance your properties with little or no money down * Achieve positive cash flow quickly * Build up equity * Understand by-laws, disclosure statements, and managementcontracts

Get inspired — and prepared — for your best life at 50+ Living Your Best Life after 50 All-in-One For Dummies is your guide as you explore new opportunities and make the most of your fifties and the decades that follow. Find a new job, travel for weeks or months at a time, boost your health with yoga routines, take up pickleball—whatever it is you want to do, this book will inspire you to improve your life and show you how to get there. You’ll also find timely information about planning and budgeting for retirement, withdrawing money from IRAs and 401(k)s, and taking Social Security. With this fun- and information-packed Dummies resource, you can look forward to your future with enthusiasm and purpose. Change jobs, move up in your career, or get ready for retirement Get tips for travel, living like a nomad, cooking after the kids leave home, downsizing, and other handy topics for this time of your life Stay in tip-top shape with fun activities like yoga and pickleball Get your finances in order and make sure you can live the life you want on Social Security and retirement income This book is a great choice for readers looking to make the second half of life the best half.