Distinguished Blog - Community Associations

Market insights and industry news.

D&O Insurance: 5 Scenarios Where Associations Needed Coverage

Directors and Officers (D&O) insurance is big business for brokers — according to a report by A.M. Best, the D&O insurance market is expected to reach $18.2 billion in gross written premium by 2027. It also should be a no-brainer decision for the association’s board of directors because it’s effectively a safety net for them….

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California’s Drought, Our Shared Responsibility

Thanks to new water usage regulations in California, the state saved nearly 388 billion gallons of water between June 2015 and February 2016. That is enough water to supply nearly six million residents for a year. Although increased rain and snow levels helped to ease the water crises in California, it wasn’t enough to draw…

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Last-Minute Tax Tips: Rental Property Deductions

Ahh, April. The highs of March Madness are forgotten all too soon as Tax Day looms large in the not-so-distant future. Recognizing that a few of us might be scrambling to wrap up our taxes in time for the April 15 deadline, we plumbed the Internet for guidance on rental property deductions. Don’t overlook the…

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Ask the Expert: Common Area Pool Safety Checklist

Pool season is almost upon us. Which means it’s time to invest in new sunscreen and pull the bathing suits out of winter storage. It’s also time to reassess pool safety, maintenance, and good risk management. Community associations bear responsibility for common pool areas, a value-added amenity that serves as a great benefit to residents,…

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To Rent or To Buy?

The choice between buying a home and renting one is arguably one the biggest financial decisions that many young adults face. While there are several factors that can make a housing decision a complicated one, especially if it’s your first time, there are a few recent data points that might help inform your decision.

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You Asked, We Listened

Our customers hold the keys to our success. That’s one thing we’re sure of as we set our course for the future. We are confident that the constant improvement of our customers’ experience will prove to be a powerful value differentiator. Recently, we have started our journey to ask, listen, and act on feedback about how we can improve…

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Co-Op Pays for Secondhand Cigarette Smoke

As more and more buildings go smoke-free in New York City, a recent court ruling provides additional incentive to ban cigarettes. Earlier this month, a Manhattan Supreme Court judge ruled that a co-op has to pay one of its apartment owners more than $120,000 in maintenance and fees after she sued over damage from people…

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IBA Checks In With Distinguished’s COO

As markets continue to grow, largely due to the rebounding economy and increase in construction nationwide, the need for risk-management specialists and professionals becomes even more necessary. Carla Vel, Distinguished Programs’ President and Chief Operating Officer, sat down with Insurance Business America

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How to Reduce Your Environmental Footprint 2016

News in the sustainability world: New York City’s most famed hotels are pledging to get greener. By doing so, these hotel owners have agreed to cut greenhouse gases from their buildings by 30 percent or more in the next decade. As New York mayor Bill de Blasio said, if Manhattan’s most iconic hotels can significantly…

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A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Our New Legal Hotline for Community Associations

We recently began a pilot to offer Florida-based Community Associations the legal services of one of the US News’ “Best Law Firms in 2015,” Cole, Scott, Kissane (CSK). Created in partnership with our friends at Great American, these services are available via a new hotline. We recently chatted with Nelson Kefauver, SVP at Great American,…

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New Hotline: Community Association Legal Resource

We know you wear a lot of hats. Is one of them “Legal Advisor?” Have you ever been asked one of the following questions by your boards or managers? A co-op owner wants to redo his driveway, but the board hasn’t approved the materials. How should the board proceed? The board would like to change…

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