Co-op
Coop Transparency Takes Another Step Forward
Few parts of the residential purchasing process is more frustrating than the coop approval process. Clients — particularly first time buyers– find the lack of transparency and the snail’s pace to approval among the most challenging. But recently Westchester County joined a few other local NYS governments in the effort to improve the process. With …
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Looking Into Due Diligence, Coop Boards, and the Financing Process
I was recently featured in an article by Murray Hill’s real estate brokerage, The Bamberger Group. We discussed the mortgage pre-approval process, the value of an attorney, and how to talk to your new co-op board. You can find the full article on their blog, Bamberger Answers, and excerpts of our discussion below: [The …
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Reading Co-op Financials
OK I know. Let the lawyer handle the financials. But in today’s ever-increasing competitive environment, super brokers are conversant in all issues affecting their clients’ purchases. Understanding all aspects of the deal, makes clients loyal and your advice to buyers and sellers all the more valuable. This is part 1 of a continuing series to …
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Opening Your Mail To A Bill For A Million Dollars
I hate opening my mail, as it rarely brings anything that I look forward to dealing with. Bills, invitations to destination weddings in Buffalo, laminated flyers that make me feel guilty when I put them in the trash (what exactly is the recycling protocol on laminated postcards?). But a recent article about a shareholder at …
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The Fine Art of Buying Apartments in Smaller Buildings: a Lawyer’s Guide
I was recently representing a buyer in a 6 unit coop in Park Slope. The building was self-managed, so I contacted a resident in the building who had been provided to us as a ‘due diligence’ contact. “Are there board minutes for us to review,” my paralegal naively asked. “Board minutes?” replied our contact curiously. …
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More Pretending to Be a Coop: Confessions of a Condominium
As we turn the corner toward Halloween, a time of year when people dress up and pretend to be someone else, let’s revisit the subject of condominium boards that like to pretend they are coop boards. Let’s take a minute to review. A coop typically has a right of approval of a purchase transaction. That …
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The Coop / Condo Abatement: New Rules That Any Real Estate Expert Needs to Know
NYC real estate taxes are an important component of value, and recent developments in this area require close attention. This abatement gives eligible coop and condominium owners a reduction in their real estate taxes. Here are the changes that were recently enacted. Primary residence: The apartment must be the owner’s primary residence to be eligible …
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Three NYC Real Estate Myths
Ask two economists the same question, and you’ll get three different answers. Real estate can be the same way. It’s easy for clients to get sidetracked in a fast moving market like ours. Buyers and sellers are inundated with experts offering their advice loudly from any forum that will take them. It’s important that real …
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Evaluating the Coop Before You Buy – Part 2/2
Before you sign, be sure you’ve properly evaluated the building. Here is the second in a two part series of things to look for when conducting due diligence on your dream apartment. Policy changes: It’s easy to assume that things in a building will remain status quo when you buy. But be careful, boards change …
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Evaluating the Coop Before You Buy – Part 1/2
Updated kitchen, lots of light, close to subway. Perfect! Let’s buy it. And the maintenance is so low, what could be better? Turns out, a lot. How about a multi-million dollar litigation against the coop for which there is no insurance that could bankrupt the corporation if the plaintiff prevails? Let’s run through the basics …
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