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Buying & Selling
Getting In
You found the perfect co-op apartment, close to work, near good friends and good restaurants. And it’s a great investment. You apply to the board and suddenly find yourself on the receiving end of a rejection letter. What happened? Read More
Smooth Sailing
So, you want to sell your apartment and buy another one. Well, there will be plenty of demand for your home because of today’s strong seller’s market. But that same strong market can work against you when you’re out shopping and have to compete with everyone else who wants to buy. Read More
Been Through Buying Hell?
If you've just moved to a new co-op or condo, you probably feel as though you've been through a living hell. For several Read More
Selling Your Apartment
We've all heard that old adage little things mean a lot. This is especially true when Read More
Consider a Building's Fiscal Health
One of the most important issues in deciding if a cooperative or condominium apartment is a wise Read More
Deciding on a Broker
Unlike most places in America, Manhattan does not have a multiple listing service, a directory that Read More
Get That Mortgage!
Despite today's relatively low interest rates, it's not always easy to get financing. Lenders are Read More
Surviving the Apartment Search
I have always thought of myself as a good person. I have a job, I earn a living, I buy American-made products, do community service, Read More
Buying Smart
According to the most recent survey by the National Association of Realtors, 41 percent of all Read More
Your Real Estate Broker
You've been working with a real estate broker and finallyafter seeing a dizzying array of apart- Read More
Getting Unit Financing
You've found your dream home at last. However, you don't have those hundreds of thousands stashed away Read More
Commercial Tenants
If you're shopping for a new co-op or condo, it's a good idea to get a sense of who your neighbors would be before you make a Read More
Where Have All the Bargains Gone?
The hit musical Rent burst onto Broadway last year amid unanimous praise for its originality and high- Read More
Establishing Co-op Board Review Etiquette
Whether you're shopping for a co-op or condo, finding the apartment that you'd want to call Read More
Selecting a Neighborhood
What do you look for when you're researching a possible new neighborhood? Movie Read More
Both Prices and Sales Volume Are on the Rise
At long last, the good news is here: New York real estate prices are on the rise. Every major real Read More
How Low Can You Go?
In June 1992, the board of directors of a 160-unit co-op in Port Chester, New York made the same decision that countless Read More
Look Before You Leap
If you've been apartment shopping, you may think you know everything there is to know about the unit you've got Read More
Buying an Apartment the '90s Way
The electronic age has reached the New York real estate market, bringing new ways of buying and selling Read More
The Corcoran Group
Barbara Corcoran, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of The Corcoran Group, Manhattan’s largest privately owned real estate firm, is on top of her game as she continues to do what she does best: invent ways to market Manhattan’s hottest, high-end properties. Often referred to as the "Queen of New York Real Estate," this innovator knows that the key to success is in the people she chooses to work with her. "I’ve always had enormous ‘good people’ fortune. I’ve had the most gifted people since day one. They are the strongest sales people in town." Esther Kaplan, president of The Corcoran Group, has been with the firm for over 22 years. "Barbara and I have a kind of left-brain/right-brain relationship. Her gift, special talent, is marketing. I’m on the other side of the firm, the operating side." Read More
Sealing The Deal
Closings are interesting and emotional transactions. As an attorney who has handled many of them, I can tell you that each one is different. From a legal point of view, they are not especially complex. From an emotional point of view, they can bring out the worst in people. Even though most closings go smoothly, tempers can flair at any moment over small issues. The seller is giving up his or her home and the buyer is anxious to move in and create a new home. This can make the parties, to put it mildly, a little "difficult." Knowing this and the particulars involved in a closing can help you seal the deal with fewer problems. Read More
Ten Steps to a Smooth Closing
Congratulations! You've either found that perfect and your offer has been accepted, or you've identified a purchaser who has agreed to your sales price. Your application has been approved and now you're ready to proceed with the sales transaction. At this point, you probably feel that a great weight has been lifted and all you need to do is relax and let "the powers that be" do their thing. Read More
The Real Estate Market: Demand Far Exceeds Supply
There's no doubt about it: New York is the place to be once again, buyers just can't get enough of it. In fact, the biggest problem in residential real estate these days is that there just isn't any available. Read More
The Battle for Brooklyn
East of the busy intersection of Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues in Downtown Brooklyn, where the Long Island Rail Road and almost 10 subway lines intersect, one finds, in the shadow of the landmark Williamsburgh Savings Bank building, the Vanderbilt Rail Yard. At this rather unattractive open-air facility, trains that terminate at the LIRR's Brooklyn terminal rest between rush hours are cleaned and serviced. Read More
Back to the Future
An old adage of the real estate game speaks of the importance of "location, location, location," meaning that value goes up (or down) depending on where a property for sale is located. The hot 'location' in New York is constantly moving. Also moving is the overall real estate landscape of a shifting economy and the changing needs of new demographics. Read More
The Sky's the Limit
While the real estate market across the country has cooled in general, it's still going strong in New York. The New York City market has always stood apart from the rest of the country, for reasons that everybody here practically knows by heart: limited space, high demand, lots of people with lots of money, and highly desirable, one-of-a-kind properties. Whether buyers hope to reside in historic buildings or state-of-the art modern architecture, New York's real estate market without question offers some of the most sought-after properties in the world. Read More
Apartments Sell—But Who's Buying?
Thirty-eight of the 400 individuals on Forbes magazine's list of the richest Americans—almost ten percent—call New York City home. All thirty-eight are billionaires. Some of them, like Ralph Lauren and Donald Trump, are household names. Two of them are Rockefellers. One of them, Michael R. Bloomberg, is the mayor. Read More
Decorating with Feng Shui
Ever wonder why you suddenly get a feeling of relaxation and tranquility upon entering certain spaces, and your blood goes cold in others? Why some homes just feel happy and harmonious the moment you cross the threshold, and others just don't? Read More
Apartments that Sell
The vast majority of co-ops and condos that are put on the market are not in picture-perfect shape for a rapid and high-priced sale. Prospective buyers, who view those apartments, often cannot see beyond the superficial defects and so fail to appreciate an apartment's potential. It is essential, therefore, that before an apartment is put on the market, it is made to look as attractive as possible. This is called staging, an essential step toward ensuring that an apartment does not stay on the market for an inordinately long period of time and is sold for the highest possible price. There are two categories of staging: primary and secondary, and each contains five subcategories, all of which are prerequisites, if staging is to achieve the desired results. Read More
Top Dozen Reasons for Co-op Board Rejections
Before even beginning the hunt for that perfect co-op, the prospective buyer should be familiar with all the possible ways one's application might be rejected. That familiarity will enable one to focus on the appropriate buildings as well as to make the necessary adjustments so that rejection will not occur. Read More
The Buyer's Guide
If you’re contemplating buying a new home, there are a few vital questions that should be asked, even before you start attending open houses and getting your heart set on one property or another. Among those questions might be, “How do I start the process?” “What can I afford?” “Does the right home exist in my budget?” “Should I buy a co-op, condo or townhouse?” “Will I be approved for financing?” “Will I be approved by a co-op board?” Read More
