In the best of circumstances, qualifying an applicant for a co-op or condominium purchase can be a challenging process. Market conditions play a part in a board's consideration of applicants, and recent fluctuations have changed the wa…
Anybody who has lived and worked in New York City for an extended period of time usually develops a sort of love-hate relationship with the city, rattling off a dozen reasons why Gotham is the only place they'd ever consider calling hom…
New York City began as a city of immigrants and has maintained a long and laudable history of welcoming foreign travelers and residents. In recent years, residential real estate sales have glowed even brighter for buyers from overseas.…
To buy or not to buy? That is the question.” Taking a cue from Hamlet, this question is on the minds of many contemplating moving to New York City these days. “Many are taking advantage of this slightly-down market by buying, w…
Two seemingly opposite dynamics are both influencing today’s real estate market—and its impact on co-ops and condos. On one hand, people all over the United States, including the greater New York area, are becoming more frugal, and lear…
It’s that time of year again—trees are budding, flowers are blooming, and on Tuesday, April 17 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Cooperator’s Co-op & Condo Expo will set up shop at the Hilton New York at 53rd Street and Avenue of the Americas. …
Q I serve on the board of a Brooklyn co-op which is only 52 percent shareholder owned. Shareholders now have the simple majority on the board. Our sponsor owns the management company (which is non-responsive), has a relationship with ou…
Concrete is the most prevalent building material in existence today, though most people probably don’t notice how widely used the material is until it begins to break up in front of their homes, or falls off of their buildings, roads an…
With its plethora of major cultural and educational institutions like Lincoln Center, the Museum of Natural History, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Grant’s Tomb, Barnard College, Union Theological Seminary and Columbia University…
Unless it's a thoughtful gift or a party in their honor, nobody likes surprises. That's especially true when it comes to sudden, serious, or non-negotiable repairs to a co-op or condo building. A building community must have enough mon…