An underlying permanent mortgage (UPM) is a commercial loan, not a residential loan like your co-op mortgage. As such, it carries additional and different terms and conditions than a residential mortgage. When selecting a mortgage for your…
First-time condo buyers will be getting a break from the government regarding mortgages. The Associated Press reported Wednesday that the Federal Housing Administration has revised its current guidelines to make it convenient for those…
The board of a building or community association has a fiduciary duty to uphold its community’s governing documents, act in good faith, and advance the interests of the community at large. Occasionally, boards fail to carry out this duty – …
There are few things upon which most people agree, but a general dislike for paying more today for something that cost less yesterday is pretty universal. This goes for taxes, consumer goods, healthcare, and of course for monthly maintenanc…
The importance of saving for a rainy day is a lesson we all learn as children. Just like we as individuals should put away a little something for that ‘just-in-case’ moment, co-op corporations and condominium associations must also keep res…
Like many other American cities, New York City is currently mired in an affordable housing crisis. And the situation seemingly grows more dire by the day. As Gothamist reported earlier this year, weakened rent laws and economic pressure…
Taxes from the sales of multimillion-dollar homes are going up, thanks to the folks up in Albany. As part of New York State’s 2020 budget, a change has been enacted to New York State’s ‘mansion tax.” Originally enacted in 1989 by the…
Long Island City became the talk of the town late last year after it was marked as one of two likely locations for a new Amazon headquarters. After much uproar from residents worried that such a massive project would rapidly gentrify th…
Although co-ops make up roughly 80 percent of the available-for-purchase housing stock in New York City, buyers often face this common dilemma when apartment: hunting: should they seek a co-op, or a condo? Many factors come into play in t…
New York City's new congestion pricing plan could be a financial boon to residential real estate, even if it poses an inconvenience to drivers who regularly commute into Manhattan. In a recent interview with The Wall Street Journ…