Knowledge is Power: Understanding Amortization and Mortgage Interest Rates
Have you ever calculated how an increase in mortgage interest rates actually affects your purchase in real dollars?
Six Reasons You Should WANT to Live on the First Floor
I have lived in ground floor apartments in NYC for the last fourteen years. In fact, we recently purchased another apartment on the – wait for it – yes, the first floor. We move in later this month, which means we are committed to first floor living for the foreseeable future – and we love […]
Holiday Proof: Value is PERCEIVED, Not Absolute.
Time for a little holiday levity! I think the following picture* sums it up pretty well. To all of my buyers, sellers, appraisers and tax assessors, a very Happy Holidays! YOUR HOME AS SEEN BY… *credit to @LOFMath for the original image and post
THE NY STATE BUDGET HAS BEEN ADOPTED, BUT WILL IT FIND A HOME?
The 2020 Fiscal Year Budget has been adopted and includes significant changes to state Transfer Taxes and the Mansion Tax. So, what is the impact on buyer and sellers in NYC?
GOOD FAITH DEPOSITS: A PART OF THE PROCESS OR A DESPICABLE SCAM?
Originally posted on Unreal Estate:
It is that time of year again! Spring is here and the rental market is heating up. As New Yorkers reluctantly re-enter the market, and tens of thousands of new hires, relos, students, etc. start their apartment search, a refresher on Good Faith Deposits can’t hurt! I originally posted this…
Thank You To Our Heroes
“Without heroes, we are all plain people, and don’t know how far we can go.” — Bernard Malamud Thank you to our Veterans for protecting our country and preserving our rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. On this day and EVERY DAY we appreciate your service and bravery! Eirik, UnReal Estate
Deadlines Within Deadlines: Cooperative Board Packages and Commitment Letters
The following article was written by the fine folks at Weidenbaum & Harari, LLP – an excellent real estate law firm in New York City. I have been enthusiastically recommending my buyers and sellers to Barry Weidenbaum for a decade and plan to continue doing so for the next decade to come. This – along with every article on their site – is a great read and worthwhile information for any co-op purchaser, so I thought it would be beneficial to my readers. Thank you Barry and enjoy the article!
Purchasing an Apartment in New York City, Part 8: The Board Interview
Welcome to Part 8 of my ongoing blog series, “Purchasing an Apartment in New York City”. In Part 7 of the series, “The Package Has Been Delivered, The Baby’s in the Crib…” – I prepared you physically and mentally for the several weeks of loss of control and communication while you waited for the waiver of […]
Happy Fourth of July from Eirik Gislason and Unreal Estate
“America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.” — Harry S. Truman We have a responsibility in this life to care for one another, educate and inform each other, lend a hand when one is needed and do right when […]
GOOD FAITH DEPOSITS: A PART OF THE PROCESS OR A DESPICABLE SCAM?
I am often asked by clients about “good faith deposits” and whether they should be skeptical about providing a deposit when submitting an application for an apartment. The answer is, it depends. If the deposit is going to the landlord, that is likely above board. However, if the deposit is being paid to the broker, your skepticism is well founded and you should be prepared to ask MANY questions. I will prepare you for both scenarios…
