Welcome back to Part 5 of my home buying series, Purchasing an Apartment in New York City. It’s time to address everyone’s favorite part of the purchase process – The Board Package!!! OK I admit, an entire article devoted to the board package is not sexy and usually ends with an unhappy buyer, a lawsuit or a nap. Well, not this […]
If you ask me, Queens as always been cool. That said, for a long time after the real estate market rebounded, Queensites hung out in their forgotten borough and watched patiently while properties in the far reaches of Brooklyn were snatched up at above ask prices by buyers with truckloads of cash. Well, to all of you who finally […]
On a daily basis, I come into contact with clients who simply accept the notion that it is okay for a real estate professional to dodge the question, “What is your broker’s fee?” If you have ever used a broker in NYC, you have likely gotten this two word response; “It depends.” So, how do you outsmart the broker who dodges the question regarding fee?
Welcome back to Part 3 of Purchasing An Apartment In New York City. The goal of this series is to help NYC home buyers formulate a sound game plan in an effort to maximize the possibility of “winning” an apartment. A critical component of any successful game plan is creativity and “out of the box” […]
Normally, I try to keep my blog light and positive, and stick to giving helpful real estate advice. That said, I feel the need to comment on a recent blog post I read on Brick Underground last week. The article, An ex-rental agent spills the truth behind broker’s fees, is a must-read – for all […]
The following is the conclusion to Purchasing An Apartment In New York City, Part 2: Understanding Your Opponent posted on November 26th, 2014… In every deal, both the buyer and seller assume some risk. In a Buyers’ Market, the risk tends to be shouldered by the seller who must do anything and everything to attract […]
If you haven’t read Part 1 of Purchasing An Apartment In New York City, I recommend doing so. In Part 1, I addressed Preparation. Understanding the market, financial requirements to purchase (from both a down payment and debt-to-income perspective), as well as your strengths and weaknesses as a buyer are essential to “winning” an apartment […]
I am often asked by clients and friends, why should I use a broker to find an apartment? Early on, I developed my 30 second “elevator pitch” defending myself and my industry, and extolling the benefits of working with a broker. Not surprisingly, my pitch didn’t land. I quickly realized the question was loaded, and I […]
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…
Unreal Estate 