Welcome to Part 7 of my ongoing blog series, “Purchasing an Apartment in New York City”. In Part 6 of the series – “The Bank” – I focused on the role your lending institution plays in the purchase process, assuming you are financing a portion of purchase. In Part 7, I will attempt to mentally prepare […]
Unfortunately, StreetEasy recently announced a change which is likely to jeopardize their relationship with their users (buyers and brokers alike).
Back by popular demand, I bring you the second edition of Decoding Real Estate Ads! Every once in a while we need to poke a little fun at ourselves and our professions. This is especially true in stressful world of New York City real estate. Agents often act as Copywriter, Editor, and Designer for their […]
If April 1st is the day to tell a tall tale or play a crafty joke on someone you love, than April 2nd should be a day of truth and transparency don’t you think! So here we go… On a daily basis, I come into contact with clients who simply accept the notion that it […]
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 […]
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 