Image courtesy of Unsplash How to Ensure Your First Home Purchase Goes Smoothly Are you preparing for your first home purchase? Homeownership is a major investment of time, money, and energy, and without proper arrangements, it can drain your reserves. Here is how to ensure your first go-round is a smooth and pleasant experience, rather than a stormy one. First things first Chances are you’re excited about finding a place to call your very own, but before you begin exploring…
Tag: assessment
How to Find Costly Problems Before You Buy into a Building
Stuff no seller wants you to know about The term “buyer beware” doesn’t just apply to folks on a used car lot, kicking the tires of a recently repainted Buick. Buyers of New York City condos and co-ops need to be wary too because purchasing an apartment in a “lemon” building or one that’s about to undertake some costly repairs, can cost you a ton of money. With over one million buildings in New York City, many of them quite…
Why maintenance charges always go up and service doesn’t
Like death and taxes, maintenance fee increases are one of the sure things in life A New York City co-op owner recently said writing a maintenance check was like going to the dentist. It’s always painful but can’t be avoided. Maintenance fees, unlike most mortgage payments, which are fixed and do not increase over the period of the loan, almost always increase from year to year. This wouldn’t be so bad if service improved – better heating system, 24-hour doormen,…