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Residential Realities November 2011

       
Residential Realities November 2011

November 30, 2011: What Up Dog...

The Line

The world is divided into two categories: those who love dogs and those who just don’t get it. I happen to occupy the former camp. Co-ops in New York City fall into two similar groups: those buildings that are pet friendly and those that prohibit our favorite creatures. Even in buildings that are pet friendly, there can be restrictions that relate to the size of dogs and particular breeds.  

Large vs. Small

I recently had a conversation with a property manager that offered a reasonable explanation as to why large dogs can be a problem: They like to jump on and off stuff, and when they do, it can be noisy for the folks below that apartment. The yappers can make more noise, but at least it doesn’t sound like someone falling on the floor each time rover jumps off the bed.

Dog Disclosure

The standard form of co-op contract has a space for disclosing whether the purchaser has a dog. The purchase application will also include information about whether pets are permitted and any restrictions or limitations on the type of pets that are permitted. Review of the minutes and inquiry with the property manager also helps clarify the co-op’s pet policy, which is often in writing. Purchasers are well advised to make sure their pets will be welcome in the co-op under consideration.

Belt and Suspenders

The co-op contract does require unconditional approval, so approval excluding a pet, at least in theory, would allow the purchaser to opt out of the contract. Perhaps it’s contract overkill, but I think it’s a good idea to include a rider provision in the co-op contract that approval of the purchaser means approval with the purchaser’s dog. Particularly if the purchaser has more than one pet, including this provision insures that the purchaser’s brood makes it to the new abode. In my experience, folks don’t jettison pets to get approved by a co-op Board, so including this provision takes the anxiety out of the situation.

What About Condos?

Condos usually are pet friendly, but pre-contract due diligence is required to make sure similar restrictions on number, size and breed won’t present a problem. Since condo Boards don’t have approval rights (only the right of first refusal), in most cases, bringing your pet with you will not be an issue.

As to Board Interviews for Dogs

Two rules: Sit and stay…

November 21, 2011:Borough in a Bubble

As I have mentioned before, it’s hard not to think of Manhattan as a real estate economy in a world of its own. It is far, far away from the foreclosure mess that continues throughout the country, with the Northeast being no exception. An article in the Wall Street Journal on Saturday brought that point home once again.

Let’s Do the Numbers

As Josh Barbanel reported, New York ranked 5th in the country, with 5.7% of all homes in foreclosure in the third quarter. New Jersey was second, with 8.1% percent of all homes in trouble. Only Florida was worse. Those percentages and rankings seemed very high to me and almost completely disassociated from the day-to-day transactional life in Manhattan. I checked real time contract signings on Urbandigs, and sure enough, 800 contracts had been signed in the past 30 days. Yes, the seasonal slowdown is about to get started, and momentum seemed to peak at the end of October, according to Noah Rosenblatt, yet 800 contract signings in one confined section of the country, seems astronomical compared to the moribund pace of transactions in most other parts of the country. Is there any other city, county or burg in the nation, that can report 800 contract signings in a 30-day period? I think not. I realize we’re talking about one of the most densely populated locations in the country, so perhaps it’s not such a large number. The point is, however, that Manhattan’s activity is the mirror opposite from the rest of the state, where foreclosure activity remains high, based on the numbers reported in the article. Once you hit the mainland, the pain continues.

Looking to 2012

Here’s the question: With the financial services industry about to experience contractions in the next few months, coupled with political uncertainty in an anxiety provoking presidential election year, can Manhattan maintain its status as an island unto itself…

 November 15, 2011: A Change of Plan-A New Approach to New Construction

Can We Close the Satisfaction Gap?

There can be a disconnect between what the sales office of a developer promises and what is actually delivered by the sponsor. But maybe it’s possible to bridge the distance between the purchaser’s expectations and the post-closing reality of the bricks and mortar.

Unlocking the Secrets of the Offering Plan

As discussed on this blog, the offering plan is a complex and lengthy document, which serves as a shield against liability for the developer, provided that the required disclosures are made in accordance with the regulations handed down by the Real Estate Division of the New York State Attorney General’s office. The attorney who reviews this document is obligated to read above, below and between the lines to find the sometimes hidden truth of what’s being offered. In most cases, the risks to the borrower are clearly stated, in other situations, detective work is required. Although a good portion of each plan would be considered “boiler plate” (that is, the same legalese that always appears), each plan has its own set of tricky provisions and potential “gotchas”. With the clock ticking, the client waits patiently for the attorney to review the document and to report back on the good, bad and otherwise. Perhaps it’s time, however, for purchaser’s involvement in the offering plan review process to be more hands on.

It Started With the Special Risks

Sometime ago, I made a policy decision to forward a number of provisions of the offering plan to the client, particularly the “Special Risks” section, with a view towards improved understanding of the proposed purchase. As most folks in the industry know, the special risks section at the front of the offering plan should be more appropriately titled “You’d Better Read This”. In other words, the front of the plan is where the developer dumps all of the material positives and negatives about the development. In truth, there are other provisions lurking further into the document that require scrutiny, but the Special Risks section goes a long way in describing what needs to be known. On reflection, that was a good first step, but there may be a better way to educate the consumer.

Due Diligence By the Pound

I understand that it would be a daunting task and probably impossible for a client to absorb the substance of an entire plan in the same manner that is undertaken by the attorney. That being said, there are any number of details in the document that may not lend themselves to summary and review by the client may be advisable. For a minimal expense, a purchaser should consider obtaining an additional copy of the plan for his or her own perusal. With the amount of money being spent on an apartment, a purchaser should have the opportunity, whether it is taken advantage of or not, to review the specifics.

Not Exactly One Size Fits All

Required reading for proposed purchasers is not appropriate in any number of situations, particularly for foreign purchasers, who may have difficulty with the language, or for high end purchasers, who just don’t do that kind of thing. Nevertheless, in everyday situations, buyers should be enticed to read the document that will have a significant impact on the ownership of their unit. With ingenious liability protections for failure of the sponsor to deliver as promised, the offering plan is a sobering balance to the marketing presentation that conjures up a living environment that sometimes fails to meet expectations or the facts. The offering plan brings home the seriousness of the decision to put one’s faith in the sponsor’s abilities. The small print actually means a great deal.

Residential Reality: It’s All About the Plan

So purchasers, in addition to picking out furniture and working the color chart, make time to review a document that will significantly impact your ownership of the apartment as well as your investment. The sponsor has gone to great lengths to protect its interests and to minimize liability for things that go wrong. Isn’t a little late night reading worth it?

 

When it comes to submitting your Board package, timing is everything...

Asked and Answered

Q

I don’t smoke, but the smell of smoke is wafting into my apartment from my neighbor. Is there anything that can be done to remedy this condition?

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I’m selling my co-op tomorrow and my bank attorney has not yet received the stock certificate and proprietary lease from my bank. Will the closing have to be adjourned?

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The seller has indicated that there was a leak in the bathroom from the apartment above that has been repaired in all respects? Can I rely on seller’s representation to that effect in the contact?

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Can I insist on closing on the date stated in the contract?

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The commitment letter included a condition that my loan was subject to a “second review” by the investor to whom the loan will be sold. Has my commitment letter been issued?

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Can I purchase my co-op in the name of a trust?

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Can I allow the seller to remain in possession after closing?

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There’s a repair needed in the apartment that the Seller promises to remedy after the closing. Is that a good idea?

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Do I care who the bank attorneys are?

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Do I have to go to the closing?

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One of the conditions in my loan commitment states that the monthly maintenance cannot increase by more than five percent? Is that a problem?

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Can I have a roommate after I purchase my co-op apartment?

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Can I undertake renovations before the Closing?

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Do I need a home owner’s insurance policy for my apartment at the time of my closing?

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Should I let the broker do the walk through?

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Once I get a loan commitment, is my loan approved?

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When it comes to purchasing an apartment, what exactly is due diligence?

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Do I have to let the maintenance people in to fix a building system?

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Does my dog have to be interviewed by the Board?

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Is buying an apartment in a small building a good idea or a bad idea?

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Can I fudge on my numbers in my financial package to the Board?

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Should I use a mortgage broker or should I go direct to a bank?

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Should I have the apartment inspected before I sign the contract?

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Do I Really Have to Give the Board My Tax Returns?

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I am purchasing an apartment with extensive landscaping on the terrace. Can the co-op or condo make me remove landscaping that was existing at the time of my purchase?

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I have an opportunity to buy a garage space, but the sponsor is calling the arrangement a “license” rather than a “purchase”. Does that matter?

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We are considering an apartment that will require us to move the bathroom to another location in the apartment. Is such a move possible?

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The seller’s bank can’t locate the stock and lease for the co-op closing. Can we still close?

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The broker told me that I can adjourn the closing for 30 days? Is that correct?

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The Offering Plan for my condo indicates that the apartment has a “lot line” window. Is that a problem?

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My dog bit someone in the lobby and I have been notified that if it happens again, my dog will have to go. Does the Board have the power to restrict me from having a pet?

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There is an unobstructed view from the apartment I am considering, but there is a vacant lot directly in front of that side of the building. Is that reason for concern?

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The Managing Agent called and it looks like my finances will not be sufficient to get Board approval. Is there anything I can do?

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The managing agent has had our application to purchase a cooperative apartment for three weeks and nothing has happened. Is there anything we can do to move things forward?

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We are considering an apartment in a co-op where the sponsor still owns units. Is that a problem?

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The seller’s apartment presently has a storage unit. Does the storage unit transfer with the apartment?

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We’re closing in three weeks, but our lease is up next week. Can we move in before the closing?

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I just did the walk through on the purchase of a sponsor unit and we have an extensive punch list. Will the punch list be completed by the time of closing?

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I’m buying an apartment from a sponsor and the Offering Plan requires me to pay the sponsor’s transfer taxes and attorneys fees. Do I have to?

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The purchase price of my apartment is over $1,000,000.00. Is the transaction subject to the “mansion tax"?

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I’m selling my apartment, but I’m not a resident of New York State. Are there any special closing costs?

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We did the walk through and the apartment was filthy. The contract required the apartment to be “broom clean”. Can we complain at the closing?

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I have to sell my apartment in order to afford the new one I’d like to buy. Can the contract be contingent on the sale of my existing apartment?

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I’m a famous person (no, I really am) and I really don’t want my financial information given to eight strangers on a co-op Board. Is there a way to avoid that?

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I’m the executor of the estate of a deceased shareholder. Do I have to go to the closing?

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I just graduated law school and have a job with a large law firm. I have a significant salary, but no liquidity or significant assets. Will I be able to buy a co-op?

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The listing indicates that the apartment has “roof rights”. How can I be sure?

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When buying a condo, is it worth the time and effort to get an assignment of the seller’s mortgage?

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The Seller removed an expensive chandelier right before Closing. Is that permitted?

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My husband and I found an apartment we love, but there’s a bidding war. Should we participate?

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We love the apartment, but the building has bad financials. Should we go ahead?

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My closing is in December, but the lease for my apartment does not expire until the following March. What do I do with my lease?

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We are buying a condo, but we have a delayed closing as the seller has a tenant in place for the next six months. We will be able to retain our loan commitment for an extended period of time?

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Should my husband and I take title as tenants by the entirety, tenants in common or as joint tenants?

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When a gay couple buys the shares of a cooperative or buys a condominium apartment, what is the best way to hold title?

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I have not been able to make my co-op mortgage payment for the past three months. If the bank declares my loan in default, how long will it take before the bank forecloses on my apartment?

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A co-op owner asks: I have found that maintenance is usually higher in coops than in condos because of the contribution by the shareholders to the building's underlying mortgage payments. In condos, the unit owners only pay for real estate taxes and common charges for common areas. Will the monthly maintenance be reduced after the underlying mortgage has been fully amortized?

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Can a corporation or other business entity own the shares of a cooperative apartment?

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I’m buying an apartment in a building designated as a “landmark.” Should I be concerned?

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I am buying a co-op that needs major renovations. The super has offered to do the work at a significant discount. Is that a good idea?

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We just submitted the Board package and we realize that we neglected to disclose a lawsuit against my husband’s company, in which my husband is named as a defendant? The lawsuit is covered by insurance and my husband is indemnified from liability by his employer. Should we notify the managing agent and amend the purchase application?

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We are negotiating the contract and we just found out that there is a substantial assessment that will go into effect the month that we close on the purchase. Should the assessment be deducted from the purchase price at closing?

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The bank attorney was two hours late to the closing. Was that my attorney’s fault?

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I’m buying a cooperative apartment in Manhattan, but I move out to the Hamptons from June to the end of September each year. Will I be able to sublet the apartment each year when I’m away?

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I just got the purchase application package and it's twenty pages long. Should my broker be helping me with organizing the required documents?

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It’s the day before the closing and I just found out that the maintenance for the apartment is higher than the maintenance stated in the contract. Is that grounds to terminate the contract?

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The financials for the condo are more than a year out of date and there is a delay issuing the new financials. Should I be concerned?

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The contract requires “official bank funds” in the form of certified or official bank checks. Can I bring “official" checks from my brokerage account?

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My parents want to buy me an apartment while I’m in graduate school in Manhattan. Will a co-op allow me to purchase the apartment, if my parents are co-owners?

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I obtained sole ownership of my condo in my divorce, but the deed for the apartment is still in both of our names. Will my ex-spouse’s cooperation be required when I’m ready to sell the apartment?

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I just found out I have to pay a fee to have my mortgage recorded. Is that right?

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I am buying an apartment in a small building and I just found out that the elevator is being renovated and will be out of service for three months. Do I have to close if the elevators will not be operational on the closing date?

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My husband and I own a co-op and we would like to transfer the shares to an irrevocable trust that we recently created for estate planning purposes. Will our cooperative allow us to make that transfer?

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The seller is a foreign citizen and does not have a social security number. Does that prevent the seller from selling the apartment?

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An “assessment” was imposed by the co-op Board after the contract was signed. Is payment of the assessment the seller’s responsibility?

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There is a leak in my apartment and the Resident Manager is not being responsive. Should I call the Board president?

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I just bought an apartment and I am only refinishing the floors and repainting. Do I need the consent of the Board before I get started?

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The co-op I’m interested in is pet friendly and I have a dog. Is there any chance the Board could approve my application without approving my pet?

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We purchased our apartment in January, but our first mortgage payment is not due until March 1st. Why isn't the first payment due February 1st?

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I’m buying an apartment from a sponsor and the contract does not provide for a “mortgage contingency”. Is that a provision that I can negotiate into the contract?

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I am buying an apartment from a sponsor and the contract provides for the buyer to pay the sponsor’s transfer taxes and legal fees? Is that normal?

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I'm buying a condo and my attorney just ordered the "title report". What's a title report?

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There is a leak in my apartment and the Resident Manager is not being responsive. Should I call the Board president?

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My boyfriend and I are interested in buying our first apartment in a new construction condominium. Our mortgage broker tells us we should qualify for a 90% loan, but it will be a close call for the bank. The sponsor wants us to sign a “no contingency” contract. Is that a good idea?

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We are considering a condo purchase in a new development that is only 25 percent sold. There is a bank that has approved the project and will make the loan, but should we be concerned about the number of units that the sponsor still has to sell?

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We are buying an apartment that has been extensively renovated. Among other things, the size of the master bath was significantly increased. Can we rely on a representation in the contract that all required approvals were obtained from both the Cooperative Corporation and from the New York City Department of Buildings?

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We received a draft of the contract of sale for the cooperative apartment we are buying and our social security numbers are on the front page! Our attorney told us that we will have to provide our identification numbers to the managing agent for a credit check as a part of the Board package, so it’s not a big deal. Do we have to list our socials on the contract?

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The listing stated that the apartment was 1,100 square feet, but the appraisal measured the apartment at 900 square feet. Can we cancel the contract and get our money back?

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I'm about to pay off my co-op loan. What evidence will I have from the bank that the loan has actually been paid off?

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I am considering an apartment in a new construction condominium. There is park under development by New York City that will greatly enhance the value of the condominium when it’s completed. Although the sponsor’s salesperson indicated that the first phase of the park will be completed in the next year or so, the Offering Plan contains a “Special Risk” that states that the sponsor gives no assurance as to when, if ever, the park will be completed. Who and what should I believe?

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Q

We are in negotiations to purchase a co-op apartment on the Upper East Side. Our lawyer reviewed the minutes and discovered that the building has a bedbug infestation. Should we go forward with our purchase?

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My purchase application was approved by the co-op Board, but it is conditioned upon my providing a maintenance deposit and guaranty by my parents. Do I have to comply with the conditions?

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At my closing, I had to reimburse the Seller for his New York State “STAR” rebate that appeared on the maintenance statement for the month following the Closing. What exactly is the STAR rebate and will I be able to obtain the rebate as well?

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I'm selling my co-op next month and my attorney aked me to "freeze" the line of credit I have with my bank. What exactly do I have to do?

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I just found out that the seller will be unable to close for an additional two weeks. As a result, I will have to extend my rate lock, at a cost of $1,200.00. Is the seller obligated to reimburse this cost?

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I am buying a new construction condo and the Offering Plan is over 400 pages. Do I need to read the entire Offering Plan?

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We ran across a co-op that has a few “sponsor owned” apartments for sale. Is there any advantage in buying one of the remaining sponsor apartments?

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I am about to make an offer on an apartment, but I have not been provided with the current financial statements for the co-op. Am I entitled to review the financials before I make my offer?

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We are selling our apartment to our neighbor, but our neighbor can’t afford to purchase our apartment unless she sells her apartment. Her lawyer wants the contract to provide that the purchase of our apartment is contingent upon the sale of her apartment. Our lawyer is advising us against including a provision that makes the transaction contingent on the sale of the buyer’s apartment. Should we go along with the contingency?

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We are selling our co-op and the buyer is not obtaining a mortgage in connection with the purchase. The contract required the Board package to be submitted within 10 business days after the fully-executed contract was returned to the buyer. The buyer is two weeks late in submitting the package. Is the buyer in default?

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I’m selling my condo and I have not been able to pay my common charges for the past six months (I lost my job). I have a buyer for the apartment, but the Board of Managers will not release the Waiver of the Right of First Refusal, unless I pay the outstanding balance of the common charges. I’m between a rock and a hard place, as I don’t have the money. What should I do?

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I am combining two adjacent apartments that I own and I want the co-op to issue one stock certificate for both apartments. There is an outstanding UCC lien against one of the apartments. The other apartment is owned free of any liens. Can the co-op object to the combination?

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My attorney asked me to contact the managing agent to verify the maintenance and assessment information that's disclosed in the contract for the apartment I intend to purchase. Isn't that my attorney's job?

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Our application to purchase a co-op was turned down by the Board without an interview. Although our attorney asked the managing agent to disclose the reasons for the Board’s decision, none were given. Can the Board just turn our application down without any explanation?

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My bank issued a loan commitment, but then withdrew its underwriting because private mortgage insurance was not available. Will I have a problem canceling the contract and getting my deposit back?

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The seller has a storage bin, but the contract indicates that the apartment does not come with a storage bin. If I buy the apartment, can I be sure that a storage bin be avaialable?

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I’ve been asked to serve on the Board of my co-op. Could I be held liable if the co-op is a party to a law suit?

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I am buying a co-op in Manhattan. The managing agent is located in Brooklyn and refuses to send a closing representative to the attorney’s office for the buyer or seller located in Manhattan. Will everyone have to go to Brooklyn for the closing?

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We are purchasing a condo that was occupied by a tenant at the time the contract was executed. We just did the walk through and there is damage to a portion of the floor that was hidden by the tenant’s furniture. Are we entitled to a repair credit at Closing?

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A loan commitment was issued, but the bank requested an explanation for a $14.00 missed credit card payment that occurred nine years ago. Could the bank withdraw its commitment as a result of this missed payment?

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I'm selling my co-op, which I own with my mother and father. Is it okay to have the closing checks made out to the three of us?

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A leaking pipe inside the wall of my co-op was recently replaced. The following month, my maintenance account was charged $1,000.00 on the theory that the pipe only serviced my apartment. Am I responsible for this repair?

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A condo buyer has a mortgage contingency, but the closing will not take place for six months as the seller has a tenant in the apartment. When should the purchaser apply for financing?

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We submitted our Board package a month ago, but the Board has not scheduled an interview or asked for any additional information. To make matters worse, the managing agent won’t give us any indication as to what’s going on. Is there anything we can do?

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My co-op contract included the seller’s flat screen, but the bank underwriter required that it be removed from the contract as it was “impacting” loan to value. Can the bank do that?

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I am buying an apartment in a small co-op that is self managed. How does the bank obtain the required “co-op questionnaire” in order to complete its underwriting?

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I'm selling my apartment. When can I cancel my insurance coverage?

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My condo has requested access to my apartment in order to make repairs to the plumbing lines located in the ceiling. Am I obligated to give the super access to make the repairs?

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