Purchasing a home can be one of the biggest purchases you make in a lifetime. For most people, they take out a mortgage loan to pay for the purchase, and then they pay back the mortgage loan according to the terms and conditions set out in the contract. Sometimes, however, a change may be neede...
We all know: attorneys cost money. For homebuyers in New York, that matters because they will already be forking out what is likely to be their biggest purchase of their lives: a home.... in New York. The extra expense of a New York real estate attorney doesn't make sense to so many homeowners. B...
Evictions are never an easy process for both parties involved. But rest assured, as a tenant, you have rights. One of those rights is the right not to be lock-out of your New York home unlawfully. So, how do you know if you have been illegally locked out and what should you do about it? Here, we...
It's true for too many of us, even though the economy is better, we still can't pay all our bills. Maybe you missed one too many mortgage payments. Maybe in fear of what will happen, you neglect your mail or inbox. You don't want to deal with it. Or, maybe you just don't have time to deal with it...
The threat of eviction is one of the most stress-inducing events to ever happen to a renter. Perhaps you've experienced it firsthand or you know someone who has. Regardless, knowing that you'll be kicked out of the place you now call within the next few days or weeks is nothing short of horrifyin...
Rent stabilization has always been a controversial topic in New York. But in the last few months, the topic has dominated state media headlines, as tenants' rights advocates celebrate new rent reforms put in by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The tenant-friendly package of bills, known as “universal rent co...
Buying a will be one of the most important decisions of your life. Because of New York's challenging (to say the least) market, the journey to homeownership will involve putting up a large sum of money and a basic knowledge of the state's intricate law. This makes the idea of buying intimidating ...
There are a number of issues that fall under the realm of real estate disputes. They come in all shapes and sizes, broadly ranging from earnest money disputes to misrepresentation about the condition of a property. In search of resolution, many clients' instinctive reaction is to turn to the cour...
If you are a tenant who decides to break a lease, a contract is violated. Most people jump to the conclusion that you, as the tenant, is somehow responsible for wrongdoing in these situations. But there are certain circumstances in which a living space can become uninhabitable, and tenants are ju...
It's no secret that there's an affordable housing crisis plaguing New York City. But since Mayor Bill de Blasio took office, he's ignited a small light at the end of the tunnel. His short-term solution to this incredibly convoluted issue has been to build an unprecedented quantity of affordable a...
There is a lot of research that goes into buying and owning a property. Part of securing a financial investment wisely is gathering as much information as possible about your property. A necessary step of obtaining this information is conducting a property survey. The benefits of a survey are pl...
When renting an apartment or condo in New York, the last thing you want to see is an eviction notice from your landlord on your door. An unsuspecting eviction letter can put a serious damper on your life, turning what you thought was a stable living situation into a crisis. In a very short time, ...
A condominium is a private property within a larger building or community. Condos have recently drawn a lot of buzz in the New York market due to the fact that buyers get the best of both worlds: all the convenience of an apartment with the additional perks that come with being a property owner. ...
The rates of reported cases initiated by tenants concerning landlord harassment and violations have spiked in recent years. In response to this issue, the New York City Council has passed a legislative package comprising 17 bills that will strengthen protections for tenants and crack down on owne...
Out of all the things to consider when buying a home in New York, taking the time to choose the right real estate agent should be near the top of your list of priorities. Most people are aware of the benefits of working with a remarkable real estate agent. You get a representative who understands...
If you're contemplating buying a property in New York for the first time, you may have a daunting road ahead of you. It doesn't take much research to realize that state's market is challenging, to say the least, which makes the idea of buying a home in the minds of many seem not just difficult, b...
A few weeks ago, the New York Times published an article regarding a popular establishment by the name of Tea & Sympathy, a British-themed store and restaurant located on Manhattan's Greenwich Avenue. The business has managed to stay afloat for 20 years despite its continuous struggle over the ye...
A new bill proposed by New York lawmakers seeks to eliminate the hefty fines imposed on short-term rental hosts by listing their homes on rental sharing sites such as Airbnb, HomeAway, and VRBO. The bill, introduced by Senator James Skoufis of Woodbury and Assemblymember Joseph Lentol of Brooklyn...
New Yorkers may soon be paying more in closing costs. The amount of taxes paid in a residential real estate sale is increasing as of July 1, 2019. New York lawmakers have approved a new state budget that expands the mansion tax and increases the state transfer tax. These changes are expected to g...
A contingency is an addendum to a real estate contract. A contingency acts as a legal safeguard, allowing a party to back out of a real estate purchase or sale if the terms of the contingency are not met. In these situations, the real estate contract is considered legally void. When a contingency...
A prospective home buyer in Massachusetts recently became the victim of a wire transfer scam, causing him to lose his $300,000 down payment for a condo. The man followed the wiring instructions that he received in an email, only to discover at the closing that a wire fraud scammer had stolen his ...
The Servicemember Civil Relief Act is a federal law that provides benefits to military service persons on active duty. The Act offers protections to both servicemember homeowners, tenants, and their families. The SCRA applies to members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, res...
According to reports, actress Emily Ratajkowski and her filmmaker husband, Sebastian Bear-McClard, have been sued by their New York City landlord for $120,000 in unpaid rent. The landlord's lawsuit claims that the couple has exploited New York's Loft Law allowing them to live rent-free in the 1,1...
Many landlord-tenant disputes arise when a tenant keeps a pet in a pet-free rental property. In some cases, a landlord may have the legal right to evict a tenant for having an animal in violation of the no-pets term of a lease. In other situations, a tenant may be allowed to keep a pet under the ...
If you've fallen on hard times and are behind on your mortgage payments, don't panic just yet. There are several options you can choose from before being facing foreclosure. Here are some common alternatives. Consider modifying your mortgage Most mortgage companies give you the option of mortg...
"We understand that a real estate transaction is typically one of the largest financial transactions of most peoples lives. That is why we take the time to properly guide you and keep you informed about the process every step of the way."
