Weekly Roundup: Renters reject commissions, pending sales up over year, rates set record, list IDs ugliest mansions, recovery talk ignites debate

Although able to buy multimillion-dollar residences, some very rich folks choose to rent at sky-high prices instead

Fire Department takes dim view of dangling air conditioners and undertakes strong action

Landlord’s empire of apartment buildings collects thousands of code violations

City comptroller expects large residential properties to maintain value

40 percent of renters say they won’t pay broker’s fee purely on principle

Some Brooklyn renters moving back to Manhattan, where they find cheaper digs

With luxury home sales hitting record, surging Hamptons activity nearly matches 2007

City Council overwhelmingly approves NYU expansion plan

Sales, prices of new condos in Brooklyn boom in Q2 vs. prior year

Westchester communities experience parent drain after commencements

Broadway couple trades hit musical for the Hit Factory

She kisses good-bye to Tribeca condo at a small loss

Filmmaker decides it’s time to sell California estate at an asking price of $9.5 million

Index of contracts signed in June Continue reading

Weekly Roundup: Flat condo market, new U.S. price lows, Buffett, rollicking washers, more

Sales off 6.4 percent year to date from same time last year

Condo market mostly weak in January

Median listing price for new Manhattan developments jumps 12.6 percent from prior year

$21 million apartment has great views, but a $12 million lawsuit by the 2010 purchaser claims latent defects

Soaring Manhattan rents lure investors

Eight ways to have your super climbing the walls

Neighborhoods record Continue reading

Co-op boards should learn how to save a tree

Flickr photo by dlancquaert

A client of mine is putting the finishing touches on his board application for a co-op in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood. The package is more involved than most in that it asks not only for his loan application and loan commitment letter but also the appraisal ordered by his banker.

Moreover, since the father of my client (who is just out of graduate school and about to start his first permanent job) is co-signing the mortgage loan, the application also requires yet another set of financial information and supporting documents.

That makes one big package, but I am not tearing our my hair at this point, Continue reading