Buying
The building matters as much as the apartment.
Two identical units on the same street can be very different purchases — one board approves in three weeks, the other has an assessment coming and a reserve fund that will not cover it. Knowing which is which is the job.
What I check before you fall in love
Building financials and reserves. Assessment history and anything pending. Board approval patterns and how long they really take. Sublet and pet policies if they matter to you. Flip tax and closing costs, so the number you budget is the number you pay.
Co-op, condo or house
Queens and the North Shore have all three, and they behave completely differently on financing, timeline and resale. I will walk you through the trade-offs for your situation rather than steering you toward whichever closes fastest.