Real Estate

I served for seven years as a member of the New York City Bar Association’s Committee on Cooperative and Condominium Law and for two years as a member of the Real Property Law Committee. I served as Chairperson of a City Bar subcommittee that recently revised the standard form condominium form contract, which is now available on the City Bar website. I gave a Continuing Legal Education presentation about the new form condo contract at the City Bar as part of the Coop and Condo Law Committee’s “Hot Topics” program. The City Bar subcommittee also recently completed a revision of the standard form coop contract. My service on these committees keeps me on top of recent developments that help me to provide the best possible level of service for my clients. I am a preferred attorney for members of the Actors Federal Credit Union (AFCU). I have served as a panelist at seminars sponsored by AFCU and by the NYU Federal Credit Union, providing insight into the process of purchasing a home in New York. I have recently given several CE/CLE programs for real estate agents and attorneys sponsored by World Wide Education, providing guidance on real estate transactions in the current environment.

Residential Purchases and Sales

Along with family, health and job, every one of us can say that our home is one of the most significant pieces of our lives. When the time comes for you to purchase or sell a home, you need someone who understands how important this transaction is to you. Over the past 20+ years, I have represented hundreds of purchasers and sellers of coops, condominiums, townhouses and private houses throughout New York City and the surrounding counties. Whether you are a first time buyer or a sophisticated purchaser or seller of a multi-million dollar luxury home, I take the time necessary right from the beginning to listen to your concerns and explain what you can expect throughout the process. I will keep you advised from our first conversation through the closing. In between, I will prepare and negotiate a contract that fully protects and promotes your interests. I will conduct the pre-contract due diligence, assist you through the loan and title process and take all of the steps necessary to bring all of the parties together for the closing. In addition to purchase and sale contracts, I can prepare whatever documents are needed to assist you, including post-closing occupancy agreements and powers of attorney. The relationships that I have developed over the past several years with managing agents, real estate brokers, mortgage representatives, lenders’ attorneys, title companies and closers and my fellow transactional attorneys help to make the process move along smoothly.

In most instances, with any issues having been resolved in advance, the closing itself should be relatively simple, involving nothing more than signing documents and exchanging payments. Of course, sometimes things do come up at closing, and I will work to resolve those issues so that the entire process will be as stress-free for you as possible.

The current COVID crisis continues to impact all of us and our real estate transactions. I have successfully conducted dozens of closings since the pandemic began, including some on my bicycle and on the front stoops of client’s buildings. I can help you protect your interests and work around the roadblocks that the pandemic has created.

Mortgage and Coop Loan Refinancing

If you are considering refinancing your existing mortgage or coop loan, I can help you decide if it is a good time to do so and what costs you can expect to incur in the process.  If you decide to proceed with the refinancing, you should not overlook your need for representation. When you purchase property, you have your own attorney and the lender has its own attorney. The same should be true in a refinancing. Though the lender is giving you the loan, its interests are not the same as yours. The lender’s attorney at the closing is representing the lender’s interests. You need someone there for you, representing your interests, making certain that you are not being charged extra fees and that the loan documents being provided for you at the closing reflect your interest rate and the other terms agreed upon by the lender.

Commercial Leasing and Acquisitions

Most of us spend more of our waking time in our place of business than we do at home. As a business owner, I recognize and appreciate that finding the right place to work is one of the most important processes in our lives. I have represented dozens of businesses and individual business owners in the preparation and negotiation of commercial leases, both renewals of existing leases and relocations. I have also provided representation and assistance to businesses in the acquisition of commercial property. I have a wide array of contacts in commercial brokerage, mortgage lending, engineering, title insurance, business insurance, appraisals and accounting who can help you make your transition to a new workplace as seamless as possible.

Other Real Estate-Related Matters

If you are engaging the services of an architect or contractor for a construction or renovation job, it is important for you to be protected when entering into contracts with those professionals. I have represented several home owners in the negotiation of agreements with architects and contractors. I have also represented building owners and prospective purchasers in matters relating to the proper use of their property, home occupations, zoning issues and air rights disputes.

If you are a rental tenant looking to sublease your home, or if you are looking to rent or sublease an apartment, I can help you negotiate the lease or sublease to provide the most favorable possible terms for you.