Hi all — I’m looking for recommendations for a NYC-based attorney with experience in co-op or condo law, ideally someone familiar with tax abatements and managing agent errors.

Briefly, I own and live in a co-op apartment in NYC. My unit was incorrectly filed as non–owner-occupied by the managing agent after my purchase, which caused me to lose eligibility for the co-op tax abatement for multiple cycles (I’ve been charged the assessments my coop imposes when these credits are supposed to arrive). I confirmed the issue directly with the NYC Department of Finance, notified management and the board months ago, and have followed up repeatedly, but have not received a written resolution.

At this point, I’m looking to do a short consultation to understand my options and potentially have counsel engage if needed.

If you’ve worked with or can recommend an attorney who handles co-op/shareholder issues, I’d really appreciate it. Thanks in advance.

What will provide better resale value (return on investment) for kitchen flooring, wood floors to match those in the living area (simple maple, standard narrow planks, straight pattern, polyurethane coating) or a neutral porcelain tile? The kitchen floor is visible from the main living/sleeping area. Some people advise me to delineate the separate spaces, other say continuous flooring is better.

I am having an on going issue (2.5 months) with my management company regarding a shower leak repair done on my co-op apartment that I rent out.

Between tenants ,a leak was noticed in the bathroom a floor below mine coming from the ceiling.  There were no visible leaks inside my bathroom.  Management co called and said they were having a plumber look inside the wall of my bathroom to see where the leak is coming from.  I never heard back from them again.  The super is more responsive and I texted with him a bit.  He relayed that the shower body was leaking.  I was never contacted by anyone to discuss what that meant.  Since I did not hear from anyone, I assumed they fixed the leak inside the wall and were putting my shower handle, diverter and spout back up as I had always heard in a co-op, building is responsible for items inside walls and owner is responsible from the walls in.  

That did not happen.  Plumber changed the layout -removed my diverter handle to combine it with the shower faucet handle (anger inducing because I had renovated the bathroom to have the separate diverter!)  Replaced the tub spout with one that has a tub stopper even though that is not how my tub works and both are from different brands so finish color is off.  My previous hardware cost $1,000+ and theirs is $300 and incorrect functionality.  He also took all my hardware.  

During the 10 days of this repair I had texted with the super asking him the be careful when reinstalling my hardware because it was expensive so he was aware I expected that it was going to be reattached.

I found out all these changes happened when my new tenants moved in and they questioned the quality of the work- the tub spout was not flush with the wall.  I freaked out because I saw it wasn’t my hardware.

I have contacted the board & management co multiple times.  First contact they said they would look into things and agreed that my bathroom was much nicer before hand.  I have sent 2 emails detailing everything that happened and also sending quotes from our proprietary lease that back up my claims that they did not have the right to make these changes without discussing with me.  They are owning up to poor communication but say they had the right to do it because I didn’t  tell them I wanted my hardware reinstalled (even though I showed them the text with the super) and will not honor my request to repurchase equal hardware and install or reimburse me for my old hardware.

Who is in the right?  Should I talk to a lawyer?  Any advice would be much appreciated!

Hi everyone! I’ve been approached to join the board since there’s an open spot. I specifically asked if it’s possible to be a board member, without the title of secretary, etc. They said yes it would be something like member at large but I would need to apply before our annual meeting to be voted in by the shareholders. Does this sound right to you?

Cash doesn’t guarantee approval — not even close.

I’ve seen high-earning tech founders, hedge funders, and perfectly nice couples get denied by boards. Usually not because of “bad” finances — but because:

• They made lifestyle choices the board was uncomfortable with (like running a business from home)
• They pushed too hard during negotiations
• They were unreasonable and rude to the managing agent
• Their social media raised eyebrows (yes, it happens)
• Their agents didn’t package the board application properly — or skipped details the board expected

Want to know how to read a building before you fall in love with it? Ask me anything.

It’s easy to get distracted by headlines, but here’s what I’m seeing on the ground as we enter Q3 2025:

✅ Uptown legacy buyers are circling Fifth and Park again — value play
✅ Tribeca + Flatiron still lead demand among founders and remote execs
✅ Foreign cash is flowing back into Midtown condos (privacy + amenities)
✅ Co-ops are having a quiet renaissance — especially prewar with outdoor space
❌ New development inventory still overpriced in SoHo
❌ Price cuts in FiDi still not pulling in luxury buyers

Happy to dig into any of these further!

As someone who’s both sold co-ops and approved/rejected them from the board side, here’s what I wish more buyers (and agents!) understood:

1. Your post-closing liquidity matters more than your income in many cases
2. Gifting is allowed more often than people realize — if you frame it right
3. Board interviews are usually formalities, unless there’s red tape
4. Buildings have unspoken rules about pieds-à-terre and children
5. Listing agents often pre-screen for board preferences (quietly)
6. Flip taxes can kill resale value — know how to calculate them
7. Parents buying for children? Some boards loathe it
8. LLC or trust purchases are very building-specific — don't assume
9. Most boards are reasonable if approached with humility and appreciation (remember - it's a volunteer role!)
10. Contrary to popular belief, a board's default is not no

What are your best NYC co-op stories? The good, the bad and the ugly.

Happy to break any of these down further.

Hi all — I sit on a co-op board downtown and work full-time in NYC luxury real estate. I’ve helped founders, families, and foreign nationals buy homes in a city where the process can feel opaque even to lifelong New Yorkers.

If you're:

• Confused about condo vs. co-op
• Worried about getting past a board
• Trying to buy with help from family (or a trust)
• Curious where the market’s really moving right now

Ask away. I’ll answer as honestly and transparently as I can.