Featuring real estate articles and information to help real estate buyers and sellers. The Nest features writings from Georges Benoliel and other real estate professionals. Georges is the Co-Founder of NestApple and has been working as an active real estate investor for over a decade.
Nicole Fishman Benoliel co-founded NestApple in 2017. She's a lawyer admitted to the New York bar - her law degree is from La Escuela Libre de Derecho in Costa Rica, with further study at IE Business School in Madrid and an LLM from Fordham in New York. She does not act in a legal capacity at NestApple; every client is referred to an attorney who handles real estate deals full time.
Santa Barbara is one of the most visited places in California, and much of that is thanks to the area’s fantastic pier. It’s a hub of nightlife, wonder, and great food, offering a lot for those who want to experience… Read More
Are you facing an urgent housing situation and wondering if you can get immediate access to Section 8 housing? Here’s how to apply for emergency Section 8 assistance and skip the waiting list. The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program… Read More
When you buy a home with a mortgage, the lender typically requires an appraisal to verify the property’s value. However, in some instances, the lender may offer the homeowner an appraisal waiver, allowing them to skip the in-person appraisal process.… Read More
Real estate purchase agreements often include an appraisal contingency to protect the buyer. The buyer can withdraw from the contract if the property is appraised for less than the agreed-upon purchase price. This clause ensures that the buyer is not… Read More
A closing cost on new construction can include ordinary buyer expenses plus sponsor taxes and plan-specific charges. New York’s condo rules use 10% in the deposit formula and require special disclosure above 10%. Price the actual rider, negotiate credits in… Read More
Quick answer: Prorated rent is the partial rent you owe for occupying an apartment for less than a full month — typically at move-in or move-out. The standard formula: divide your monthly rent by the number of days in that… Read More
Buyer broker compensation is the fee your agent earns for representing you in a purchase. In New York, it’s paid in one of four ways: directly by you, through a seller credit, through a co-broke split from the seller, or… Read More
A closing cost credit reduces cash due at closing, but its source matters. Seller credits are limited by actual costs and loan rules; lender credits usually trade upfront cash for a higher rate; a disclosed broker credit comes from compensation.… Read More
Floor area ratio, or FAR, is a building’s total floor area divided by its lot size. A FAR of 2.0 means the floor area can run up to twice the lot size. In New York City, zoning sets the maximum… Read More
Living in New Jersey gives buyers 4 clear advantages: access to New York and Philadelphia, varied towns, public transit and substantial outdoor space. The trade-offs are equally real: high local property taxes, dense traffic, rising train fares and a commute… Read More
The REBNY RLS is the Residential Listing Service, New York City’s system for sharing home listings between brokerage firms. It’s run by the Real Estate Board of New York, a private trade association, not as a Realtor MLS. Firms that… Read More
Upper East Side vs. Upper West Side: That is the question. New York City’s Upper East Side and Upper West Side are highly sought-after neighborhoods known for their wealth and iconic real estate. Locals debate which neighborhood is better, and… Read More
The Downpayment Toward Equity Act would give first-time, first-generation homebuyers a grant of $20,000 or 10% of the purchase price, whichever is greater. It was reintroduced in 2025 as S.967 and H.R.4069, sits in committee, and has not passed. Analysts… Read More
The best towns in Westchester for culture are Peekskill, Yonkers, Tarrytown, White Plains, Pleasantville, Pelham and Katonah. Together they give buyers 7 distinct choices: live music, museums, independent film, contemporary art or a smaller-town arts calendar, all with a Metro-North… Read More
On a $100K salary, most lenders qualify you for a home around $300,000 to $425,000, using the 28/36 rule at a rate near 6.7%. Your real number moves a lot with your down payment, credit score, and existing debt. In… Read More
