The Nest

NestApple's Real Estate Blog

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.

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NYC real estate guides

Start with a complete guide, then go deeper with the articles inside it.

Should I renovate in NYC to Help Sell a home?

Should you renovate your home in New York City before selling it? The answer isn’t clear-cut. What is the cost of renovating an apartment in NYC? On the one hand, renovating your co-op or condo in NYC will sell faster… Read More

NYC Buyer Closing Costs: Condo vs. Co-op Guide (2026)

Buying a home in New York City involves more than just the contract price. Buyer closing costs can add tens of thousands of dollars to the total cash required, especially for condo and townhouse purchases made with financing. Understanding these… Read More

No Fee Apartments NYC – Ultimate Guide

No-fee apartments in New York City used to be a small slice of the market. Since June 11, 2025, they are the default: the FARE Act bars a landlord’s broker from charging a tenant, so most NYC rentals now carry… Read More

How to Sell Land in New York

How to Sell Land in New York starts with preparation, moves to pricing, and ends with choosing the proper selling method – either through a real estate agent, direct to a land buyer, or by owner. This comprehensive guide walks… Read More

Buying a Townhouse in NYC

Buying a townhouse means buying a whole building, and the thing that matters most is how many legal dwelling units it holds. That number sets your tax class, your sidewalk liability and which inspections you owe. The lines fall at… Read More

What Should a Home Inspection include in New York

So you’ve found your dream house or your forever home. The seller has accepted your offer, and you’re ready to move in at the end of the home-buying process. But before you get the keys to your new house and… Read More

Rework Your Apartment to Make It Unique and Special

Think about your typical well-decorated Apartment. You likely imagine some family photos hanging on shelves, a few houseplants, maybe even a lovely piece of art on the wall. It creates the perfect balance of homey and stylish. But at the… Read More

Who Pays For Bed Bug Removal: Renter Or Landlord?

If you have ever experienced the problems of bed bugs, you already know that getting these pests is terrible. Bed bugs are one of the most problematic types of pests to exterminate. To make matters worse, they bite and cause… Read More

Rental Broker Fee Law in NYC – Ultimate Guide

The broker fee law in New York City is the FARE Act, Local Law 119 of 2024. Since June 11, 2025, a landlord’s broker can’t charge a tenant a fee for renting an apartment. The fee falls on whoever hired… Read More

Westchester Closing Costs

Westchester closing costs depend on price, loan, property type and municipality. The county’s statutory mortgage recording tax is 1.30%, while Yonkers is 1.80%; the lender generally pays a 0.25% residential component. Sellers usually pay New York’s 0.4% basic transfer tax,… Read More

Home Price Reduction Strategy in New York in 2025

When trying to sell a home in New York City, it’s normal to feel like your property will fly off the real estate market. That’s usually what happens. However, there are moments when you won’t have that kind of luck.… Read More

Guide to CEMA Mortgage Loans in NYC

There are a lot of closing costs associated with purchasing a home. Using a CEMA Mortgage loan in NYC is an excellent way for buyers to save money by reducing their mortgage recording tax liability. In this guide, we’ll go… Read More

Your 2025 guide to Mortgages in New York City

When you purchase real estate in New York City, you must borrow money from a lender and obtain a “mortgage loan” in NYC. This is unless you have a lot of cash in the bank and are incredibly wealthy. Getting… Read More

Why Real Estate Brokerage Firms Don’t Hire Employees (2025)

NYC real estate agents seem to have extraordinary lives. They choose their hours and which days they want to work. In today’s real estate market, they make lots of money on home sales. Most people don’t realize that brokerages rarely… Read More

What is an Aztech Recognition Agreement? (2025)

If you bought a coop in New York City with a mortgage, you have heard of the Aztech Recognition Agreement. People also refer to it as the “Aztec form.” The buyer who applies for a co-op apartment with a mortgage… Read More