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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Yes, every real offer has to be shown to the seller, no matter the amount or format. This is the true story of a $5,300,000 offer NestApple’s founder, Georges, submitted on a NYC listing, one the seller never actually saw.… Read More
Photography is an art and can be used as a powerful tool when the time comes to advertise your property. We will list our top 5 reasons for hiring a real estate photographer in NYC. Today, the real estate market… Read More
A capital contribution fee is a one-time charge paid at purchase, most commonly in NYC condos and new developments, that funds the building’s reserve and often equals 1 to 2 months of common charges. Co-ops overwhelmingly use a flip tax… Read More
When buying property, it can feel like a lot is happening all at once. The attorneys finalize the deal, draft and negotiate the contract quickly. Then, the building’s board and management provide various “due diligence” materials. A wealth of publicly available information can… Read More
Seller closing costs NYC owners face usually include New York State and city transfer taxes, the seller’s attorney, mortgage payoff work, building charges and negotiated brokerage compensation. For an individual residential unit, NYC transfer tax is 1% at $500,000 or… Read More
A mortgage contingency clause lets a buyer cancel a signed contract and recover their deposit if they can’t secure a mortgage commitment letter within a set window, typically 30 to 45 days in NYC. A 2019 New York case shows… Read More
Post-closing liquidity is the liquid cash you’ll have left immediately after closing on a co-op. Most NYC boards want 1 to 3 years of maintenance and mortgage payments in reserve, though some buildings ask for up to 1.5 times the… Read More
The final walkthrough takes place 24 to 48 hours before closing, and it’s your last chance to confirm that the property matches what you agreed to. Test every appliance, check every promised repair, and walk every room. Find a problem,… Read More
Winning a bidding war in NYC starts with real comps, not emotion. From there, a firm budget line, flexible non-financial terms, and a clean, well-documented offer matter as much as the number itself. A commission rebate, roughly $22,000 on an… Read More
Buying a new development in NYC differs from a resale in four ways: closing costs are about 2% higher because the buyer usually absorbs the transfer taxes; the sponsor’s offering plan sets the terms; financing often goes through a preferred… Read More
Buyer brokerage means having a licensed agent who works for you, the buyer, not the seller. In New York, you always have a right to one. Since January 2025, a REBNY member signs a written buyer agreement with you before… Read More
To buy an apartment in NYC: get a real mortgage pre-approval, decide whether you want a co-op or a condo, hire a New York real estate attorney, make an offer, sign a contract with a 10% deposit, pass the board,… Read More
Don’t bother ordering halibut next time you go out for sushi in New York or Los Angeles. It’s unlikely halibut at all. Did you know that when you eat out at restaurants, the fish served is not what you ordered… Read More
Did you know you can legally sell your home WITHOUT a broker and list it yourself on the MLS and consumer websites on StreetEasy, Facebook, or Zillow? Selling a home FSBO for a flat fee in New York can be… Read More
Realtor fees stay so high because the commission is a fixed percentage, anyone can become an agent, and both sides are paid from one pot. When house prices rise, the fee rises too, and the money attracts more agents rather… Read More
