How to Research


My husband and I are first-time house hunters considering buying a brownstone that will need renovation. Does anyone have suggestions for books/websites/general resources where I can learn what I need to know about the DOB, C of Os, and all other bureaucratic difficulties in one place? The Brownstoner forums are incredibly useful when I know what questions to ask or search for, but I feel like I’m going at this from the wrong direction…

Categories: Permits
By LostBread | 04/05/2011 6:26 PM | Comment

Buying a 4-family being used as a not-quite 3-


My husband and I are property virgins considering buying a 4-family townhouse that currently has a kitchen on the top and garden floors, bedrooms and bath on the third, while the parlor has a non-functional kitchen and will need a major renovation. I’ve caught intimations on this site that buying and using a 4 family as a 3- (and eventually a 2-) family requires changing the C of O. Is this true? I’ve also heard hints that it could be hard to get a loan without kitchens on every floor, since it’s a 4-family, but that doesn’t seem right as we’d be using it as our primary residence. Can anyone help me out of this muddle?

Categories: C of O
By LostBread | 04/05/2011 4:38 PM | Comment