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Window lock?
Our new apartment has 2 windows in the bedroom: one opens onto the fire escape, and the other has the A/C unit installed in it. On cooler nights we prefer to sleep with the A/C off and the windows open, but I’m hesitant about leaving the window on the fire escape open while we sleep. Having it closed leaves the room pretty stuffy.
Does anyone know of a window lock that would (a) allow the window to remain open, but not too wide, and (b) be easily disengaged from the inside in case of fire? I definitely don’t want anything requiring a key – more of a physical barrier that’s easily removed from inside. Thanks!
07/14/2008 11:59 AM
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How much insurance for a coop?
We’re in the process of purchasing our first apartment, and we’re trying to determine how much homeowners’ insurance to carry for the interior of our coop. This is to cover the walls, floors, fixtures, and appliances (as opposed to our actual possessions) in the event of some catatrophe inside our apartment not covered by the coop’s building-wide insurance.
The “recommended amount” quoted to me by Geico was $30,000, but to me that seems low – if the entire interior of our apartment (3 rooms) is destroyed, it will cost more than $30K to fix it.
If anyone could give any input as to how much is a good amount, or what you carry on your coop, I’d greatly appreciate it. Thanks!
06/25/2008 10:50 AM
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Inspection on a coop?
We’re hoping to go into contract on a coop soon, and I’m wondering whether it’s standard practice to get an inspection done on a coop before closing. It certainly seems advisable to me, but so much of real estate custom in NYC is ill-advised, that I wonder if the seller might balk. Any experience with this? Thanks!
04/10/2008 2:45 PM
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How do I know how much to offer?
We’re thinking about putting in an offer on a coop. We’ve never done this before and I just have no idea how much to offer. Should I just offer something I’m comfortable with? A certain % less than the asking? I can look up some comps, but having not seen the apartments I have no idea whether they’re comparable. Any guidance much appreciated!
10/24/2007 12:37 PM
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Is it foolish to count on rental income?
We’ve been thinking to buy a coop in Ditmas Park, Sunset Park, or a similar nabe. Lately, though, I’ve noticed a couple of 2-family houses that, if we were to rent out half the house, would leave us paying only slightly more on a mortgage than we’d be paying in mortgage + maintenance in a much smaller coop. I love the idea of having our own house that we could expand into as our family and (hopefully!) income grow. But I’m wondering whether it’s smart to count on rental income – because it would be a helluva stretch to afford without it. Assuming that the rental is in decent shape, is this common? Do people generally figure they’ll be able to rent out the apartment to afford their mortgage? Or is that hideously ill-advised?
10/04/2007 12:09 PM
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Is Ditmas Park “fringe”?
We’re looking to buy a coop in the greater Ditmas Park area. Do people think this is a nabe where we’ll risk overpaying in the coming months? Better to wait? Things seem to be selling briskly there, but would be interested in your opinions. For what it’s worth, we love it there and would love to be in a place of our own sooner rather than later. Thanks in advance!
10/01/2007 11:56 AM
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Another broker question
Do brokers list all of their listings on their websites? Or only the best ones. I’d like a place with unrenovated kitchen and bathroom, which I imagine wouldn’t look as good as all the SS appliance-kitchens I see on broker ads. If a broker has apartments in the areas I like, is it worth checking to see if they have others? Thanks!
08/24/2007 12:09 PM
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How to start looking?
Were slowly gearing up to start looking to buy our first place, with an eye on the credit crunch and a hope for a softening market. We’d like an older 1+ or 2BR in one of the “south of the park” nabes – ideally Kensington or Windsor Terrace – for under $400K. Putting aside whether or not this is a pipe dream, can anyone give me some guidance on how to start looking – more to get a sense of the market and what’s out there than to snap something up – we have time. Do we just show up at open houses? Find a broker? Thanks!
08/22/2007 2:55 PM
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artistgarden
May 21, 2012 | 02:16 PM