lien search

Hi, Two years ago I bought into a co-op. I hired a real estate lawyer to do a lien search and do all the other standard work, but over the last two years it turns out the co-op has unpaid taxes and building code violations (both prior to my membership of the co-op). Isn’t this the kind of stuff that should show up in the lawyer’s search work? I am now paying higher monthly fees and have paid additional fees because of this situation. Do you think I should go to that lawyer and confront him, or should I hire a new lawyer and have her/him deal with the situation on my behalf? Would a second lawyer charge an hourly fee for something like this or a no cure, no pay percentage of xx%? Thanks!

SunsetSunday

in Lawyers and legal service 13 years and 7 months ago

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SunsetSunday | 13 years and 7 months ago

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Thanks for taking the time to answer my question. I’ll ask the lawyer about it first and will see what he has to say and what info he had and did not have.

jeannee | 13 years and 7 months ago

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Ack. I just wrote a long answer and it disappeared when I logged in to “add your answer”. Glitchy. I see comments aren’t even viewable on the main Brownstoner site. So okay, trying again but short version not as detailed — were you given the truth of the building’s financial situation at the time you bought the apartment? If not, talk to somebody about what you can do about that. Because the building is supposed to tell you everything.

denton | 13 years and 7 months ago

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What kens said, and easy enuf to find out about violations from DOB website. Of course you have to be savvy enuf to undersatnd what they mean.

Kensingtonian | 13 years and 7 months ago

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I think you should consult with your lawyer. Lien searching is done by a third party agency (title agency), not your real estate lawyer directly. I think things only come up if there is a lien against the property, not if there are outstanding violations or unpaid taxes. I know my co-op always pays taxes or the gov’t would put a lien on us quick but we have outstanding violations for years (mostly minor stuff that no one cleaned up that I am trying to get to now) and it never popped up in any lien searches.