BUYER GUIDES
Don't sign until you've read these.
Free, data-driven guides for anyone buying a condo or co-op in NYC. No affiliate links. No broker partnerships. Just the information you need to protect yourself.
The Complete Guide to Buying a Condo in NYC
Everything your broker won't tell you — from offering plan red flags to managing agent track records. A step-by-step due diligence checklist built from public records.
Read guide → COMPARISONCondo vs. Co-op: The Real Differences Nobody Explains
Beyond the financing rules — how governance structure, board power, resale restrictions, and regulatory gaps differ between condos and co-ops in NYC.
Read guide → FINANCIALSpecial Assessments: The Hidden Cost of NYC Ownership
What special assessments are, why they happen, how much they cost, and how to check a building's assessment history before you buy.
Read guide → CHECKLIST10 Questions to Ask Before You Buy
The questions your broker should ask but won't — about reserves, litigation, assessments, insurance, managing agent performance, and board governance.
Read guide → ADVANCEDHow to Read a Condo Offering Plan
The offering plan is the most important document in a condo purchase. Here's how to read it, what the red flags look like, and where sponsors hide costs.
Read guide → MUST READThe Hidden Costs of Buying a Condo in NYC
Special assessments, Local Law 11, managing agent markups, insurance gaps, and 12 other costs your broker won't mention. The real accounting of NYC condo ownership.
Read guide →Who Are These Guides For?
Anyone considering buying a condo or co-op in New York City — especially first-time buyers who don't yet know what questions to ask. These guides exist because:
- Your broker works for the seller. Even a "buyer's agent" has a financial incentive to close the deal, not to warn you about the building's violation history.
- The offering plan is 400 pages of legalese. We show you exactly which pages matter and what the red flags look like.
- Nobody publishes managing agent track records. We do. Every guide links to our Managing Agent Ratings so you can check who runs the building you're considering.
- Special assessments can cost $50,000+. Most buyers don't know they exist until they get the bill. We show you how to check before you buy.
Related Resources
- Building Reports — Look up any NYC building by address
- Managing Agent Ratings — 23 firms ranked by public data
- Neighborhood Guides — Area-by-area buyer intelligence
- True Cost Calculator — What you'll really pay over 5 years
- 100+ Regulatory Gaps — What the law doesn't protect you from
- Blog — Analysis, alerts, and investigations