Springtime buying intel: Avoiding a toxic co-op, keeping some things from your broker, and more inside tips

By Lucy Cohen Blatter | April 4, 2012 - 8:20AM

First-quarter market reports released yesterday show high- and low-end sales picking up in Manhattan; CurbedNY's market-report wrap has the details.

But before you even think about dipping a toe into the traditionally robust springtime market, take a moment to brush up on the nuances of apartment-shopping NYC-style via Brick's myriad resources.

The first step is to find the right broker: Here's why you need one (and if you need help finding one, drop us a note).

You may then want to figure out whether to focus your attention on either a pre-war building or new construction, and narrow down your building search even more to specifics like kid-friendliness and smoking bans.

Next step: Open houses (which can be pretty enjoyable as long as you go prepared).

And once you've found that dream (or at least somewhat dreamy) apartment, negotiating skills are of the essence. For that, it helps to recognize signs of a desperate seller, and learn from the mistakes of others.

You can also try to avoid future problems by identifying a toxic co-op before the contracts are signed (or, on the flip side, recognizing an easy-going co-op board).

We've made a cheat sheet of these posts and others, below, to help you just about every step of the way during the buying process:

30,000 foot view on buying an apartment in NYC

Negotiating/dealmaking

Working with a lawyer/broker

Evaluating the building

Picking the right apt

Passing the co-op board

Buying new construction

Latest concessions
3 things you must know before buying new (sponsored)
How not to get suckered
How to analyze a rendering
Top 7 construction defects
What happens after the tax abatement expires
New Construction Survival Kit

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