Alanna Schubach
Contributing writer
Contributing editor Alanna Schubach has over a decade of experience as a New York City-based freelance journalist. She has written about real estate for Brick Underground, Mansion Global, and Barron's. She has also contributed features, essays, and op-eds to The Nation, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and The Village Voice. She won a National Association of Real Estate Editors’ silver award in 2018 for her Ask an Expert column for Brick Underground. She is also a fiction writer and a creative writing teacher, and currently lives in Brooklyn.
Posts by Alanna Schubach:
Can my building's super be on our co-op board?
November 18, 2019 - 09:00 AM
You may find it is technically legal for your super to serve as a board member, that doesn't mean it's ideal—especially if the board makes decisions about the super's salary and other aspects of their employment.
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Are postwar buildings from the 1950s and '60s constructed better than ones built later?
November 11, 2019 - 10:00 AM
The building materials used in 1950s and '60s NYC buildings offer better insulation than those used in later decades, and so sound and odors from other apartments are less detectible.
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Ask Sam: When can tenants legally withhold their rent?
November 6, 2019 - 10:00 AM
Withholding rent is still a good strategy for getting your landlord to act. Here are the instances in which you can legally use this tactic.
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What should I do about an unsafe building facade in my neighborhood?
November 4, 2019 - 09:00 AM
There are a few options for reporting dangerous facades, even anonymously. "The best way for the public to inform the City of New York about a potentially dangerous or a hazardous condition is to call 311 or work thorough the 311 online portal," says Michael T. Reilly, an attorney with Norris McLaughlin.
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What's better for buying an apartment in NYC: A 15- or 30-year mortgage?
October 30, 2019 - 10:00 AM
When deciding between a 15- and a 30-year mortgage to buy a New York City apartment, you'll want to consider how much you can afford to repay monthly, how long you intend to own the place and whether your financial or personal situation might change in those years.
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Who is responsible for dealing with the mold in my co-op?
October 28, 2019 - 10:00 AM
Typically, co-op shareholders are responsible for remediating mold within their apartments, while co-op management is responsible for dealing with damages in common areas. And if the mold stems from water damage caused by a neighbor, then the culpable party will be responsible for repairs.
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