Emily Myers

Social distancing requirements are pushing co-op board interviews online. If you're going ahead with a co-op purchase and have your interview lined up, the advice is to treat it exactly the same as you would if it was in person, find a quiet, well-lit place to do the interview, and avoid talking about coronavirus protocols. 

Building, cleaning, and maintenance staff in NYC apartment complexes have been deemed essential workers as the coronavirus pandemic sweeps through the city.  That means doormen, janitors, and supers are taking risks daily to look after the residents in their buildings. Peter Grech, a 63-year-old resident manager in a 340-unit building in Midtown, is one of them.

New Yorkers who have lost work or seen their hours reduced due to coronavirus can waive their mortgage payments for 90 days and borrowers nationwide are being told mortgage payments backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can be suspended for up to 12 months. Relief for homeowners has many renters asking whether they will get the same support.

Amazon will stop accepting all products other than medical supplies and household staples to its warehouses amid coronavirus crisis.

Real estate transactions often involve face to face contact—but with most New Yorkers practicing "social distancing" and working from home to avoid the spread of the coronavirus, you may need a virtual workaround if you are in mid-way through a purchase or apartment sale. There are the immediate concerns of being in close quarters at a closing or co-op board interview amid a pandemic.

New York City building management firms and boards are doing their best to reassure residents about the safety of their apartment buildings. Measures include shuttering the building’s recreational amenities like gyms, pools, and playrooms, not only because of the potential spread of the virus on equipment but because the heating, cooling and ventilation equipment (HVAC) may present risks.