Best of Brick

co-op board reference letters NYC
Co-ops
Here are 8 real co-op board reference letters from successful buyers
By Brick Underground |August 1, 2025 - 9:30AM
apartment buildings in NYC
The Search
NYC landlords want tenants who earn 40 times the monthly rent. Here are 7 workarounds
By Jennifer White Karp |July 31, 2025 - 9:30AM
Apartment buildings on Park Avenue in Manhattan.
Co-ops
12 tough co-op board interview questions—and how to answer them
By Brick Underground |July 30, 2025 - 9:30AM
rent negotiations nyc brick underground
The Market
8 ways to negotiate a smaller rent increase at lease renewal time

… If your lease is up for renewal your landlord has likely notified you that your rent is …  week  The trick is not to respond emotionally to a significant rent increase and to weigh whether staying is cheaper … and wish to stay for a long time  … 3 Stay calm and ask politely  … Be respectful when approaching your lease …

By Evelyn Battaglia |July 29, 2025 - 9:30AM
Two women sitting on sofa at home, they are drinking coffee and talking.
The Search
The 21 best questions to ask potential roommates to get the perfect match
By Evelyn Battaglia |July 28, 2025 - 9:30AM
A row of NYC apartment buildings
Sales Market
A condo or co-op with lower carrying costs can make buying more doable. Here's where to find one
By Emily Myers |December 27, 2024 - 2:30PM
New York, New York - Oct 29 2012: A digital display above the entrance of the subway as Hurricane Sandy moves in the New York City area on Monday, Oct. 29, 2012.
The Search
How to check a neighborhood’s climate disaster risk before you move

… in 2012 and by 2080 similar storms could flood more than 50 NYCHA complexes Gothamist reported  But pricier areas like Greenpoint and Williamsburg in Brooklyn Long Island City in Queens and Hudson Yards in Manhattan are also …

By Celia Young |December 27, 2024 - 12:30PM
Red brick apartment building in Park Slope in the evening
Roommates + Landlords
My brother’s friend has been squatting at my former apartment and won’t leave now that the lease is up. Am I liable?
By Celia Young |December 27, 2024 - 10:30AM
Colorful historic buildings on 4th Street in the East Village of Manhattan in New York City with empty blue sky background
Roommates + Landlords
How to tell if your NYC apartment building is protected by the new Good Cause eviction law
By Celia Young |December 26, 2024 - 9:30AM
nyc bathroom renovation
Renovation
How to stay on top of your NYC co-op or condo renovation from a distance

… This article was originally published in October 2023 We are presenting it again as part of our winter  Best of Brick … she passed on an option to pay upfront for a discounted fee because you never know what can happen Instead she chose … what I needed to get reimbursed for the minor damage  Its worth noting that the neighbors totally lucked out that her …

By Evelyn Battaglia |December 24, 2024 - 2:30PM