A home visit from a private investigator, board interview bombshells, and other signs I'm in trouble

… with him where he would conduct a home visit look at current bills and take a few pictures He insisted this was the … One this seemed highly irregularalmost comical Two my current apartment needed triage In preparation for moving I had … and her members Two people smiled at me Out of 12 I was asked to introduce myself which I did in simple terms Ive …

By Elle Bee |January 28, 2013 - 10:31AM
How (not) to prepare a co-op board package

… if I am reading my damn contract every week  He refused to ask for an extension I called Karen my broker and delivered … at the board interview     Elle Bee is a lifelong renter currently in the process of buying a Brooklyn apartment …

By Elle Bee |January 14, 2013 - 9:56AM
What does it take to get a mortgage in this town?

… Having been rejected by my credit union for a mortgage I turned with some … OK that sounded good to me I dialed the tollfree number A loan officer named Chad filled me in on the basic protocol …

By Elle Bee |December 31, 2012 - 1:22PM
The art (and horror) of the deal

… was that I found it with the wrong agent I had no real issues with Karen other than a vague lack of confidence but … irony of my situation set in On paper I could not afford to buy an apartment whose combined mortgage and maintenance was … buy a condo or coop in NYC  sponsored A single guy reveals why he took the coop plunge and how he basically lives for …

By Elle Bee |December 17, 2012 - 10:20AM
I find my "dream" apartment...in Ft. Greene

… in postwar highrises Nothing resembled anything I asked forin fact it was as if she created the show schedule … the street I have something in there but the financials arent as good as this and frankly its a little dowdy I … Or was it Next The art of the deal Elle Bee is a lifelong renter currently in the process of buying a Brooklyn …

By Elle Bee |December 3, 2012 - 2:43PM
Updating my wish list
By Elle Bee |November 12, 2012 - 2:19PM
Navigating the (rocky) relationship between broker and buyer

… the apartment was listed for an open house on Sunday and asked my friend Tina to come with me  Its not her design … I thought would work for a home office too small for my current set up but large enough for a streamlined IKEA system … Lessons learned 50 apartments later Elle Bee is a lifelong renter currently in the process of buying a Brooklyn …

By Elle Bee |October 31, 2012 - 10:44AM
Open house time (a.k.a. the sound of my heart breaking)

… feet of books How often do you play the piano or read Chris asked me Her practicality has helped me dodge many a bullet … the building and that it was comprised of friendly longtime renters and new owners All good But the onebedroom apartment … my own Next time Jadore the Heights Elle Bee is a lifelong renter currently in the process of buying a Brooklyn …

By Elle Bee |September 24, 2012 - 10:29AM
Diary of a First-time Buyer: "How did I get here and how do I get out??"

… night in Fort Greene Brooklyn Im sitting not at a hip bistro but in a fluorescentlit basement room at the head of a … glare of 11 members of the coop board where Im applying to buy a 750squarefoot onebedroom apartment in the building … buy a condo or coop in NYC sponsored A single guy reveals why he took the coop plunge and how he basically lives for …

By Elle Bee |September 10, 2012 - 11:32AM