What makes a co-op different from a condo, apps to unlock your best NYC life, & more

This week, readers visited Brick Underground for a cheat sheet on co-ops and condos. Condos are typically newer and buyers receive a traditional deed as if buying a single-family house, but in NYC, there's a larger inventory of co-ops. While they are more affordable than similarly sized condos—it's trickier to get approved by a co-op board compared to a condo board. 

Also of interest: How you can tell if a basement apartment in NYC is legal. From checking the building's Certificate of Occupancy, looking for exits in each of the bedrooms to having a fully functional bathroom and kitchen, there's many ways that you can ensure a prospective basement apartment is a legal, and safe, dwelling.

Here, in full, are the week's top stories. 

1) What is the difference between a condo and a co-op?

2) The pros and cons of buying a penthouse apartment

3) The apps you need when you live in New York City

4) What's better for buying an apartment in NYC: A 15- or 30-year mortgage?

5) How to tell if a NYC basement apartment is a legal rental

And from this week's sponsors:

Ask Sam: When can tenants legally withhold their rent? [sponsored]

Westchester vs. Connecticut property taxes: What you need to know before buying a home in the suburbs [sponsored]