I LOVE NY 

Before you come to love Manhattan, you must understand our peculiar housing market. Manhattan is a unique place in the real estate universe. Not only does it have a large rental market (75% of the available housing units vs. about 5 - 10% in other markets), but it has ownership and other important differences that are often puzzling to newcomers.

70% of Home ownership in Manhattan is in coop apartments. The rest are condos, condops and townhouses. Most new construction developments are condos. Most pre-war apartments are co-ops. Manhattan apartments are either pre-war (WWII) or post -war (modern.) Most Townhouses or Brownstones were built in the 19th century.

Showings normally 9 - 5 p.m. (7p.m. the latest)

Most co-ops have restrictions on showing times that vary widely, but must be adhered to. Some buildings do not even allow weekend showings.

Sunday Open Houses are the way to go

Condos and some co-ops will allow public open houses on Sunday afternoons. That means that Sundays can be a good day to see a lot of properties, If you're not with your agent and you are working with an agent let the listing agent know that you have an agent to avoid conflicts. I always pre register my customers with the listing agent prior to the Open House.

Co-op ownership requires submitting a comprehensive Board application (called a Board Package), being interviewed by the Board, and being approved.

Co-op ownership means that you must decide not only whether you like the apartment, but also the building must decide if they will be willing to accept you. Passing a co-op board adds at least 6 - 8 weeks to the purchase process. A major part of my job is helping buyers prepare their packages.

Wear comfortable shoes and leave the car at home or park it for a few hours.

Shopping for a New York apartment is good exercise, so wear comfortable shoes and learn about the neighborhood at the same time. Taxis are hailed for longer destinations.

Manhattan Relocation Package:

Neighborhood Relocation Guides:

Courtesy of:

  • ©Mitchell Hall 2006-2009
 
   

________________

©Mitchell Hall 2006-2013

All content/images, unless noted, are the property of Mitchell Hall & may not be used without permission. 

Blogging about Manhattan Real Estate since 2006

Mitchell Hall, Associate Broker
Office (212) 877-6268 | iPhone (917) 312-0924
MHALL@Corcoran.com

Manhattan Seller | Manhattan Buyer | New Developments | Market Reports | Neighborhood Reports

Search Manhattan Homes

 

My Google Profile

Corcoran Group         Google +

 
          Call Mitchell Hall @ 347-921 HALL (4255)
 
This post has been included in New York Real Estate News New York County, NY Real Estate News Manhattan, NY Real Estate News
Post is included in group: I Love NY
Post is included in group: Local Expert
Post is included in group: Urban Core - Returning to our Downtowns

15 Comments on Relocation Guide: Understanding (and loving) Manhattan

FEB
16
2008
241,403 Points
Interesting information.  I am amazed at the number of rentals as a percentage.  I would never have thought that.  What keeps people from buying?  Price or lack of inventory?
3:19pm • #1
1,950,080 Points 478 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Mitchell.  Good info. 

Any time I get a call from someone asking about co-ops here, I can accurately predict that they are from NY.  We have few co-ops here. 

3:20pm • #2
599,632 Points 79 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp
Mitchell, you certainly work in a unique and interesting real estate world, there in Manhattan.  As Lenn mentions above, there are very few co-ops here in Virginia and D.C.  The few that we do have are not very popular places to buy.
3:33pm • #3
468,018 Points 66 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Philip, Many people start out renting and then buy. Manhattan has (roughly) 800,000 housing units, 600,000 rental units and 200,000 condo and coop units. About 4% of condos and coops turn over yearly plus new construction is about 10,000 units per year sell.

Lenn, Thank you. The reason we have so many coops is because they were rental buildings that converted to coop ownership. Most new construction since the 90's has been condos.
3:42pm • #4
468,018 Points 66 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master
Hey Brian, Manhattan coops are a unique form of ownership. There are pros and cons it all depends on the buyers lifestyle and financials.
3:58pm • #5
274,066 Points 41 Featured Posts Outside Blog
MITCH - It's interesting how different it is in Manhattan.  Most people think of co-ops as a lower form of ownership, but in Manhattan it is the norm, although I was no fan of the co-op boards.  It may be a good idea to discuss the process of buying a co-op in your relocation package.  Great stuff as usual, Mitch.
5:31pm • #6
1,156,686 Points 38 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master
Mitchell, I have to go check your website just to see what's available; I have always wanted to live for just one year in New York City.  Your posts are filled with information about it and even though I'm there often, I didn't know many of the things you write about.
6:06pm • #7
1,911,991 Points 385 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master
Mitchell, reading your posts always makes me want to move!  Next time I'm in the city, I'm going to try to be there over the weekend to check out opens - and I'll tell them Mitch is my agent!
6:17pm • #8
402,651 Points 29 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Mitchell,

Great info for anyone looking in Manhattan....it looks like you're the man to see if thinking of buying in NYC.

Jo 
6:27pm • #9
111,189 Points 26 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
I don't know how you explained it all so well it's so...complicated there lol  At least for this Cleveland gal :-)  One thing surprises me, NYC is such a night owl place, surprised showings are not later I would not have expected that.  It's good, just surprised me!
6:44pm • #10
1,950,080 Points 478 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

There are a few very nice co-ops in MD.  The Pramanade in Bethesda is classy and very convenient. 

And then, there is the famous Greenbelt Homes, a wonderful co-op community in Greenbelt that was built right after WWII to put men to work when they returned from the war.  The community and the homes were all built, roads and all completely by hand.  The idea was to maximize labor and put as many men to work as possible.  There are 1600 homes and they are managed very well.  The grounds are lovely.  There's a co-op grocery store, gas station, and a great community center with pool. 

A lot of the homes in Liesure World are co-ops too.  Liesure World is a fantastic Over 55 community with about 8000 plus residents.  This is probably the most popular and complete seniors community in the entire area. 

There are some very nice co-ops in MD.  I don't know about VA.

 
6:53pm • #11
165,653 Points 58 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router

Fascinating stuff.  I always enjoy reading about your market.

P.S.  Junior's is coming to Ledyard CT.  First store outside NY.  I will forever think of you when eating cheesecake.
6:58pm • #12
622,767 Points 120 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Hi Mitchell,

Thanks for reminding us that real estate is local. Your market is a perfect example of how we can't assume anything is the same as "back home!"

I so enjoying meeting you and having you show me around your city.  It was not only fun, but a memorable experience for me.  You are SO RIGHT wear comfortable shoes!

kk 
8:29pm • #13
468,018 Points 66 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Adam, Thanks. Coop boards are much better when you're on one then being interviewed by one. The link to coops vs. condos post explains pros and cons and the entire coop buying process. I'll revamp it for my relo package.

Carole, Thank you. You should try it for a year but you might not ever leave.

Patricia, You're here often enough, it's time to get you a pied-a-terre. I'll give you a list of Open Houses.

Jo -Anne, Thanks I try to stay on top of the market.

Carole, Many showings are between 6pm - 7 pm when buyers get out of work.

Lenn, Greenbelt Homes sound wonderful. Coops can offer "quality of life" for some residents that they couldn't get in a condo - but that's another blog.

Linda, Thank You, Juniors Cheescake opening in Ledyard Wow! 

Kristal, I really enjoyed meeting you. I'm glad you got to see how we do brokers Open Houses. Now you know what I mean when I ask buyers "Do you mind walking"?
9:06pm • #14
MAR
12
2008

Interesting Mitchell,

I always say, Manhattan (and the boroughs) are much more fun if you are not reliant on cars...it is a great place to be but is extremely frustrating in in traffic ( which happens too often )... gotta love the energy tho!!
10:35am • #15


What does the graphic say?
Leave a response…

(optional)
Spam Prevention:
 
File_hall_mitchell_04_r_2_ Rainmaker_large

Mitchell Hall ~ Licensed Associate RE Broker

Manhattan, NYC Real Estate

Manhattan, NY

More about me…

The Corcoran Group

Address: 2253 Broadway, New York, NY, 10024

Office Phone: (212) 877-6268

Cell Phone: (917) 312-0924

Email Me



Listings

Links

Archives

RSS 2.0 Feed for this blog