The New York Co-op Bible, a user-friendly guide to the art of buying and living in a co-op or condo Sylvia Shapiro, a lawyer and board president of a major Manhattan apartment building, has written what will become required reading for anyone buying or selling an apartment, or curious about entering the fray of the co-op and condo market. Shapiro answers all the questions apartment dwellers are afraid of asking the board, broker, lawyer, or accountant-and she does so without talking down or a steep hourly fee. Included are such topics as: Is the building right for you? How can you make the approval process go as smoothly as possible? What should you do if the board rejects you? And what if you get in? Can you keep your dog? How much power does the board really have? Having lived in her New York City apartment building for more than a decade in blissful ignorance of how it was run, Shapiro awoke one morning to discover that her building was going co-op, and she intended to buy. Intent on protecting her investment, she took on the mantle of board president and set about figuring out how the system worked. Seven years and many trials by fire later, Shapiro presents her hard-earned knowledge in this neat little tome. Apartment dwellers will come to swear by it.

If you've been thinking about buying a co-op, condo, or townhouse, you probably know that you can't get much useful information from the books about buying houses. The obstacles you face are different-and often a lot more complicated. If you're not fully prepared and properly informed, the buying process and even ownership itself could turn into a nightmare. Price and financial situation are only part of the equation, and it's important to understand all the factors before deciding what sort of home to pursue. Everything You Need to Know Before Buying a Co-op, Condo, or Townhouse is a one-stop guide to the particular challenges of buying, owning, living in and ultimately selling these homes.

Publisher Description

Steer clear of money pits and target the top properties in this hot investment sector! Condos, co-ops, and townhouses account for more than one-third of real estate sales in the United States. Fully updated to address the many changes that have occurred in the market since the first edition, Tips & Traps When Buying a Condo, Co-Op, or Townhouse, Second Edition, covers all the bases to help you navigate the process of buying into a shared-ownership development.

One third of all homes sold today are condos, co-ops, or townhouses. America's #1 real estate expert shows what to watch for when buying one of them. Home ownership is still the American dream, but not everyone follows tradition by buying a detached one-family house. Condos, co-ops, and townhouses are increasingly popular alternatives nationwide. These "shared ownership" options have unique pluses and minuses, as Bob Irwin reveals in Tips & Traps When Buying a Condo, Co-op, or Townhouse. Like other books in his best-selling "Tips & Traps" series, it's packed with targeted, reader-friendly advice. If you're a prospective buyer, Bob Irwin will show you how to: Decide if shared ownership is right for you Read between the lines of bylaws Deal with homeowners associations Check out the seven warning signs of big trouble Handle disclosures and inspections And much more