Diary of a First-Time Buyer: 13 lessons learned after 60+ apartments

… to know all of my neighbors I knew that major capital improvements to a small coop meant few people to shoulder and share the costs of any improvements and special assessments In the end I opted for … Heights My Big Fat Board Interview column How to buy a NYC apartment What I learned from 150 apartments before I …

By Elle Bee |August 5, 2013 - 9:57AM
Closing time: On June 27, 2013, I finally became a co-op owner

… for about 10 years and Dec 15 2003 the night I got engaged to the friend of the boy I was crazy about yes do the math … three months of looking negotiating and waiting I was about to be inducted into the club   The closing was to take place … official documents identify me as Elena the name my parents gave me  It never occurred to me as my entire credit …

By Elle Bee |July 15, 2013 - 12:34PM
My co-op board interview: Sometimes you need to leave the Marc Jacobs bag at home

… notice of the loan approval from my lender my life went into warp speeda headspinning ride after months of plodding … barely died down when the coops management company called to arrange an interview with the board  We scheduled a date … I felt a wave of relief that my own piano wouldnt be a deterrent Downstairs we met Carla another board member And that …

By Elle Bee |June 17, 2013 - 10:22AM
Another co-op board package, and a commitment letter countdown

… Like any girl with a new beau after my  second date with my new … in New England a visit and I myself had been under the weather for nearly three weeks I was fighting a possible … is a lifelong renter currently in the process of buying a Brooklyn apartment recounted in her biweekly column  Diary …

By Elle Bee |May 29, 2013 - 8:58AM
Hell is applying for a mortgage...as a self-employed writer

… The joy of finding another place to buy in such short order after three days of searching and … at my contract signing  The prospect however of pulling together another coop board application was daunting as was … phone Next up Master of my domain Elle Bee is a lifelong renter currently in the process of buying a Brooklyn …

By Elle Bee |April 22, 2013 - 11:41AM
Elle makes a deal

… a happy accident that Sidney my broker suggested we return to the West 181 st street area aka Hudson Heights I had … of a Parisian enclave with its leafy trees and trellised stone steps I first looked here in the beginning of my … where often I felt like I saw the same faces just different apartments The first thing that struck me about No 35 a …

By Elle Bee |April 8, 2013 - 2:10PM
With Brooklyn behind me, I head toward Hudson Heights

… her experience for this column  Diary of a FirstTime Buyer   Related posts How to Buy a NYC apartment What I … the board interview 5 good reasons to visit prospective buyers at home  sponsored Moving to NYC Heres a crash course … place 9 questions that separate the New Yorkers from the rookies … Buy … Non-Traditional Buyers … Sales Market … Rent …

By Elle Bee |March 25, 2013 - 10:42AM
After the board interview, a title search bombshell

… following itshock and awe and then indignationDarren my attorney and I came up with an exit plan He believed that failure to disclose the financials and the escrow requirement was … real Next up Bye bye Brooklyn     Elle Bee is a lifelong renter currently in the process of buying a Brooklyn …

By Elle Bee |February 11, 2013 - 2:12PM