Alanna Schubach
Contributing writer
Contributing editor Alanna Schubach has over a decade of experience as a New York City-based freelance journalist. She has written about real estate for Brick Underground, Mansion Global, and Barron's. She has also contributed features, essays, and op-eds to The Nation, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and The Village Voice. She won a National Association of Real Estate Editors’ silver award in 2018 for her Ask an Expert column for Brick Underground. She is also a fiction writer and a creative writing teacher, and currently lives in Brooklyn.
Posts by Alanna Schubach:
Will Manhattan condos continue to offer incentives this year?
January 11, 2021 - 12:30 PM
Developers won't just offer these discounts up front, so strong negotiation is key. Work with a broker who has a good sense of the desirability of new developments and can therefore gauge your chances of persuading the developer to throw in some freebies.
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Will co-ops relax restrictions on rentals to compete better with condos?
January 4, 2021 - 12:30 PM
The pandemic has upended NYC real estate in a number of unprecedented ways, but co-op boards are still largely operating the same way as before in order to protect shareholders' investments. However, restrictions can vary from building to building, and co-op rules can change when new board members are elected.
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How much more should I tip building staff this year?
December 21, 2020 - 09:30 AM
If you can swing it, tip at least 30 percent more, because most staff commute to work and have increased exposure to the airborne Covid-19 virus, our experts say.
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How can I save money on my co-op insurance policy?
December 14, 2020 - 12:30 PM
Increasing your deductible and scaling back your coverage for valuable personal items could help.
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Ask Sam: What does the new supermajority in Albany mean for NYC tenants?
December 8, 2020 - 13:00 PM
The Democrats victory in the New York Senate could present an opportunity to expand upon the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act, the landmark rent reform legislation passed in 2019, says Sam Himmelstein, a lawyer with the firm Himmelstein, McConnell, Gribben, Donoghue & Joseph who represents residential and commercial tenants and tenant associations.
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I don't have a big income but I inherited some money. Should I buy a co-op or condo?
December 7, 2020 - 14:30 PM
Co-ops generally require a down payment of 20 percent, a demonstration of good credit, and post-closing liquidity—that is, enough money in the bank to cover two years of maintenance and mortgage payments. That money can certainly come from a gift or inheritance.
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