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:
I changed agents in the middle of my apartment hunt. Who gets the commission if I buy?
February 18, 2020 - 10:00 AM
If you signed an agreement with the first broker, carefully review the document to see what they are legally entitled to by working for you. There should be a cancellation clause in the agreement, which may stipulate that you give your first broker a certain amount of notice before ending the relationship.
Read More Can my landlord make me pay for damage from an overflowing toilet?
February 10, 2020 - 10:00 AM
If the overflow was your fault, you're responsible for the damages, our experts say, but if it was the result of bad plumbing, then it's on your landlord.
Read More Do I need title insurance if I am paying all cash?
February 3, 2020 - 10:00 AM
Title insurance protects homeowners in the event that there are outstanding liens, open permits, or issues with previous owners of a property; lenders may require it of condo or townhouse buyers who are taking out a mortgage. But even for those who are buying all cash, title insurance is a good idea, even though it's not a legal requirement.
Read More What can I do about landlords who won't accept disability checks as rent?
January 27, 2020 - 10:00 AM
Show your prospective landlords a benefit verification letter from Social Security to serve as proof that you have these benefits and that they count as income.
Read More Ask Sam: How do I find out if I’ve been overcharged for rent, and what can I do about it?
January 22, 2020 - 10:00 AM
If you suspect your apartment is supposed to be rent-stabilized your first step is to request the apartment’s rent history from the Division of Homes and Community Renewal (DHCR). Then, bring the history to an attorney who can help you parse the rent increases over the years, and whether they were legitimate.
Read More My landlord threatens to keep my security if I don't manage apartment showings. Is this legal?
January 21, 2020 - 09:00 AM
Refusing to give brokers access to your apartment at all hours is not grounds for withholding it. If you're concerned your landlord might refuse to return your deposit, you could use it as your last month's rent. "Even though you're technically not supposed to use your security deposit for the last month's rent, I might do it, because the landlord is threatening to act illegally," says attorney Sam Himmelstein.
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