Buyer Representation
Buy a Luxury Apartment in Manhattan
I represent buyers of condos, co-ops and townhouses in Manhattan, select Brooklyn neighborhoods and the Hamptons. I find the right home, negotiate the price and terms, and stay with you through board approval and closing.
The Process
How Buying Works
- 1
Set your budget and get financing in order
Before we tour anything, we work out the full cost: the price, closing costs, monthly charges and the cash you want left in reserve. Sellers expect a pre-approval before an offer, and co-op boards look closely at your finances.
- 2
Choose the kind of home and the neighborhood
A condo gives you direct ownership of the apartment. A co-op gives you shares in the corporation that owns the building, and a board approves who may buy. We narrow neighborhoods by how you live, not only by price.
- 3
Search
You can search the active listings on this site, save homes and get an email when a price changes or a new home matches. Some homes sell without being widely advertised. When I hear of one that fits, you hear about it.
- 4
Make an offer
In New York an offer is made in writing, usually by email, and it is not binding until a contract is signed. I advise you on price from comparable sales, and on the terms that matter to the seller.
- 5
Contract and attorney review
Buyers and sellers each use a New York real estate attorney. Yours reviews the contract, the building's financial documents and the title, and I make sure each deadline is met.
- 6
Board package and approval (co-ops)
Co-op buyers submit a board package and may be interviewed. The review often takes four to eight weeks. Condo buyers usually skip the board interview.
- 7
Closing
At closing you pay the balance, sign the documents and receive the keys. I coordinate with your attorney, your lender and the building's managing agent so your move is scheduled.
What You Get
- Live search of the active listings, with maps, saved homes and email alerts for price changes and new matches.
- Building and neighborhood pages with facts from public records, plus subway and park information.
- A monthly payment and closing cost estimate on the listing page of each home for sale.
- My own notes on selected listings, written about that apartment.
- The support of the Manning Franklin Team at Brown Harris Stevens.
Common Questions
Questions, Answered
How much does it cost to buy an apartment in NYC?
Beyond the price, plan for closing costs, which are higher in New York than in most of the country: roughly 3% to 6% of the price for a condo and 1% to 3% for a co-op. Buyers of homes at $1 million or more also pay New York State's tiered mansion tax. We go through your exact numbers before you make an offer.
Closing costs explainedDo I need a real estate attorney to buy in New York?
In practice, yes. Each side has a New York real estate attorney. Yours reviews the contract, the building's financials and the title, and represents you at closing.
Do I need to be pre-approved before I make an offer?
Sellers and their agents expect it, and co-op boards will look closely at your finances. If you are paying cash, we show proof of funds instead.
How long does it take to buy an apartment in New York?
Plan on a few months from an accepted offer to closing. A co-op board review alone often takes four to eight weeks, so co-ops usually take longer than condos.
What is the difference between a condo and a co-op?
In a condo you own the apartment itself. In a co-op you own shares in a corporation that owns the building, and a board approves who may buy. Co-ops usually have stricter financing rules and often cost less per square foot than comparable condos, while condos give more flexibility to investors and international buyers.
Condo vs. co-op guideWho pays my agent's commission when I buy?
Commission is negotiable. For sales made through REBNY's Residential Listing Service, a buyer and their agent now sign a written agreement that states how the agent is paid. Who pays is agreed in that written agreement, so we settle it before we start. It is a fair question to ask every agent you interview.
Can you help me buy in Brooklyn or the Hamptons?
Yes. I work in select Brooklyn neighborhoods, including Dumbo and Williamsburg, and I handle sales and seasonal rentals of Hamptons houses.
Let's Talk
Call Curtis Bain at 212-814-9404, email cbain@bhsusa.com, or send a message. 445 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022.