Selling

Please tell us about dated colors, new colors and the worst colors to paint the rooms when preparing your home for sale.

Q: Dottie, please tell us about dated colors, new colors and the worst colors. Shannon Read More.

We pay higher taxes, are being compared to houses in undesirable locations and the location cannot be valued?

Q: we recently had our 2-family in north jersey appraised for refinancing. the only other 2-fam in the area are 2-3 miles away and not in desirable locations. we live across(50 ft) from a historic park and pond that can never be developed and pay higher taxes because of that . the appraiser said there is no avail calculation for appraisers to consider this type of issue. this cannot be right. we pay higher taxes, are being compared to houses in undesirable locations and the location cannot be valued in what do you think please advise thank you? Read More.

What’s the average charge per square foot for co-op maintenance for a studio and one-bedroom in the West Village?

Q: What’s the average charge per square foot for co-op maintenance for a studio and one-bedroom in the West Village (Manhattan)? Read More.

Is there a cheaper type of appraisal that sellers can use as a guide when pricing their homes?

Q: Dottie talks about appraisals on her radio show, but she never mentions summary or restricted use appraisals, which are supposedly cheaper than regular appraisals and can be used as a guide for sellers when pricing their homes. Is this true?  Read More.

My co-op is raising the monthly maintenance fees, which are already high. What are the consequences?

Q: My co-op in Westchester County is raising again the monthly maintenance fee. As a holder of one of the biggest apartments in the co-op, my quota is going very soon to be equal to my monthly mortgage. What are the consequences of this? Read More.

3rd Quarter 2012 Market Report Snapshots

Below you’ll find brief summaries of our findings from this quarter’s market reports, which we produce four times a year in conjunction with Miller Samuel, Inc. While each market is unique, the major overarching trend that we saw as consistent across the board was high demand (due to record-low mortgage rates and continually increasing rental prices) and low inventory, or supply. In several of the markets, this produced something of a domino effect on the other indicators. For example, many of the markets showed faster monthly absorption rates (indicative of market pace) and increased days on market (indicative of the fact that because there was not enough new inventory to meet increased demand, older properties that had been sitting on the market for a longer period of time started to sell off). Follow the links below to read the full … Read More.

What is the purpose of maintenance fees and when are they applicable?

Q: What is the purpose of maintenance fees and when are they applicable? Co-ops, condos? Are there taxes over and above the maintenance fees? I am particularly looking at 1-bedroom apartments for sale in Manhattan so I am only interested in issues applicable to Manhattan apartment purchases. Thank you. Read More.

Is Elliman the biggest real estate company?

Q: Is Elliman the biggest real estate company? Read More.

What will going into foreclosure to do my Fico score?

Q: I have a credit score in the high 700s and will be going into foreclosure on a home. Can you tell me what that will do to my Fico score? Read More.

What is the typical buyer agent’s commission on new development properties in Brooklyn?

Q: What is the typical buyer agent’s commission for new construction in Brooklyn? Is this something that is usually negotiable? Read More.