Even before you figure out where you want to live, you need to determine whether ideally you would like to live in a condo or a co-op . What are the main differences? I’ll give you a brief overview here, but you can also check out my “Co-ops vs Condos In NYC” video for a more in-depth description.
When buying a condo (or a condominium), you are buying an individual piece of real property. You own the apartment in addition to undivided interest in the common area. You are responsible for paying both real estate taxes and common charges. Also there is no underlying mortgage.
When purchasing a co-op (or a cooperative), you are buying shares in a corporation versus owning real property. You pay maintenance, instead of common charges and real estate taxes, which is partially tax deductible.
About 75 percent of apartments for sale in NYC are in co-ops whereas about only 25 percent are in condos. Aside from this percentage, there are many factors that may come into play when deciding between a co-op or a condo. Here are a few:
- First is understanding your timing – When do you need to close by?
- Second – How much money are you able to put down?
- Third – Do you plan on using the apartment as a pied-a-terres
- Fourth – Do you plan on subletting your apartment in the near future?
- Fifth – How much are you willing and able to spend?
- Sixth – Are you buying the apartment for yourself or for someone else? (The difficulty of getting approved)
Generally speaking — and please understand that each building has its own market and its own rules — a condo takes about 1-2 months to close from the day contracts are signed, you usually have to put 10 percent down, pied-a-terres are allowed, sublet policies are pretty lenient — generally offering 12-month leases at a time — it can be 30-40 percent more expensive than a co-op if everything else is the same, and the approval process is much easier since there is no board interview and co-purchasing and guarantors are allowed.
In general with co-ops, it can take from 2-4 months to close from the day contracts are signed, you have to put a minimum of 20 percent down and sometimes up to 50 percent or higher, many co-ops do not allow pied-a-terres, sublet policies can range from being very strict to not allowing sublets at all, it can be 30-40 percent less expensive than a condo if everything else is the same, and the approval process can be significantly more complex and difficult, some of the reasons being because you have to supply much more financial and background information, co-purchasers and guarantors are often not allowed and you have to go through a board interview.
