It’s tax season again and a prime time to remind you that if you live in a co-op, you can actually deduct your co-op maintenance fees! You just need to know how. Let’s start with how much you can deduct, which is based on the portion used to pay real estate taxes and interest on […]
At Realty Collective, we recognize that, as a real estate firm, our business operates within a broken system. One that has historically disenfranchised communities of color and, particularly in Brooklyn, harmed Black and Latinx residents through policies like redlining or predatory lending. We are not blind to the ongoing inequities. As a mission-driven organization, it […]
Plenty of us have been moving to freelancing in the last few years (whether by choice or not) and COVID-19’s abrupt closure of most workplaces forced many of us to get up to speed on working from home, fast. But whether you’re a freelancer for life, dipping a toe in, or making the best of […]
Forget the “Zestimate.” Ditch the guesstimate. It’s time to figure out how much you can afford. Brooklyn is one of the most expensive housing markets in the world but every day, people manage to buy here. Maybe that’s in the cards for you right now or maybe it’ll be somewhere down the line (one tool […]
We’re talking closing costs this week and for what are essentially a few rooms inside a big building, inside an even bigger city, whether that collection of rooms is called a condo or a co-op makes a big difference in your closing costs! Let’s take a closer look at those differences. When it comes to […]
You’ve probably heard of closing costs but if you’ve never bought or sold property, the term can be confusing. Let’s first take a look at “closing.” Closing is the point at which the title of the property is transferred from seller to buyer. The costs associated with this are collectively known as the closing costs, […]
OK, But, Do I Really Need a Real Estate Agent? Our completely unbiased opinion? Yep, you do. OK, we’re not unbiased, but even those of us at Realty Collective who are agents (including our founder, broker Victoria Alexander) have chosen to have our co-workers serve as our agents when we have bought property. Why? Because […]
Pop Quiz: What’s the average cost to move a 1-BR apartment within NYC in 2020? A. $750 […]
A mortgage broker is someone who will work as an intermediary between you and a lender. They don’t work for the lender but instead will ensure they work to find you the best possible rate and terms. Typically, you’ll meet to go over your finances, income, credit score, and other key variables. Then, they’ll help […]
We’re living a world of big Ifs right now. If you still have a job. If you plan to stay in New York City. If things will ever get back to normal. So we recognize that even in a robust economy (you know, theoretically), it is a tough road to home ownership for many people—but […]
