Does Your Renters Insurance Actually CoverFlooding? (Spoiler: It Almost Certainly Doesn’t.)

Here’s something most NYC renters don’t realize until it’s too late: yourrenters insurance policy almost certainly does not cover flood damage. Notfrom a storm surge. Not from a heavy downpour that overwhelms thesewers. Not from the kind of water event that has become increasinglycommon in this city over the last decade. If you’ve lived in […]

5 Rental Scams Targeting NYC Landlords Right Now — And How to Protect Yourself (and Your Tenants)

If you own rental property in Brooklyn or anywhere in NYC, you’re part of something bigger than a real estate transaction. You’re providing someone’s home — and that relationship comes with real responsibility on both sides. Unfortunately, bad actors know that too, and they’re increasingly targeting both landlords and renters in ways that can destabilize […]

How the NFIP Shutdown Affects Your Flood Insurance — and What You Can Do About It

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), run by FEMA, is a critical resource for many Brooklyn homeowners, renters, and small businesses. But with the federal government currently in shutdown mode, the NFIP is also at a standstill—and that pause may affect your coverage. Let’s break down what this means for those of us who live […]

Why So Many Homeowners Are Staying Put—and What That Means for Brooklyn Buyers

It’s not your imagination—the market feels frozen, and there’s a real reason for that. Homeowners across the U.S. are more locked in than they’ve been in over 40 years, and it’s creating a kind of gridlock that’s hard to ignore, especially in high-cost, high-desire cities like ours. Most Homeowners Won’t Trade Their Low RatesA recent […]

What the New SALT Cap Means (and Doesn’t Mean) for NYC Homeowners

The latest federal tax changes under the Trump administration’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” have raised the cap on the SALT deduction—that’s State and Local Taxes—for those who itemize their returns. If you live in New York, where taxes are no joke, that might sound like a big deal. The cap jumped from $10,000 to […]

To Broker or Not: A Decision Framework for Small Brooklyn Landlords

New York City’s FARE Act went into affect this year, which killed the broker fee as we know it, took effect and many on every side of the apartment-rental game — tenants, brokers, and landlords — are still playing catch-up when it comes to learning these new rules. Designed to protect tenants, the act presents […]

No Power Tools? No Problem. Your Library Card Has You Covered

When we talk about living in Brooklyn—really living here—we’re not just talking square footage and subway access. We’re talking about making a space your own, even if that space is a tiny rental with plaster walls and unpredictable wiring. And if you’ve ever found yourself staring down a DIY project and wishing you had a […]

Beyond Romance: Why More Buyers Are Teaming Up to Afford a Home

The housing landscape in the U.S.—and especially here in Brooklyn—has shifted dramatically in recent years. Between sky-high prices, persistent inventory shortages, and economic shifts that have made it harder for individuals to compete, buyers are getting creative. Increasingly, that means teaming up—with friends, siblings, or other non-romantic partners—to buy homes together. A recent NPR piece […]

How to Recycle Leftover Paint in NYC

Did you know that more than 80 million gallons of paint go unused every year in the United States? For NYC residents, that often means cans of half-used paint stacked in closets, basements, and hallways—uncertain what to do with them. Luckily, there’s now an easier and more sustainable option. Since launching in New York State […]

Compére Collective Presents: XO by Nelsena Burt-Spano

This show, entitled XO, is Nelsena’s way of challenging the perception of symbols. Her pieces with found objects from places like Red Hook also reflect our times. Good and bad, love and hate living together in a place that is both ironic and beautiful. Her bulletproof vest, which the show is named for, XO is […]