At times the lengths people go to in order to save a few bucks borders on mind-numbingly foolish. The backyard to this property had initially been covered with old, ill kept concrete which the previous …

It’s been more than a month since spot patching this up during a freezing rain storm, but as of today the 2nd floor deck now has flashing installed, the supporting wall has been waterproofed and finished off with a bit of patterned stucco.
The only thing that …

I received the following to my very general email to the DEP, some additional research and more pointed questions should result help the people at the DEP point me in the right direction, but for …

So close to being done with the repairs and the contracts:
Water/Sewer line charges: 

Switching over the water and sewer account.
Resolution of any payments due prior to closing. 
possible damage to water meter (cannot be resolved before January 30th …

Found out yesterday that NYC’s Department of Environmental Protection (“DEP”) contracts Con Edison (our power & gas company) for water meter readings. Just wish I knew that before I told the guy I only receive gas & …

Contrary to the information I had been told earlier, a building must have a complaint or violation active before the Dept. of buildings will send an inspector out.
Now the DoB sends out inspectors based on …

One of the problems that has been present both before and after closing is the presence of an ECB and DoB violation (PDF) that was issued to the previous owner’s work crew. The violation itself …

After two years of talking about this, a year and a half of passively looking at places, 5 months to find a buyer for another property, 2 months in negotiations trying to get this property, …

Title search — check Engineering inspection –check Home/Pest inspection — check Closing date confirmed with seller & his attorney — check Closing date confirmed with bank and their attorney– check Closing date confirmed with …

All those lawyer jokes just got a little funnier…
Got an email this afternoon from my attorney — seems that all owners of a property involved in a 1031 have to be on the mortgage.. One …

One would think that being asked by the mortgage brokers assistant if I would mind closing early is a good sign that things had been moving along to the point of completion.
One would also be …

So the seller has posted some ads for the place in the past on Craigslist and PropertyShark before we moved into contract to buy. As of now, Monday or Tuesday is when the bank would …

It’s taken more than a year of talking about it, research & reading, but this afternoon I’m going to attempt to sound like I’ve made offers on houses before.
Tangent
Funny thing about the web is …

Almost biblical at this point…
So the lawyers are talking again. The seller is now interested in closing on more traditional terms, with a clear title, no outstanding taxes or liens and with my own …