The Nest

NestApple's Real Estate Blog

Featuring real estate articles and information to help real estate buyers and sellers. The Nest features writings from Georges Benoliel and other real estate professionals. Georges is the Co-Founder of NestApple and has been working as an active real estate investor for over a decade.

Tips for Keeping Your House Cool During Summer

Summertime is already here.  While it brings us many exciting opportunities for adventure, it does bring in one discomfort- the extreme summer heat. We’re not looking forward to facing that when we’re just sulking around the house either. Now, your… Read More

What Is a Proprietary Lease for a co-op Apartment?

A proprietary lease for a coop apartment is a contract between an owner (aka shareholder) and a cooperative corporation. Most of the units in New York City are coops. Indeed, the proprietary lease is one of the documents within the… Read More

Garden Planting: What Are The Benefits? (2023)

There are many benefits to garden planting in NYC. A garden right in front of our home, with beautiful flowers blooming, is a sight we all want to enjoy. This is why we check for enough space to plant a… Read More

2019 NYC Rent Law: what has changed?

In 2019, the NYC Rent Law underwent significant modifications. We drafted a synthesis of the 145-page bill that passed. Several new laws took effect in New York City following the passage of the “Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of… Read More

Smaller Home in NYC, Less Worry, But Lots of Work (2019)

A smaller home in NYC might equal less worry. Whether moving to a small single-family home or getting ready to enter an assisted living center, there are many things to consider before you start the real estate downsizing process. Begin… Read More

Buying and selling with a tenant in place (2019)

Buying or selling a property in New York City with an existing tenant is often more challenging than dealing with a vacant unit. It applies primarily to co-op and single-family homes and does not cater to investors. However, buying a… Read More

A Real Estate Broker did NOT reflect a $5mm offer (2019)

The story below is factual and accurate: A Broker did not reflect a $5 million real estate offer. I created Nestapple 2 years ago, and I have repeatedly heard, “I don’t like dealing with brokers,” “I’ve had a bad experience… Read More

Top 5 reasons to hire a real estate photographer (2019)

Photography is an art and can be used as a powerful tool when the time comes to advertise your property. We will list our top 5 reasons for hiring a real estate photographer in NYC. Today, the real estate market… Read More

Capital contribution fee in NYC real estate? (2018)

I decided to write a quick blog post on this concept after we encountered a new term emerging from the Construction Industry’s jargon. Several home buyers using NestApple asked us what a capital contribution fee in NYC is. Sometimes, people… Read More

Do-it-Yourself Real Estate Due Diligence in NYC (2018)

When buying property, it can feel like a lot is happening all at once. The attorneys finalize the deal, draft and negotiate the contract quickly. Then, the building’s board and management provide various “due diligence” materials. A wealth of publicly available information can… Read More

Seller’s Closing Costs Guide in NYC (2023)

Dear sellers, while we hope you are sitting on a profit and lots of gains on your equity, you may be surprised at how much you will net after closing costs and taxes. What are the closing costs for sellers… Read More

Mortgage Contingency Clause in NYC (2018)

Simply put, a mortgage contingency clause in NYC real estate ensures the following: Say a buyer wants to buy a home and applies for a loan from a bank. If the buyer fails to obtain a firm commitment for a… Read More

What is “post closing liquidity” in NYC Co-ops? (2018)

Several concepts are essential to understand when buying an apartment in New York. Calculating Coop post-closing liquidity for a mortgage in NYC is one of them. In summary, it means: after closing, how much money will you have available? It would be… Read More

The final home walkthrough checklist in NYC (2018)

You finally made it and can see the end in sight. You are hours away from getting the keys to your new place. The final home walkthrough in NYC is one of the last steps in the purchase process, and it serves as the… Read More

How to win a bidding war in New York City (2018)

NYC’s real estate market is one of the most competitive in the world for home buyers. For example, you think you have found your dream home on StreetEasy and attend the open house only to learn that you are competing… Read More