Condominiums

A man builds a fine house; and now he has a master, and a task for life; he is to furnish, watch, show it, and keep it in repair, the rest of his days.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 – 1882)

New York City Mediation Law Attorney Alla Roytberg explains the unique aspects of condominiums.A condominium is another type of apartment; however, owning a condominium is very different from “owning” a co-op. In a condominium, owners actually own their space as real estate, as opposed to owning shares in the co-op building. They have a deed, the same way you have a deed on a house. When a person owns a condominium apartment, he/she owns whatever is inside the walls/unit and also a proportionate share of the common elements of the building. For example, if there are 4 apartments in the building, the owner would have a deed for their apartment and a 25% interest in the common elements in the building as well.

Just like with the co-op, the building has an offering plan. It has a budget and, depending on its size, they may have a management company and it can borrow money, if needed. Monthly maintenance payments in condominiums are usually called “common charges” and they relate to the unit owner’s proportionate share of the costs needed to run the building.

Because the person owns the apartment and has a deed, it is considered “real property” in the same way a house is considered real property. The owner of a condominium apartment would be responsible for the real estate taxes, whereas in a co-op, a unit owner is a shareholder in the corporation, so a portion of the real estate taxes of the building is incorporated into that unit owner’s monthly maintenance payment. In a condominium, the same way as with a house, you pay the real estate taxes that are allocated to the property that you own, which is your own apartment.

In a divorce situation, where a party or the parties decide that ownership may need to be transferred, it is much simpler to transfer ownership of a condominium than that of a co-op. Usually, the Condo Board does not have to be involved. It merely receives notice that the condominium ownership has changed.

Many condominium boards still maintain a Board application process for purchasers, however the only way a Condominium Board can reject the transaction, is by opting to purchase the apartment themselves. This is called, “the right of first refusal” and Condominium Boards usually simply issue a piece of paper, called “Waiver of the Right of First Refusal” to the parties, prior to the closing of a sale of one of their units.

Whether parties decide to sell or buy a Condominium in their normal daily life or transfer ownership during a change in a family structure, such as a divorce, death, estate planning, etc. it is critical to understand how condominium ownership works and to insert clear and effective language in the agreements that would govern the process.

Do you know anyone who would find this article useful? Please feel free to forward? I’d also appreciate feedback. Please share your thoughts in the comment box below.

allaAlla Roytberg
The Law Firm and Mediation Practice of Alla Roytberg, PC
www.goodlawfirm.com
Phone: 718-575-9479
Fax: 718-575-8163
Contact Us

Listen to your children!

"Split" documents what children say about their parents' divorce.

Мы говорим по-русски - We Speak Russian

Divorce Process Comparison Chart

Make a Payment
Payment Options

Contact Information
The Law Firm and Mediation Practice of Alla Roytberg, P.C.

Manhattan Office
The Chrysler Building
405 Lexington Avenue, 26th Floor
New York, NY 10174
Telephone: 212-582-5757
Fax: 888-293-7930
Map & Directions

Forest Hills Office
118-35 Queens Boulevard, Suite 400
Forest Hills, NY 11375
Telephone: 718-575-9479
Fax: 888-293-7930
Map & Directions

At Roytberg Traum Law and Mediation, P.C., we represent individuals throughout New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, and mediate nationally and internationally. Specific areas include: New York City metropolitan area (Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx), Upper East Side, Midtown East, Midtown West, Astoria, Long Island City, Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Jamaica, Middle Village, Rego Park, Corona, Elmhurst, Ridgewood, Howard Beach, Woodside, Jackson Heights, Floral Park, Hollis Hills, Westchester, Scarsdale, White Plains, Mamaroneck, Nassau County, Garden City, Hempstead, Suffolk County, Southampton, Greenwich. Copyright © 2021 by Roytberg Traum Law and Mediation, P.C. All rights reserved.