New York Homeownership

How New York Homeowners Claim STAR Property-Tax Relief

Who qualifies for Basic or Enhanced STAR, why new owners receive a credit rather than an exemption, and what to do after closing.

Si Zhang (Sunny)

How to Read a New York City Property-Tax Bill

A plain-English map from market value to assessed value, exemptions, abatements, and the amount due.

Si Zhang (Sunny)

NYC Co-op and Condo Property-Tax Abatement: What Owners Should Check

The managing agent usually files, but the owner still needs to verify primary-residence information and the benefit on the account.

Si Zhang (Sunny)

Before Buying in NYC: How to Check ACRIS, DOB, and HPD Records

A practical public-record checklist for ownership documents, permits, complaints, violations, and housing-code history.

Si Zhang (Sunny)

Renovating in NYC: Board Approval, DOB Permits, and Contractor Checks

Why a building's alteration agreement and a city permit are separate approvals, and how to organize the work before demolition starts.

Si Zhang (Sunny)

Selling in NYC with Open Permits or Violations

How to find open DOB records early, decide whether to cure them, and avoid discovering the problem during buyer diligence.

Si Zhang (Sunny)

A Free NYC Deed-Recording Alert Every Homeowner Should Consider

What the Notice of Recorded Document program watches, what it cannot prevent, and why owners should still review ACRIS.

Si Zhang (Sunny)

NYC Mansion Tax & Transfer Taxes, Explained

In New York, closing a home sale triggers three separate taxes — the NYS transfer tax, the NYC Real Property Transfer Tax, and the progressive "mansion tax" the buyer pays above $1M. Here is who pays each, the current brackets, and a worked example.

Kevinn Li

Property Taxes and How to Grieve Them (NYC & Long Island)

Your property tax bill is partly a number you can argue with. Here's how homes are assessed, how NYC's tax classes work, and how to file a grievance in NYC, Nassau, and Suffolk — plus the STAR savings most owners forget to claim.

Jingjing Feng

NYC New-Development Tax Abatements (421-a and 485-x): How Much Do You Actually Save?

You tour a new condo, the carrying costs look almost too low — that's often a tax abatement. Here's what 421-a did, the 485-x program that replaced it in 2024, what to check before you sign, and how it hits resale.

Yan Xue Zheng (Christina)

What "City of Yes" Zoning Means for Buyers

In December 2024, New York City adopted its biggest zoning overhaul since 1961. Here is what "City of Yes for Housing Opportunity" actually changes — backyard units, apartments near transit, office conversions — and how it could shape supply, prices, and the blocks you are shopping on.

Heidi Liu · May 2026

How Congestion Pricing Is Reshaping Neighborhood Demand

More than a year after the toll to drive below 60th Street took effect, fewer cars, faster commutes, and a new premium on transit access are quietly redrawing the map of where greater-New-York buyers want to live.

Jingjing Feng · May 2026

Flood Risk and Insurance Before You Buy Waterfront

A water view adds charm and cost. Here is how FEMA flood zones work, how NFIP and private flood insurance differ, what drives premiums, and how to check any address before you make an offer.

Qian Niu (Emma)