Tag Archives: International buyers

Where Foreign Investors Want to Buy?

Where Foreign Investors Want to Buy
New York is expected to be the favorite city for foreign real estate investments in the U.S. and globally in 2011, according to an annual survey of members of the Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate. Washington, D.C., came in No. 2 both within the U.S. and global markets for cities where foreign investors most want to invest in the new year.

More than 72 percent of the association members say they plan to invest more money in U.S. real estate this year than in 2010.

“As the fear of a double-dip recession has faded, investors are becoming more enthusiastic about the prospects for the U.S. economy and are taking aim at real estate investment opportunities,” says James Fetgatter, AFIRE executive director. “However their strategy is more akin to a rifle than a shotgun. Except for multi-family housing, they are not scattering their interest throughout the U.S., but rather narrowly targeting it to New York City and Washington, D.C., to an even greater extent than in previous years.”

The top U.S. city picks among foreign real estate investors in 2011 are:
1. New York
2. Washington, D.C.
3. Boston
4. San Francisco
5. Los Angeles

International students’ parents buy Manhattan NYC Condos

International students’ parents buy Manhattan NYC Condos

Many of our foreign buyers are parents of International students from Europe, Asia, Canada, Latin America and other countries. Other than many career and investment opportunities, Manhattan New York has many distinguish universities and colleges that offers many international students undergraduate and graduate degrees. We helped many parents of international students from New York university, Parsons school of Art and Design, School of Visual Arts (SVA), Columbia University, the Jillard school, Cooper Union and other academic institutions.

Here are some options for international students and the parents to consider:
School dormitory: If the student is very young and new to New York, the first year or first 6 months they usually stay in the dormitory so they can familiarize themselves with the city. This option is usually more expensive than renting an non-dorm apartment in the school surrounding areas.

Renting an non-dorm apartment: This option costs slightly less than dormitory, although as an International student or foreigner, majority landlords requires extra security deposit sometimes up to 6 months of rent upfront to 12 months rent to establish relationship and security. If the student or parents do not have United States social security number, nor US credit history, the parents usually have to pay for one year upfront to obtain an rental apartment.

Buying a Manhattan New York condo or building: This is often the option for most of the international parents chose. In today’s market, there are well priced Manhattan New York condos for international students and parents to choose from.  The important thing is to establish the location, the price range and the time frame to maximize the Manhattan New York condo search.
Call us directly at (917)837-8869 to discuss your specific purchase as an international student or parents.

Buying a Manhattan New York Condo as parents buying for children, you should plan ahead, and speak with all the parties involved (not you and your child but rather the right mortgage consultant/banker, accountant and a knowledgeable Manhattan Real Estate attorney.)

  • Mortgage consultant: If you are planning to buy the condo all cash, that is always desirable when presenting offers to condo sellers. Keep in mind that you should have enough equity in case there is an increase in monthly carrying charge for this condo or other misc mishappens. If you are planning on financing this investment, be sure to speak to a local Manhattan lender that is familiarize with the market, the lending rules, and the mortgage products that may be suitable for you and your son/daughter.
  • Accountant: If you are planning to co-purchase the condo with your child, be sure to discuss the possible tax complication you may have with your accountant. Speak to your accountant prior to your purchase can be very helpful.
  • Manhattan Real Estate Attorney: In addition, speak to a local Real Estate attorney will be helpful as well since the local Manhattan Real Estate can also advise you what is the best way to structure the purchase and think about who/how should take the title of the deed.

Looking to buy a condo for your son or daughter? Fill out the form below and we will contact you promptly to help you out.

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You can also call us directly at (917)837-8869.


Other helpful information in buying NYC condos:


Can a Foreign National Buyers and Investors buy a Manhattan New York co-op?

Facts about True Foreigners invest in Manhattan New York Real Estate.

We work with many Foreign National buyers and investors from different parts of the world, we often have to explain to the buyers about the Manhattan New York  Housing Product (Condo or Co-Op). Often, we encounter the question….

“Can a Foreign National Buyers and Investors buy a Manhattan New York co-op?”

Co-ops are 90% or more of New York Real Estate. Co-op buildings are governed by Co-op Boards, the co-op board makes esseential decision about the building and set building house rules and policies. Among those decisions, Co-Op board of directors approve and interview every potential purchaser.

Foreign National Buyers or Investors to buy an apartment in a co-op building are not easy for several reasons:

  1. Co-op purchaser approval takes weeksif not months — and is a rigorous and notoriously difficult process. The majority of co-ops only approve buyers with New York employment, US income tax and excellent credit history in the US. The law doesn’t require a co-op to even provide an explanation for a potential buyer’s rejection.
  2. There are often restrictions on how much financing a buyer can use (for example, no more than a certain percentage of the unit price).
  3. Almost all co-ops restrict the right to sublet your apartment, which makes it unattractive to investors. Usually, co-op apartments cannot be rented out at all or can be rented out for 1 or 2 years after a certain number of years of owner occupancy.
  4. Co-ops regulate your use of the apartment in many other ways… including having guests or performing renovations.
  5. When selling (or renting it out when allowed) a co-op, your buyer will be subject to co-op approval as well, which reduces the number of qualified buyers and therefore reduces the price of your investment.
  6. There are often additional “flip taxes” on the resale of a co-op to discourage speculators.

All these measures are intended to protect interests of other co-op shareholders and make sure that a new buyer is financially stable, and will always be able to pay for monthly maintenance, improvements and expenses of the building. In addition, often residents of co-op buildings often view their building as exclusive clubs and want to make sure that the building attracts only a certain type of people who use it in a certain way that makes all the residents comfortable.

The purchase price of most co-ops is 10-20% lower than that of condos. Monthly expenses (maintenance), on the contrary, are usually slightly higher and include utilities, maintenance expenses, real estate taxes, and the corresponding share in the mortgage indebtedness of the building… if the building has a mortgage loan. In addition to the mortgage interest on their own loan, co-op shareholders can deduct their portion of the corporation’s real estate tax from their taxable income.

Still, co-ops can be attractive for those who would like to use the apartment as a primary residence or as a pied-a-terre in Manhattan . For the most part, co-ops are older (prewar) buildings with beautiful authentic features, fireplaces, high ceilings, moldings… and sometimes even their own gardens.

To Read More on Foreign Nationals buying Manhattan New York city Real Estate Click below links:

If you are looking for a Real Estate Professional who understands Foreign Nationals buying in Manhattan New York city Real Estate and are looking for the right investmentment, or are selling your property contact Eileen Hsu or Morgan Evans at (917)837-8869 or Email us, we will reply promptly.

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8 Union Square South-a popular Union Square NY Condo

8 Union Square South-a popular Union Square NY Condo

This Union Square NY condo was built in 2007, and selling very quickly, this 14 story boutique condominium is located at 14th and University Place. Built by the Claremont Group, 8 Union Square South is a full service luxury doorman building. There is an on-site gym, exclusive membership to Quintessentially for all of your concierge needs.

8 Union Square South is located at the crossroads of Union Square and Greenwich Village you have all of the best restaurants at your fingertips with views of Union Square Park.

The condominium apartments at 8 Union Square South have Valcucine kitchens with Sub-Zero refrigerators, Miele cook tops, separate wall oven, and dishwasher. Bathrooms feature limestone floors and Waterworks fixtures. Floor to ceiling windows and 10 foot ceilings with most of the apartments having open views to Union Square Park.

  • Prices start for the 2 bedrooms at $2.5 million
  • Prices start for the 3 Bedrooms at $4.5 million

Call us today at (917)837-8869 for updated and specific pricing of your Union Square condo.

For other Union Square location condos information, click on links below:

Foreign National Buyers and Investors buying Manhattan NY Condos

Foreign National buyers and investors buying Manhattan New York Condos are majority of our clientele, we often have to explain to the buyers about the Manhattan housing market, which consist of Condominiums and Co-Ops. Often, we encounter the question….”Can a Foreign National Buyers and Investors buy a property in a co-op?”

Co-op buildings are governed by Co-op Boards, which make every important decision about the building and set building house rules and policies. Among those decisions, Co-Op board of directors approve every potential purchaser.

Foreign National Buyers or Investors to buy an apartment in a co-op building are not easy for several reasons:

  1. Co-op purchaser approval takes weeksif not months — and is a rigorous and notoriously difficult process. The majority of co-ops only approve buyers with New York employment, US income tax and excellent credit history in the US. The law doesn’t require a co-op to even provide an explanation for a potential buyer’s rejection.
  2. There are often restrictions on how much financing a buyer can use (for example, no more than a certain percentage of the unit price).
  3. Almost all co-ops restrict the right to sublet your apartment, which makes it unattractive to investors. Usually, co-op apartments cannot be rented out at all or can be rented out for 1 or 2 years after a certain number of years of owner occupancy.
  4. Co-ops regulate your use of the apartment in many other ways… including having guests or performing renovations.
  5. When selling (or renting it out when allowed) a co-op, your buyer will be subject to co-op approval as well, which reduces the number of qualified buyers and therefore reduces the price of your investment.
  6. There are often additional “flip taxes” on the resale of a co-op to discourage speculators.

 

Here are few considering factors for Foreign National Buyers and investors buying Manhattan condos must consider before investing in Manhattan New York Real Estate:

  • Why do you want to buy in Manhattan New York? Is it because of the currency conversion rate that makes the purchase to be an attractive investment?
  • Are you aware of the purchase process? In Manhattan New York, until there is a signed contract by both buyers and sellers, there is no deal. Verbal offer acceptance can change any time.
  • How much do you want to ‘disclose’ about yourself? In Manhattan New York, unless you are buying a new construction from a developer/sponsor, there will be a condo application where you will have to disclose your financial information. The condo board package is must for all of the resale condo units/apartments.
  • Do you know the difference between Co-op, condop and condo? Co-Op is an unique products that is very common here in Manhattan New York housing market. Co-Op is 85% or more of the market here and it is not investor friendly as Condomiums (condos).
  • How much financing do you plan to obtain if any? In today’s market, foreign nationals have some limited financing options, individual foreign nationals must discuss their specific status and financial picture with our financing experts to see if they are able to obtain a loan.

As experts in working with Foreign National buyers and out of town buyers, we are constantly educating the buyers and addressing the misinformation and false assumptions that client bring from his/her home town/country, and culture in order to explain the options, alternatives, and their consequences.

Elegant Prewar condo: 25 Fifth Avenue-Lower Fifth Avenue Condo

Located in this prime Greenwich Village location at the corner of 9th Street and Fifth Avenue, 25 Fifth Ave is a rare pre-war Condominium building in distinguished and desirable “Gold Coast” of Fifth Ave.

This Union Square condo is a handsome, brown-brick, pre-war apartment building has a prime Greenwich Village location at 25 Fifth Avenue on the northeast corner at 9th Street.

25 Fifth Avenue is a 14-story, pre-war building was converted into condominiums in 2000. The conversion was thoughtfully completed blending today’s contemporary amenities while showcasing the style of Greenwich Village’s pre-war heritage.

The condominium apartments for sale at 25 Fifth Ave have wood-burning fireplaces, high ceilings, ornate and high relief moldings and casements, many apartments with windowed kitchens and baths and modern appliances in the kitchens.  A 24 hour doorman, fitness center, laundry facility, bicycle room and storage spaces complete the amenity package in the building

At 25 Fifth Ave this Union Square condo, you have at your doorstep everything that Greenwich Village has to offer with the convenience of living in a newly updated building.

  • One Bedrooms start around $1,000,000
  • Two Bedrooms start around $1,600,000
  • Three Bedrooms start around $2,900,000
  • Four and Five Bedrooms price upon request

For other Fifth Avenue or Union Square location condos information, click on links below:

Call us directly at (917)837-8869 or email us to find your perfect Manhattan New York Condo today.