Tag Archives: Foreign National

Foreigner Buy NYC Condos-FAQ

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We as Manhattan Real Estate professionals, we work with many international foreigners wanting to invest in Manhattan Real Estate. In addition to educate foreign buyers about the maze of Manhattan Real Estate market, our specialty is facilitate the purchase to ensure the transaction is smooth and successful. Below are some frequent asked questions by our foreign buyers, the answers are formulated by our team of professionals (tax accountants and attorneys who also specialized in foreigners purchase in Manhattan New York.) These answers are general and not case specific.  To best address your specific needs, contact us directly by email or call (917)837-8869.


Can Foreign Nationals buy a NYC condo without having Social Security Number or US residency?
Yes, they can legally, but have to meet the NYC Condo board’s requirements for approval. At the sale of the real property, Non-resident aliens are subject to federal withholding tax at 10% of the gross sales price, and to a 8.97% New York State estimate income tax on the net sales proceeds (gains).

Can Foreign Nationals with work visa or student visa buy Manhattan Properties?
Yes, they can legally, but have to meet the condominium/coop board’s requirements for approval.  If they remain non-resident aliens at the time of the sale of the real property, they will be subject to the same taxes at the time of sale, as above.

If not, what kind of documents should a foreign nationals prepare to be able to buy?
In order for a Foreigner to buy NYC condo, they need to have  a valid passport and/or other official photo ID for identification purpose.

What are the Options for Foreign Nationals (non-residents aliens) to hold title for NYC condos: (these answers are information only, we are Real Estate professionals, therefore, before you make a specific decision, we recommend you to discuss with our team of attorneys and tax accountants for your specific case.)

  • Individual: Individual may be exposed to unlimited personal liability, and to estate issues, for instance, inheritance,  will probate and estate administration, when the individual owner dies.
  • LLC: Limited Liability Corporation provides insulation for members from personal liability, but will incur maintenance costs, such as  filing fees for its formation, annual franchise tax  and is subject to higher formation costs (higher than a corporation).
  • Trust: Trust is an unincorporated entity, cannot hold title by itself; title must be reqistered in the  individual trustee’s name.;  the individual trustee may be exposed to unlimited personal liability.
  • S Corporation: S Corporation is a legal entity, insulates shareholders for from personal liability, does not pay income tax itself, the income tax liability is attributed to the shareholders.  It is subject to filing fees for incorporation, annual franchise tax, etc.
  • C Corporation:  C Corporation is a full fledged legal entity.  It provides shareholders insulation from personal liabilities.  It is a taxable entity for corporate income tax.  Any distribution of after tax profit to shareholders in the form of dividends will be subject to income tax for the shareholder.  It incurs maintenance costs, such as filing fees for incorporation, annual franchise tax, etc.  Its filing fees are less than that for the LLC.
  • Limited Partnership: the limited partner’s liability is limited to his/her capital interest in the limited partnership, whereas the general partner will be subject to unlimited personal liability.  Limited partnership, like general partnership does not pay income tax.  The income tax liabilities are attributed to the individual partners. A limited partnership need to file the partnership agreement with the government.

*These answers are general and not case specific. To best address to your specific case, contact us directly at (917)837-8869 or Email at EileenHsuNYC(@)gmail.com and we can set up a confidential consultation.

If both husband and wife have green cards, will they pay tax similarly as above options?
Resident individuals owning real property pay the same taxes, but not subject to the gross 10% federal withholding tax and the 8.97% New York State estimate income tax on the gains at the sale of the real property.

Can the Foreigners avoid United States taxes?
The taxes cannot be avoided.  The non-resident investor must pay the above taxes at the time of closing of the sale, without the tax payments, the deed will not be accepted for recording.  After having paid the taxes, the non-resident investor may, but need not, keep the proceeds in the U.S. without additional tax (except income tax on the interest payment on such proceeds).

Are you a foreigner/international buyer and would like to invest in Manhattan New York Condos? Complete the contact form below, we will reply your questions today.

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425 Fifth Avenue-Fifth Avenue Condos

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425 Fifth Ave

A towering 67-story limestone and brick tower, 425 Fifth Avenue was built in 2003.  This 178 unit building is one of the tallest residential buildings in the Lower Fifth Ave/Murray Hill neighborhood.  Setting this building apart is that there are only a few apartments per floor.  With some of the premier views of the Manhattan skyline, including the Empire State building, East River and downtown city vistas.

425 Fifth was built as a luxury full service doorman building. Building residents have at their access a wealth of amenities including, a two floor fitness center, indoor pool, a children’s play room, public terrace & entertainment room, locker rooms, steam, sauna and treatment rooms, sun terrace, screening room, business and conference center, private storage space and wine storage.

425 Fifth Ave offers studio, one, two, and three bedroom luxury residences.  Finishes and features will include modern and updated kitchens including granite counter tops and back splashes, 9-foot ceilings, hardwood floors and in-home washer and dryers. 5 piece bathrooms including a soaking tub, custom vanities, Carrera marble tops and glass-enclosed showers.

Amazing views, spacious and luxurious apartments with the convenience of a fully outfitted doorman building make 425 Fifth Ave a building to be seen.

Prices for condominiums for sale at 425 Fifth:

  • Studios start at $600,000
  • One Bedrooms range from $875,000 to $1.3 million
  • Two Bedrooms range from $1.6 million to $2.8 million

Contact us or call (646)644-6929 directly today to find your dream Fifth Avenue condo in Manhattan New York.

Foreign National Buyers and Investors buying Manhattan NY Condos

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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 weeks — if 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.

Breathtaking views at 25 Columbus Circle-Time Warner Center

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Many of our VIP buyers love this condo building. Time Warner Center is located on the corner of Central Park south and Columbus Circle. This beautifully constructed, mixed-use, two -towered, glassed buildings replaced the old New York Coliseum on Columbus Circle and was completed in 2004/2005.

The Time Warner Center complex consists of retail space with shopping center, offices that include the headquarters of Time Warner, a jazz concert hall for Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, a five star Mandarin Oriental hotel, CNN TV studios and over 200 condominium apartments.

The building has several street addresses: including 25 Columbus Circle for the South Tower and also known as One Central Park, 80 Columbus Circle for The residences at the Mandarin Oriental hotel, and 10 Columbus Circle for offices.

Columbus Circle Condos Part 1 – Time Warner Center condo- As of August 2010: here are the market prices for 80 Columbus Circle also known as Mandarin Oriental residences (SOUTH TOWER) :

  • 9 active sales listings: $5,839 per ft² (median)
  • 28 previous sales listings: $4,051 per ft² (median)
  • 62 recorded sales: $6,575,000 (average price)
  • Two Bedroom condominiums starts at $5,700,000.
  • Three Bedroom condominiums starts at $18,000,000.

If you would like to receive specific Time Warner Center Condo information, please contact us at 646. 644. 6929 We can discuss specifically as to what exposure works best for you.

Other Time warner Center and Central park New York condos information:

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