All Forum Posts by: Matt Gogh

Looking for recommendations of reputable turn key companies in Buffalo. Thank you in advance!

Raul, thank you for the advice.

David, thanks for your response. I want to invest outside of my driving range, since NYC is a tough market. Agree with cash flow and location, of course, but how do you go about finding all this data nationwide so you can narrow down options?

If you can invest in anywhere in the U.S., how do you go about narrowing down your options and focusing on a few areas?

I'm looking for units up to around $150K but willing to invest anywhere in the U.S. Curious what your approaches are in finding good opportunities and narrowing down options. Also, are there resources you recommend where you can get helpful data?

Hi folks, I'm new here but have some thoughts. I am a NYC resident and bought my first condo here about three years ago. I started with using buyers' agents, but ended up closing a deal all by myself, giving the seller's agent the full commission. 

First, let me acknowledge that everyone here probably has their own set of biases given the different roles/ interests we have. And I'm not immune myself. As a first time buyer who has closed a deal without a buyer's broker, I lean towards the notion that real estate agent commissions are too high. I searched (through streeteasy, trulia, etc.), negotiated, got an offer, closed the deal. Then hired a lawyer to complete the process. I can tell you with my personal experience that it is 100% doable.

Now, I agree that perhaps an agent could be helpful. When I had one, he could run the comps, help me with pricing an offer, and give me some moral support! But I didn't feel (and later proved) that I couldn't do everything by myself.  

So to me, the question is, why is NYC stubbornly holding on to the high commissions? @Steven Kopstein raises some valid points about the complexity of the arduous coop process and some NYC quirks on real estate listings. And of course, there are 9 bad apples kicking the tires that every agent deals with, before landing one good deal. But that's true everywhere in the world, in perhaps every sales job. 

Let me offer my own, biased reason: The status quo is too entrenched right now and protecting their interests, as I would myself if I'm in their shoes. However, I feel this will erode slowly over time. 

Other thoughts very welcome.