How Long Does It Take to Close on a Co-op Apartment in NYC?
It usually takes two to three months to close on a co-op apartment in NYC from the time you are in-contract. However, there are a number of factors which can influence how long it takes to close on a coop apartment purchase in New York City.
Original Article: https://www.hauseit.com/co-op-closing-timeline-nyc/
How Long Does It Take to Close on a Co-op in NYC?
The co-op closing timeline in NYC takes two to three months from the time you have a signed purchase contract. The true length of time it takes to close on a co-op in NYC depends on a number of factors, many of which are outside of your direct control as the buyer.
If you are making an all-cash purchase or buying a sponsor apartment, it can take two months or less to close. A typical financed deal usually takes at least three months to close.
What most co-op buyers in NYC don’t know is that the length of time it takes to close is largely determined by the co-op board and its managing agent. In other words, submitting your co-op board application quickly or buying a co-op in an all cash deal does not guarantee a quick closing.
Working with a seasoned buyer’s agent on your co-op purchase can also increase the chances of a swift and smooth closing.Better yet, you can save thousands and reduce your closing costs by requesting a buyer agent commission rebate. Rebates in NYC are generally considered to be legal and tax-free.
Common reasons for a delayed co-op closing date in NYC include:
- The co-op board package is incomplete or contains errors
- It takes longer than usual to receive a mortgage commitment letter
- The managing agent is slow in reviewing the application and sending it to the board
- The co-op board only reviews applications once a month
- The coop has a lot of other sales which are competing for the board’s attention
- Scheduling conflicts delay the co-op board interview date
- The co-op board takes a long time to make a decision after the interview
- The seller or buyer are uncooperative and delay the closing
What Is the Average Co-op Closing Timeline in NYC?
It typically takes 8 to 13 weeks to close on a financed co-op purchase versus 7 to 11 weeks for an all-cash purchase.
Closing Timeline for a Financed Deal:
- 2 to 4 Weeks: Submit Board Application
- 4 to 6 Weeks: Application Review Period
- 2 to 3 Weeks: Interview and Closing
TOTAL: 8 to 13 Weeks
Closing Timeline for a Cash Deal:
- 1 to 2 Weeks: Submit Board Application
- 4 to 6 Weeks: Application Review Period
- 2 to 3 Weeks: Interview and Closing
TOTAL: 7 to 11 Weeks
How long does it take to close on a sponsor co-op in NYC?
It typically takes between two to three months to close on a sponsor co-op apartment in NYC. Sponsor units are desirable because they usually do not require the buyer to undergo the traditional co-op board approval process. Although the buyer of a sponsor apartment cannot be rejected, the buyer is usually required to fill out an abbreviated board application.
Sponsor co-op apartments typically have a shorter board application which takes less time for the buyer to complete and submit. If you are financing the purchase, you will need to secure a bank commitment letter before submitting your purchase application. Therefore, sponsor sales usually only close faster than traditional co-op apartments for buyers who are all-cash.
Similar to co-op sponsor units, condos also usually require the buyer to complete a brief purchase application. A condo can only reject a buyer if it exercises its right of first refusal and agrees to buy the apartment on the same terms as proposed by the purchaser.
PRO TIP: Sponsor sales (and new construction) have higher buyer closing costs compared to traditional private resales. The bulk of the higher closing costs come in the form of the NYC Real Property Transfer Tax (RPTT) and the NYS Transfer Tax. Whereas for a traditional resale the seller pays these taxes, for a sponsor sale these taxes are usually paid by the buyer.
How long does it take to close on an all-cash co-op purchase?
An all-cash co-op purchase in NYC typically takes 1.5 to 2.5 months to close. Although it’s more common for cash deals to take up to two months to close, it’s not unheard of to close within six weeks if you are buying into a smaller building with a responsive board.
The main advantage of a cash vs. financed co-op purchase is the fact that the buyer does not need to obtain a mortgage commitment letter before submitting the board application.
This means that a buyer can submit the board application as soon as possible without having to wait two to four weeks to receive a bank commitment letter.
The timeline for receiving a mortgage commitment letter varies by bank and the size of loan. If you are applying for a ‘jumbo’ loan, banks typically send the loan to two underwriters (instead of one) for a review. Your mortgage commitment letter can also be delayed as a result of the appraisal or the co-op questionnaire.
How long does it take to close on a coop after board approval?
It typically takes two to three weeks to close on a coop after board approval in NYC. Most co-ops will issue a decision within a few days of conducting the board interview. The closing date itself usually happens within two weeks of receiving official notice of board approval, although there is no law which says how soon the closing must occur.
The vast majority of co-op boards issue a decision the morning after the interview. However, there are always exceptions such as in our second case study below. In that example, the board took six weeks to approve the application after the interview.
The scheduling of the closing date itself depends on the availability of the buyer, seller, buyer’s attorney, seller’s attorney and the transfer agent. Because many individual schedules need to be coordinated, it’s always possible that the closing date will be scheduled for more than two or three weeks after receiving board approval.
How long does it take to get co op board approval?
It usually takes six to eight weeks to get co-op board approval after submitting the board application. It takes four to six weeks for the board to review an application and schedule an interview. Once the board interview is conducted, it usually takes up to a week to receive a decision.
The closing date is scheduled as soon as practically possible, which is usually within a few weeks of receiving the official notice of board approval. The timeline for co-op board approval varies from building to building and can also be impacted by the time of year, specific real estate attorneys on the transaction, and personalities of the buyer and seller, among other factors.
Original Article: https://www.hauseit.com/co-op-closing-timeline-nyc/
Disclosure: Hauseit and its affiliates do not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction. The services marketed on Hauseit.com are provided by licensed real estate brokers and other third party professional service providers. Hauseit LLC is not a licensed real estate broker nor a member of any multiple listing service (MLS).
