The Co-op and Condo Insider

A new fee on its own might not seem like a big deal. But when you layer it on top of everything a building is already dealing with, it adds up fast. We sat down with Eric Dinowitz to talk about what happens when well-intentioned policies meet the reality of co-op and condo budgets. From trash containerization to the ongoing demands of Local Law 11 and Local Law 97, the core question is straightfor...

Co-ops remain one of the last realistic ways to buy a home in New York City. The challenge is that many of the people shaping housing policy don’t fully understand how co-op living actually works. In this episode, we sit down with Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky to talk about that disconnect, and why it often leaves co-op and condo communities playing defense, even though they represent one of the most acc...

Local Law 97 is starting to feel very real for co-op and condo boards across New York City. When Jane Menton reviews building emissions reports, it becomes clear this is not just a long-term climate goal. It has the potential to create significant costs for buildings that are already operating on tight budgets. We talk through why 2030 is closer than it sounds in terms of capital planning, how pro...

How does a modest veterans co-op in Queens shape a lifetime of public service and influence the future of housing policy in New York City? In this episode, we sit down with former Assembly Member and City Council Member Mark Weprin for a candid conversation about legacy, legislation, and the long-term viability of middle-class co-op ownership. From his father Saul Weprin’s rise to Speaker of the A...

Think the building’s master policy will automatically replace your marble kitchen and motorized shades after a fire? In many New York co-ops and condos, that assumption is where trouble starts. We break down how coverage really works and why the decisions made before a loss often determine whether you are back in your home quickly or tied up in disputes for years. In this episode, we sit down with...

A unique multi-generational co-op community that refuses to carry a mortgage, a facade program you cannot truly budget for, and a name that can change your insurance premiums. Welcome to life inside Trump Village West. We sit down with general manager Igor Oberman to unpack what it takes to run a 1,144-unit, two-tower complex just steps from the ocean, where regulations, scale, and community colli...

A sweeping City Council proposal is about to change how New York’s co-ops and condos vet buyers. Intro 407 the “Reasons Bill” would force boards to issue sworn, detailed explanations for every rejection, with fines up to $25,000 and fee-shifting that supercharges litigation risk. We unpack what that really means for volunteers, applicants, and affordability: more legal exposure, higher D&O pre...

A transparency rule can change who gets the keys. We sat down with Tim Foley, CEO of the Building and Realty Institute, to trace how Westchester’s co‑op timeline and “reasons bill” altered admissions, sparked more investigations, and reshaped risk for boards, buyers, and sellers and what New York City can learn before moving forward. Tim walks us through BRI’s wide lens on housing from builders an...

A hidden list can decide whether a buyer gets a mortgage or a seller closes on time. Attorney Stephen Marcus Esq., a leading voice on condominium and HOA governance, joins us to unpack the post-Surfside lending landscape shaped by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Boards and managers across the country are discovering that insurance tweaks, inspection language, or a single line in an engineer’s report c...

If your building’s budget feels tighter and your block looks rougher, you’re not imagining it. We sit with Curtis Sliwa for a candid tour through New York’s pressure points—subway safety that breaks down between stations, quality-of-life standards slipping block by block, and a regulatory push that could leave co-ops and condos holding the bag. Curtis retraces the Guardian Angels’ roots from a lat...

From the cornfields of Iowa to the corridors of power in New York City real estate, Zachary Steinberg's journey reveals how policy advocacy shapes the buildings we call home. As REBNY's Executive Vice President of External Relations and Advocacy, Steinberg offers a rare glimpse into the inner workings of an organization that serves as both the voice and convener for New York's compl...

A homeowner’s budget can’t be an afterthought in climate policy—and New York’s Local Law 97 proves why. We bring former Lieutenant Governor Betsy McCaughey into a candid conversation about what the law really demands from co-op and condo buildings, who pays, and how a 1.4 million–strong homeowner community can reshape the mayoral race by voting as a bloc. From sticker-shock assessments to the mech...

When Francisco Moya received a call from the President of Ecuador on his first election night, the weight of the moment crystallized. Standing beside his emotional father just steps from his childhood home in Corona, Queens, Moya had become the first Ecuadorian-American elected to public office in United States history. From organizing a neighborhood watch at just 15 years old to transforming Roos...

When Mayor Eric Adams joins us on the Co-op and Condo Insider podcast, he brings something remarkably rare among elected officials - actual lived experience as a co-op owner and board member.  The conversation weaves through Adams' compelling personal journey from Brownsville and South Jamaica, Queens, to City Hall. Raised by a resilient single mother working three jobs, Adams overcame childh...

A simple snowstorm sparked a community transformation. When Brian Sokoloff found himself unable to get his car out of his driveway for four days due to broken snow removal equipment, he knew something had to change at Bell Park Gardens, the Queens cooperative where he'd lived his entire life. That frustration launched him into board leadership and ultimately a complete reinvention of the hist...

When vulnerable residents can no longer manage their affairs, where do co-op and condo communities turn for help? This compelling conversation with Queens Bar Association President Kristen Dubowski offers practical guidance for one of the most challenging situations facing shared housing communities today. Dubowski, who practices guardianship law alongside her role leading one of New York's o...

The complex world of co-op financing has become even more challenging in recent years, with Fannie Mae requirements creating significant hurdles for buildings, boards, and buyers alike. In this eye-opening conversation, mortgage banking expert Zahra Jafri pulls back the curtain on what's really happening behind the scenes when co-op loans get denied. Zahra, founder of Lynx Mortgage Bank and p...

Ever wondered what it takes to champion cooperative housing rights in the halls of power? Assemblymember Edward Braunstein pulls back the curtain on his remarkable journey from a 29-year-old political newcomer to becoming Albany's go-to authority on co-op and condo legislation. Growing up in Bayside, Queens, Braunstein never imagined a career in politics until opportunity knocked. His grassro...

Barry Grodenchik, from his childhood in Pomonok Houses public housing to his terms as State Assemblyman and NYC Council Member, maintained a deep connection to the communities he served, particularly the co-op and condo owners of Eastern Queens. Our conversation weaves through the major housing challenges facing New York's shared residential communities over the past three decades. Grodenchik...

Warren Schreiber's journey from Brooklyn to becoming one of New York's most influential co-op advocates reveals the hidden power dynamics shaping housing policy throughout the city. As a retired MTA veteran who stumbled into co-op living through marriage, Warren transformed from an ordinary resident to a formidable voice representing thousands. The Bay Terrace community, with its 18 co-o...

Ever wondered how a struggling 3,000-unit co-op transforms into a thriving community? Bob Friedrich, President of Glen Oaks Village, takes us behind the scenes of what host Geoffrey Mazel calls "the Glen Oaks miracle." When Bob purchased his apartment in 1986, he discovered a co-op in crisis – deteriorating buildings, financial mismanagement, and defaulted loans. As a young accountant at...

What happens when one-fifth of New York City residents share a common housing challenge but lack a unified voice? Geoffrey Mazel, co-op attorney with 40+ years of experience, launches the Co-op and Condo Insider podcast to bridge this critical information gap. Mazel's journey began at 28 when he became president of Glen Oaks Village, the largest converted co-op east of the Mississippi. That e...