The Co-op and Condo Insider

EES Content Studio
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The Co-op & Condo Insider is your trusted source for expert commentary led by advocates within New York City’s co-op and condo world. Each episode offers insights into the challenges, news, and stories that shape a community making up more than 20% of this great city’s residents.

  1. NOV 29

    The Unreasonable “Reasons Bill”

    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 premiums, and a public trail of sensitive financial data that can follow people long after a deal falls apart. We walk through the mechanics the bill demands, from affidavits to timing, and explain why a process that already routes discrimination claims to the NYC Commission on Human Rights doesn’t need a punitive overlay. You’ll hear how statutory “reasons” push boards toward rigid, bright-line standards, increasing denials and limiting compassionate discretion. We also explore the privacy minefield: when credit scores, debt-to-income ratios, and documentation discrepancies enter public court records, applicants and sellers clash over down payments, and buildings face suits from every direction. This conversation isn’t about hiding decisions; it’s about designing a system that respects fairness, protects privacy, and keeps housing costs predictable. We offer practical, better alternatives: standardized category-based notices, stronger training and mediation through the Commission, and anonymized data collection that enables oversight without exposing personal financials. With a hearing set for Dec 2 at 250 Broadway, we share how board members and residents can submit testimony, show up in person, and make their case. If you care about affordability, stable governance, and the people who volunteer to keep buildings running, this one matters. Listen, share with your board and neighbors, and help shape policy that protects both applicants and communities. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us: what would real transparency look like without sacrificing privacy or affordability?

    36 min

  2. NOV 20

    BRI CEO Tim Foley Discusses Major Co-op/Condo Issues and Westchester’s Misguided “Reasons Bill”

    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 and developers to co‑op and condo boards and the cost pressures squeezing every corner of multifamily: insurance premiums jumping 50% to 100% in some cases, reinsurance costs that won’t quit, and a legal climate that keeps carriers away. We dig into why the scaffold law’s absolute liability standard drives pricing, how fewer insurers mean less competition, and why a state‑backed reinsurance pool could steady the market. Then we connect the dots to climate resilience: targeted incentives for retrofits could lower losses, reduce utility bills, and ultimately help bend premiums down. On admissions, we break down how Westchester’s system actually works: strict timelines, standardized rejection forms, mandatory fair housing training, and posted financial preferences for income, assets, credit score, debt‑to‑income, and financing percentage. The intent is clarity. The impact has been complicated. When exceptions to those financial preferences trigger suspicion, boards retreat from flexibility, rejections rise, and routine denials can become months‑long investigations sometimes with insurers pressuring settlements even when the facts favor the board. You’ll hear real cases, data trends, and the practical steps that can make the process fair and workable: define objective baselines, document compensating factors for exceptions, streamline enforcement for technical errors, and protect privacy. If you care about co‑op governance, fair housing, and the hidden forces driving affordability, this conversation offers a grounded playbook for policy makers, boards, and residents. Enjoy the episode, share it with your board or building community, and tell us what you think. Subscribe, leave a review, and send this to someone who should hear it.

    38 min

  3. OCT 29

    Is Fannie/Freddie Blacklisting Your Building?

    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 can suddenly render an entire community “ineligible,” killing deals without warning. Stephen explains how associations ended up here, how conservatorship culture hardened lending standards, and why critical-repair designations, replacement-cost insurance requirements, and deductible thresholds are now stopping closings cold. Transparency has never mattered more, yet every answer on a lender questionnaire can raise new risks. For many boards, the pressure to prioritize safety clashes directly with the need to preserve liquidity and marketability. Real-world examples illustrate how quickly these rules bite. From Florida’s reserve mandates and six-figure assessments to a New York case where a few damaged roof tiles stalled dozens of transactions, the ripple effects are already reshaping local markets. We also explore the behind-the-scenes advocacy efforts pushing regulators toward more balanced approaches under new FHFA leadership. For board members, managers, and owners watching deals slow down, this conversation offers clarity and context. The rules are changing, the stakes are high, and communities that understand the terrain can protect both safety and the ability to sell. If you find this episode valuable, follow the show, share it with your board or managing agent, and leave a review with the one change you want to see in condo lending.

    40 min

  4. OCT 15

    Curtis Sliwa Commits to the Fight to Keep New York’s Co-ops/Condos Affordable and Alive

    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 late-night McDonald’s to a global volunteer network, then pivots hard into policy: how to put officers into moving train cars, rebuild effective homeless outreach, and get serious about everyday enforcement that residents actually feel. Housing takes center stage as we unpack Local Law 97 and the real cost of electrifying older buildings. Curtis makes the case that boards face impossible math without targeted relief, risking maintenance spikes, distressed sales, and cascading devaluation. We also dig into the hidden vacancy problem—from NYCHA units to subsidized apartments and privately mothballed rentals—and why predictable rules, faster turnarounds, and smarter incentives could bring thousands of homes back online. The lithium battery storage boom gets a close look too, with concerns about siting near homes and schools, safety protocols for first responders, and how to balance climate goals with community consent. Layered through the conversation is a call for transparency and trust: publish the hard numbers, take the tough reports, and stop gaming the stats. Curtis also opens up about radio’s enduring power—especially overnight—and why real debate beats echo chambers if you want a functioning city. If you care about co-op and condo governance, public safety, and practical urban policy, this is a frank, high-signal listen. Subscribe, share with your board or building chat, and leave a review with one change you want City Hall to prioritize next.

    36 min

  5. OCT 8

    REBNY's Zachary Steinberg Discusses How Advocacy Shapes New York Housing

    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 complex real estate ecosystem. Steinberg's political education began with Iowa's unique caucus system, where citizens physically stand with their preferred candidates and engage in persuasive dialogue—a process that taught him the fundamentals of coalition-building. These skills served him well during seven years working for Senator Tom Harkin, where he witnessed firsthand how bipartisan collaboration could produce landmark legislation like the Americans with Disabilities Act. What makes this conversation particularly valuable for co-op and condo owners is Steinberg's candid discussion of how REBNY navigates competing interests among its diverse 14,000-member base. "If it's good for the city of New York, it's going to be good for our members in the long run," he explains, revealing how the organization prioritizes policy positions that benefit the city's long-term health over short-term factional interests. The episode shines a light on REBNY's critical advocacy work for co-ops and condos, including preserving the co-op/condo tax abatement program against efforts to redirect those funds, developing practical compliance pathways for Local Law 97's emissions standards, reforming facade inspection requirements, and renewing the vital J51 program. Steinberg also shares practical wisdom about knowing when to fight legislation head-on and when to secure protective carve-outs for co-op and condo owners. For anyone interested in understanding how real estate policy gets made in New York—and why certain rules and regulations affect your building the way they do—this conversation provides essential context from someone working behind the scenes to shape the landscape of shared housing in America's largest city.

    37 min

  6. OCT 1

    Mobilizing Co-op Shareholders Against The Steep Economic Consequences of Local Law 97

    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 mechanics of electrification, we walk through the numbers, the engineering, and the politics driving one of the city’s most consequential housing and energy decisions. You’ll hear how retrofit costs can reach $40,000–$50,000 per unit, why some buildings with solar still face penalties, and what happens when a grid that’s not yet 70% renewable is asked to shoulder rapid electrification. We untangle the owners-vs.-renters divide created by broad exemptions, discuss council proposals that could offer real relief, and map out pragmatic alternatives—crediting measurable carbon cuts, extending timelines, and aligning enforcement with the grid’s reality. Beyond policy, we focus on people: retirees on fixed incomes, families with rising maintenance, and boards trying to do the right thing without pushing neighbors out of their homes. Betsy details SaveNYC.org’s ground game—flyers under doors, lobby tables, supermarket outreach, buses to polling sites—and a targeted message: vote to protect your home and force a fair reset. If climate leadership is going to stick, it must deliver carbon reductions without sacrificing household solvency. Join us to learn what’s at stake, how to organize your building, and where your vote can have the biggest impact. If this conversation resonates, subscribe, share with your board and neighbors, and leave a review so more New Yorkers can find it. Your home—and your city—are on the ballot.

    34 min

  7. SEP 15

    Soccer, Safety, and Renewal: How Francisco Moya Transformed the Neighborhood that Shaped Him

    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 Roosevelt Avenue's safety landscape as a City Council Member, Moya's journey embodies authentic community leadership. The podcast reveals his hands-on approach to governance, including a midnight walk with Mayor Adams that kickstarted a comprehensive neighborhood restoration program, reducing crime by 20% and revitalizing local businesses within a year. Moya's work with co-ops and condos demonstrates his practical problem-solving abilities. When Dorie Miller, a large co-op in his district, faced foreclosure, he brought all parties to the table and mediated a solution that saved residents—many of them seniors—from losing their homes. "When you save someone's home," a local pastor told him, "you're a hero for life." Perhaps most fascinating is Moya's 13-year quest to bring professional soccer to Queens. The soon-to-be-completed 25,000-seat stadium at Willets Point represents more than just sports—it anchors a transformative development with 2,500 affordable housing units, a new school, and 14,000 union jobs. For the boy who learned soccer in the shadows of Shea Stadium, this achievement completes the transformation of what F. Scott Fitzgerald once called the "Valley of Ashes" into a vibrant community hub. Listen now to discover how deep community roots, cultural pride, and persistent vision can reshape a neighborhood while creating pathways to opportunity for generations to come.

    38 min

  8. SEP 4

    A New York Story: Mayor Eric Adams on Co-ops, Safety, and the Future of our City

    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 childhood dyslexia that went undiagnosed until college. His educational path through public schools, including being bused to Bayside High School, exposed him to diversity beyond his neighborhood for the first time – an experience that shapes his educational policies today. As mayor, Adams has focused intensely on public safety, declaring it "the prerequisite to prosperity." He points to record decreases in shootings and homicides while acknowledging ongoing challenges with random acts of violence, mental health crises, and repeat offenders. His "upstream approach" includes innovative programs like dyslexia screening in schools (noting that 30% of Rikers inmates have learning disabilities) and employment pathways for formerly incarcerated individuals. Perhaps most transformative is Adams' personal health journey. After a devastating diabetes diagnosis threatened his vision and caused nerve damage, he discovered plant-based nutrition. "Within three weeks, my vision returned," he shares, explaining how this experience led him to expand lifestyle medicine programs throughout the city's hospital system. On housing – the crisis touching every New Yorker – Adams proudly notes his administration has broken records in affordable housing production. His "moonshot goal" of 500,000 housing units over the next decade includes 426,000 already zoned or in development – exceeding what the Bloomberg and de Blasio administrations accomplished in 20 years combined. For co-op and condo owners specifically, Adams expresses concern about unfunded mandates like Local Law 97, questioning whether enough consideration has been given to affordability impacts on working-class homeowners. "We need to examine how these rules that we make in the sterilized environment of a legislative chamber impact working class people on the ground," he reflects. Join us for this insightful conversation with a mayor whose personal experiences deeply inform his policy approaches and whose vision for New York embraces both technological innovation and basic human needs. From co-op boards to City Hall, Eric Adams offers a uniquely grounded perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing our city.

    37 min
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About

The Co-op & Condo Insider is your trusted source for expert commentary led by advocates within New York City’s co-op and condo world. Each episode offers insights into the challenges, news, and stories that shape a community making up more than 20% of this great city’s residents.

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  • Creator
    EES Content Studio
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Clean
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    © 2025 The Co-op and Condo Insider
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