REAL ESTATE AND CONDOMINIUM/COOP PRACTICE

GENERAL REAL ESTATE PRACTICE

The Law Office of Joel S. Charleston has extensive knowledge and experience representing buyers, sellers, lessors, and lessees in a broad array of real estate transactions. Examples of the types of documents we have prepared, and/or reviewed, and/or negotiated are:

Contracts to buy or sell properties

Commercial and residential leases

Mortgage Commitments

Mortgages

Promissory Notes

Security Agreements

Real Estate Title Reports

Property Appraisals

Surveys

Pre-Closing Occupancy Agreements

Post-Closing Agreements

CO-OP/CONDOMINIUM PRACTICE

A subspecialty in the real estate component of the law firm's practice is acting as the General Counsel for Cooperative Corporations and Condominiums throughout the Metro New York area. We work in partnership with Co-op Boards and Condo Managers to maintain effective business practices, reduce their potential exposure to litigation, and protect their legal interests. Our strong and trusting relationships with our Co-op Boards and Condo Managers is why this office has continuously represented many of them for more than 20 years. Our full-service approach includes:

Attending Board and Shareholder meetings

Protecting the Co-op/Condo's interests during apartment/unit sales

Processing purchase applications and conducting background checks on potential buyers

Overseeing individual Shareholder/Unitholder renovations of apartments/units to protect the interests and physical plant of the Co-op/Condo

Reviewing and negotiating contracts with outside service providers

Negotiating contracts for revenue generating partnerships

Providing general legal advice to the Co-op Board/Condo Manager

Co-op/Condo disputes often involve highly charged emotional issues since they involve disputes between "neighbors" arguing about issues relating to their homes. It is, therefore, crucial to resolve issues in an appropriate and respectful manner. In an attempt to avoid litigation, our law firm takes a personalized approach aimed at helping our clients resolve legal matters between disputing "neighbors" in a non-confrontational manner.
While recognizing the importance of alternative dispute resolution with respect to co-op/condo disputes, litigation may provide an essential means of dispute resolution when parties are at an impasse. The Law Office of Joel S. Charleston has experience successfully resolving litigations arising out of real estate transactions, complex environmental spills, property damages, landlord-tenant actions, and foreclosure proceedings. Specifically, we have successfully commenced and prosecuted litigation:

Against delinquent Shareholders/Unitholders
Against service providers and/or adjacent landowners and/or their contractors whose activities have damaged the Co-op/Condo