Being safe with your real estate lawyer
As with other types of deals, doing business in real estate can be tricky simply because of the different styles of contracts, the assets involved, and the various clauses and contingencies. To protect yourself, you want a real estate lawyer on your side to review all documents and guidelines.
Having a lawyer involved when dealing with real estate is the best way to make sure you are getting the deal you expect, and to put contingencies in place that protect your interests, your liability and your assets.
Things this practice gets involved with
- Due diligence
- Financing
- Mortgage approval
- Contracts
- Title matters
- Inspections
- Closings
- Co-op approval
Matters handled include
- Sales
- Purchases
- Leasing and other transfers of real estate and real property
- Title to real property
- Landlord/tenant issues
- Property development
- Settlement of claims against property rights
- Zoning and land use
- Financing, mortgages, and foreclosures
- Real estate investments and related matters
Filing in Brooklyn
Deeds, mortgages and related documents for Brooklyn property are recorded with the New York City Office of the City Register through ACRIS.
Much of the Brooklyn housing stock is co-op and small multi-family. A co-op purchase means buying shares and a proprietary lease rather than real property, so board approval, the offering plan and the building's financials matter as much as the unit.
Brooklyn Real Estate Lawyer — common questions
How do I check what is recorded against a Brooklyn property?
Through ACRIS, the City Register's online system, which covers Brooklyn along with Manhattan, the Bronx and Queens. A title search goes further and is what actually gets relied on at closing.
What taxes apply when I sell in Brooklyn?
New York City Real Property Transfer Tax and New York State transfer tax both apply, and a mansion tax applies to residential sales at or above a threshold price. Who pays what is partly set by statute and partly negotiated in the contract.
What should I look at before buying into a Brooklyn co-op?
The offering plan, recent board minutes, the building's financial statements, the amount of the underlying mortgage, and the house rules. The apartment can be fine while the building is not, and in a co-op you are buying into the building's finances.
The answers above are general information about practising real estate law in Brooklyn, not legal advice, and do not create an attorney-client relationship. Court locations and filing offices are stated as of 2026; confirm current details with the court before relying on them.
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Consultations are free for every practice area, with no obligation. You will be speaking with Michael L. Walker himself.
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