Teri Karush Rogers

Q. My neighbor and I are thinking of offering our apartments (we each have a one-bedroom) for sale together as a possible combination. Will we get more from them together than if we sold them apart and if so how much?

Any tips for marketing them? For instance, is it worth it to hire an architect to draw up some possible ways to combine our apartments?   

Q. Is there any downside to buying an apartment with a renter in place, beyond waiting until the lease expires? Should I expect a discount off of the sales price and if so, how much?

A.  Much of the answer depends on whether you plan to live in the apartment yourself or rent it out as an investment, as well as on what type of tenant is currently in place, say our experts.

Q. My co-op building has been hit hard in recent years by property taxes on top of a huge elevator replacement project. Our maintenance charges are already on the high side and we are trying to avoid another increase or an assessment.  

Can you suggest some other alternatives for raising money that would be less painful?

For example, one idea that has been suggested is dividing up our undeveloped roof area and selling it to shareholders.   

Whether it’s a roof deck, terrace, patio or backyard, private outdoor space is among the most coveted amenities in New York City real estate.

But along with the fun, sun (hopefully) and bragging rights, an outdoor space of one’s own presents some additional risks to property and people.

"Fortunately, areas immediately contiguous to your apartment are generally considered part of your apartment for insurance purposes," says New York City apartment insurance broker Jeff Schneider of Gotham Brokerage.