Teri Karush Rogers
Founder and publisher Teri Karush Rogers launched Brick Underground in 2009. As a freelance journalist, she had previously covered New York City real estate for The New York Times. Teri has been featured as an expert on New York City residential real estate by The New York Times, New York Daily News, amNew York, NBC Nightly News, The Real Deal, Business Insider, the Huffington Post, and NY1 News, among others. Teri earned a BA in journalism and a law degree from New York University. During law school she realized she would rather explain things than argue about them, so she returned to service journalism after graduation.
Posts by Teri Karush Rogers:
Q. My wife and I are legally separated but still own a condo together. She lives there now with our two kids.
She got onto the board last year and is trying to push through some expensive improvements to the building (playroom, roofdeck, lobby renovation) that I'll be subsidizing even though I don't live there anymore.
Can we both run for the board in the next election? And can I serve on the board even though I don't actually live in the building?
Q. Five years ago I had a financial setback after I lost my job and had some unexpected medical expenses. It resulted in a lot of overdue bills, debt collectors etc., but that mess is behind me now.
I've been fully employed and current on all my bills for over three years. I've also saved enough money for a downpayment on a studio or maybe a one-bedroom apartment. Do I have any chance of getting approved by a co-op board? What about getting a mortgage?
Q. My dog nipped a neighbor's son in the elevator. It was nothing serious--did not even break the skin--and in fairness to my dog (who has never bitten anyone before) the boy reached down and yanked my dog's ear first.
The child's mother predictably overreacted and is demanding that I muzzle my dog in the elevator or take the service elevator. She said she'll take it to the property manager and the board if I don't.
What are my rights?
Q. I was recently elected to my co-op's board of directors. Some incumbents were not re-elected, much to the chagrin of the previous board.
The re-elected board members are now withholding information and making financial decisions without my involvement. The president does not allow a board vote and even when we agree on an action at a board meeting, she may unilaterally reverse it later.
Q. Our dishwasher leaked into our neighbor's apartment and damaged her living room ceiling. Our place is fine. Do we need to involve our insurance company or just hers and offer to pay her deductible? Or are we better off paying the super to fix up her ceiling?
A. This would be easier to answer if your dishwasher had caused a fire instead of a flood, say our experts.
