Comments on: Pregnant and Homeless in Brooklyn http://www.nine-moons.com/2007/08/13/pregnant-and-homeless-in-brooklyn/ Tue, 02 Dec 2008 03:04:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Sam B. http://www.nine-moons.com/2007/08/13/pregnant-and-homeless-in-brooklyn/#comment-21217 Sam B. Wed, 15 Aug 2007 02:11:18 +0000 http://www.nine-moons.com/2007/08/13/pregnant-and-homeless-in-brooklyn/#comment-21217 Alysha, I recognize that, and am not critical of you; there was theoretically no reason you should know. I just wanted to make explicit that, in spite of the fact that the U.S. is a single country, the rules can be different anywhere you are. (Speaking of NY quirks, although not as horrible as your experience, by any means, I just paid a fortune in a broker's fee. Everybody I talk to thinks it's absurd, and that I should have used Craigslist. I looked, but, in NY, that doesn't work really well.) Alysha,
I recognize that, and am not critical of you; there was theoretically no reason you should know. I just wanted to make explicit that, in spite of the fact that the U.S. is a single country, the rules can be different anywhere you are.

(Speaking of NY quirks, although not as horrible as your experience, by any means, I just paid a fortune in a broker’s fee. Everybody I talk to thinks it’s absurd, and that I should have used Craigslist. I looked, but, in NY, that doesn’t work really well.)

]]> By: Mark B. http://www.nine-moons.com/2007/08/13/pregnant-and-homeless-in-brooklyn/#comment-21207 Mark B. Tue, 14 Aug 2007 22:42:23 +0000 http://www.nine-moons.com/2007/08/13/pregnant-and-homeless-in-brooklyn/#comment-21207 I could have suggested a friendly lawyer you could have asked about that, Alysha, but you never asked. I could have suggested a friendly lawyer you could have asked about that, Alysha, but you never asked.

]]> By: alysha http://www.nine-moons.com/2007/08/13/pregnant-and-homeless-in-brooklyn/#comment-21204 alysha Tue, 14 Aug 2007 21:34:14 +0000 http://www.nine-moons.com/2007/08/13/pregnant-and-homeless-in-brooklyn/#comment-21204 Yes, Sam, you are right, we should have done all of the legwork possible to find out what tenant rights were. But being totally new to buying, and naive to what people are capable of, we didn't. In retrospect, I am not sure we would have bought if we knew what we were in for. Even if we make a killing on the sale, I can't say it was worth it. So, thank you for your thoughts. My intent for writing all of it was primarily for my own documentation, and secondly for others to be more careful when they buy. Yes, Sam, you are right, we should have done all of the legwork possible to find out what tenant rights were. But being totally new to buying, and naive to what people are capable of, we didn’t.
In retrospect, I am not sure we would have bought if we knew what we were in for. Even if we make a killing on the sale, I can’t say it was worth it.
So, thank you for your thoughts. My intent for writing all of it was primarily for my own documentation, and secondly for others to be more careful when they buy.

]]> By: Sam B. http://www.nine-moons.com/2007/08/13/pregnant-and-homeless-in-brooklyn/#comment-21186 Sam B. Tue, 14 Aug 2007 16:27:09 +0000 http://www.nine-moons.com/2007/08/13/pregnant-and-homeless-in-brooklyn/#comment-21186 Although, as heartless as this sounds, when the seller says, "Well, the tenant's your problem, then," that's probably a good time to check with an attorney or a bank or a friend who understands the local landlord-tenant laws to see what your problem is. It is nightmarish, but that's the way (for various reasons) New York law is (roughly, those reasons seem to be intended to prevent landlords from flushing out unwanted tenants by turning off heat, water, electricity, etc.). I have friends who bought a brownstone, but, in order to get certain tenants out, had to buy comparable apartments for the tenants, help them move, and charge roughly the same rent they were paying in the brownstone. The lesson? Some places have laws that aren't in other places, and it's probably a good idea, where possible, to figure out the consequences of actions. (A few months ago, the Daily Universe had an article mocking the concept of buying and selling air rights. Basically, the student journalist couldn't imagine why anybody would think that air rights could be bought and sold. The Salt Lake attorneys the Church hired to buy the property across the street from Lincoln Center seemed to feel the same way, and totally screwed up the purchase.) But, in any event, congrats to your friends on buying! I don't think we ever will be able to. Although, as heartless as this sounds, when the seller says, “Well, the tenant’s your problem, then,” that’s probably a good time to check with an attorney or a bank or a friend who understands the local landlord-tenant laws to see what your problem is.

It is nightmarish, but that’s the way (for various reasons) New York law is (roughly, those reasons seem to be intended to prevent landlords from flushing out unwanted tenants by turning off heat, water, electricity, etc.). I have friends who bought a brownstone, but, in order to get certain tenants out, had to buy comparable apartments for the tenants, help them move, and charge roughly the same rent they were paying in the brownstone.

The lesson? Some places have laws that aren’t in other places, and it’s probably a good idea, where possible, to figure out the consequences of actions. (A few months ago, the Daily Universe had an article mocking the concept of buying and selling air rights. Basically, the student journalist couldn’t imagine why anybody would think that air rights could be bought and sold. The Salt Lake attorneys the Church hired to buy the property across the street from Lincoln Center seemed to feel the same way, and totally screwed up the purchase.)

But, in any event, congrats to your friends on buying! I don’t think we ever will be able to.

]]> By: cj douglass http://www.nine-moons.com/2007/08/13/pregnant-and-homeless-in-brooklyn/#comment-21148 cj douglass Mon, 13 Aug 2007 20:43:01 +0000 http://www.nine-moons.com/2007/08/13/pregnant-and-homeless-in-brooklyn/#comment-21148 Rusty = Rat Rusty = Rat

]]> By: alysha http://www.nine-moons.com/2007/08/13/pregnant-and-homeless-in-brooklyn/#comment-21139 alysha Mon, 13 Aug 2007 18:53:06 +0000 http://www.nine-moons.com/2007/08/13/pregnant-and-homeless-in-brooklyn/#comment-21139 CJ & Rusty, already know who you are. Rusty you gave it away quite some time ago to me. And no I won't slap you, unless we don't sell it. CJ & Rusty,

already know who you are. Rusty you gave it away quite some time ago to me. And no I won’t slap you, unless we don’t sell it.

]]> By: Rusty http://www.nine-moons.com/2007/08/13/pregnant-and-homeless-in-brooklyn/#comment-21137 Rusty Mon, 13 Aug 2007 18:35:38 +0000 http://www.nine-moons.com/2007/08/13/pregnant-and-homeless-in-brooklyn/#comment-21137 cj douglass, just keep your online handle and by the time she figures out who you are (if it's as long as it took me) then they'll be long gone living in Utah, far out of slapping reach. cj douglass, just keep your online handle and by the time she figures out who you are (if it’s as long as it took me) then they’ll be long gone living in Utah, far out of slapping reach.

]]> By: cj douglass http://www.nine-moons.com/2007/08/13/pregnant-and-homeless-in-brooklyn/#comment-21136 cj douglass Mon, 13 Aug 2007 18:32:18 +0000 http://www.nine-moons.com/2007/08/13/pregnant-and-homeless-in-brooklyn/#comment-21136 Thanks for the post. Stories like this remind me of why I have to believe in God. That justice will be served! Would it be fair to say that the large profit they will make on their place will soften the memory of this ordeal? Or would Alysha slap me for even bringing it up? Thanks for the post. Stories like this remind me of why I have to believe in God. That justice will be served! Would it be fair to say that the large profit they will make on their place will soften the memory of this ordeal? Or would Alysha slap me for even bringing it up?

]]> By: Susan M http://www.nine-moons.com/2007/08/13/pregnant-and-homeless-in-brooklyn/#comment-21135 Susan M Mon, 13 Aug 2007 18:25:32 +0000 http://www.nine-moons.com/2007/08/13/pregnant-and-homeless-in-brooklyn/#comment-21135 Holy cow. What a nightmare! I was riveted to her story. Holy cow. What a nightmare! I was riveted to her story.

]]>