Real estate counsel for Westchester County transactions.
Residential and commercial purchases, sales, leases, and investment property in Yonkers and across Westchester County.
How a Westchester purchase usually works
In New York, attorneys commonly represent both buyer and seller in residential transactions. After an offer is accepted, the seller’s attorney typically drafts the contract of sale and the buyer’s attorney reviews and negotiates it before the buyer signs and pays the down payment.
The buyer’s attorney then manages the title search, the survey, mortgage contingencies, municipal searches, and the closing, where the deed and any mortgage are signed and later recorded.
Recording, title, and municipal records
Deeds and mortgages for Westchester property are recorded with the Westchester County Clerk. A title search reviews those records for liens, judgments, easements, and ownership issues before closing.
Municipal searches check the certificate of occupancy, open permits, and building or code violations with the city, town, or village. Older homes with past renovations often need these searches most.
Transfer and recording taxes
New York State imposes a real estate transfer tax on most sales, and an additional tax on residential purchases of $1 million or more, generally paid by the buyer. Some Westchester cities, including Yonkers, impose their own local transfer tax on top of the state tax.
Most mortgages are also subject to New York’s mortgage recording tax. Your attorney should estimate these costs early so they appear in the closing budget rather than as a surprise.
Rent regulation and investment property
Some Westchester municipalities, including Yonkers, have adopted New York’s Emergency Tenant Protection Act, which can make units in older buildings with six or more apartments rent-stabilized.
Investors buying multifamily property should confirm the regulatory status of each unit, compare leases against the rent roll, and review any open proceedings before the diligence period ends.
How the firm can help.
Westchester County real estate questions.
Do I need a real estate attorney to buy a home in Westchester?
It is customary in New York for buyers and sellers to be represented by attorneys, who prepare and negotiate the contract of sale, review title, and handle the closing.
Who pays the transfer tax in New York?
The state transfer tax is generally paid by the seller, while the additional tax on residential purchases of $1 million or more is generally paid by the buyer. Contracts can allocate costs differently, so check yours.
How can I tell if a Yonkers apartment building is rent-stabilized?
Review the building’s registration history with New York’s housing agency, the leases, and the rent roll. Buildings with six or more units built before 1974 in municipalities that adopted the Emergency Tenant Protection Act are the usual candidates.
Discuss your matter with Murray Legal.
Tell the firm about the contract, transaction, property, or dispute. Every inquiry is reviewed for fit, urgency, and jurisdiction before a consultation is scheduled.