Flat-fee real estate representation across New York — all five NYC boroughs, Long Island, Westchester, and beyond. From a $400K Bronx multi-family to a $10M Manhattan townhouse, the legal work follows the same framework. The flat fee tells you what it costs before any work begins.
Average quote turnaround: under 1 hour · Free consultation, no obligation
New York requires attorney involvement in residential real estate transactions. The work is the same in shape across the state — review the contract, run the diligence, coordinate with the lender and title company, close. What changes is the property type, the local cost structure, and the diligence specific to that location.
Whether you're closing on a co-op in the Upper East Side, a brownstone in Park Slope, a single-family home in Westchester, or a multi-family in the Bronx, the legal framework is the same. We negotiate the contract before you sign, run due diligence on the property and (where applicable) the building, coordinate with your lender and title company, and represent you at closing. The flat fee covers all of this — set in writing before any work begins.
Closing costs vary substantially by location even though the legal framework is identical. NYC closings are subject to NYC-specific taxes that don't apply elsewhere — NYC transfer tax (1.0–1.425%), mansion tax surcharge for sellers (0.25% on $1M+), and a higher mortgage recording tax (1.925% combined NYC + NYS). Long Island and Westchester closings skip these but pick up some local-municipal taxes (Yonkers' 1.5% transfer tax, for example). The NYS mansion tax (1% on residential purchases of $1M+) applies statewide.
For NYC closings specifically, our buyer calculator and seller calculator handle the full math. For non-NYC locations, we provide written estimates as part of the flat-fee quote.
Co-ops, condos, single-family homes, multi-family (2–4 units), townhouses and brownstones, new construction (sponsor sales and builder deals), commercial purchases and leases, 1031 exchanges, and refinances (including CEMA refinances where they save mortgage recording tax). We've handled each of these property types across NYC, Long Island, and Westchester. The legal work shifts by property type more than by location.
The earlier the better. Most buyers and sellers wait until after they've signed a contract or accepted an offer to call an attorney — by which point the most important negotiation window has closed. The contract negotiation period is when the legal protections that matter most over the life of the transaction get built in: contingency framework, deposit terms, default provisions, representations and warranties, post-closing obligations. Engaging an attorney before signing means those protections get written into the contract from the start. Engaging an attorney after signing means working backward to fix what's already executed.
Practical timing: as soon as you have a property under serious consideration (an accepted offer in NY, a draft contract circulating). The attorney can review the contract draft, negotiate modifications, coordinate with your lender, and advise on the timeline before you've committed in writing. New Jersey has a structural advantage here — the attorney review period gives 3 business days after contract signing to modify or cancel — but New York doesn't have an equivalent, which makes pre-contract attorney involvement more important.
The flat fee covers everything from initial consultation through closing. Specifically: contract review and negotiation, due diligence on the property and (where applicable) the building, communication with your lender and title company, review of all closing documents, attendance at closing, and post-closing follow-up if any items need handling. We tell you what the fee is in writing before any work begins. We don't charge for phone calls, we don't bill for emails, we don't add fees for revisions.
The fee scales with complexity. A standard residential co-op or condo closing prices at the lower end. New construction (sponsor sales) prices higher because the contract negotiation work is more substantial. Multi-family closings price higher because of the additional tenancy review work. Commercial closings price separately. We quote each transaction specifically, and the quote is what the fee is — no surprises, no overage charges.
For clients buying or selling property in New Jersey — particularly common for Northern NJ residents commuting to NYC — the legal framework differs in a few important ways from New York. NJ has a 3-business-day attorney review period after contract signing during which the contract can be modified or canceled. NJ has its own realty transfer fee structure (typically paid by sellers, ranging 1–1.8% by price bracket). NJ has a separate mansion tax (1% on residential purchases of $1M+, paid by buyer). NJ mortgage tax is much lower than NYC. We handle NJ closings alongside NY closings — same firm, same flat-fee structure — and many of our clients work with us on transactions that span both states. For NJ-specific information, see our article on how the NJ attorney review period works.
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Yes. New York is one of a handful of states that effectively requires attorney involvement in residential real estate transactions. Both buyers and sellers retain their own attorneys. The attorney handles contract negotiation, due diligence, lender and title coordination, and closing — work that the real estate agent doesn't do. The legal cost is a small fraction of the transaction and protects you on the most important purchase or sale most people make.
Most NY real estate attorneys charge between $2,000 and $4,000 for a standard residential closing, with higher fees for new construction, multi-family, and complex transactions. We charge a flat fee set in writing before any work begins — no hourly billing, no surprises. Free quote in under an hour from any location.
Typical residential closings complete in 45–90 days from contract signing. The variables are lender timing (mortgage commitment usually takes 30–45 days), board approval timing (for co-ops, typically 30–60 days), and any title or property issues that need to be resolved. Most transactions stay on schedule; some run longer when issues come up.
Co-ops involve the transfer of shares in a corporation plus a proprietary lease — no real property, no title insurance, no mortgage recording tax, no recorded deed. Condos involve real property — deed is recorded, title insurance is issued, mortgage recording tax applies if financing. Net closing costs typically run $20,000–$25,000 lower on a co-op than on an equivalently priced condo. Co-ops have board approval requirements; condos generally don't.
Yes. We handle real estate closings throughout New York — all five NYC boroughs, Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk Counties), Westchester County, and (where the matter fits) other parts of the state. We also handle closings in New Jersey. Use the location pages to find specifics for your area, or contact us for a quote.
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