BEST ANSWER
FIRST ANSWER
Hi Smo,
You can still do 10% down, but you have to work with a Mortgage broker/Banker who will guarantee that. Banks will not do less than 10% on a co-op. That is absolutely true. I would work with a reputable Real estate agent who can put you in touch with a Mortgage professional that they have worked with that has recently done 90% financing on a co-op. I do work with such people, but if you want to find other agents and Mortgage professionals that you are familiar with that is fine. Just make sure that they are honest and that they are not promising something that they cannot deliver on.
I would work with a larger Mortgage brokerage firm that has many banking contacts. I would also suggest Wells Fargo as one of the individual banks to talk to (make sure the Mortgage consultant that you work with at any bank understands what a Co-op is. I know that sounds silly, but I have run into many situations where they are completely clueles when it comes to co-ops). They are sufficiently solvent to be able to give you the loans you need as opposed to many of the other big banks.
The one thing to watch out for in every transaction these days, is that the underwriting requirements for all loans is changing every couple of weeks, so the amount of last minute paperwork that people are being required to do is ridiculous. To make your life easier, just expect that in the 2 weeks before you close you will be asked for a bunch of paperwork that seems unnecessry including documents that you already provided to them. This is just what happens now. you will get frustrated, but take a deep breath ad you will get through it.
Let me know if you need more help.
All the best,
Joe Greene
Fri May 15 2009, 09:46