Frequently asked questions

Five inputs: what the property would be worth fully repaired, the cost of the repairs to get it there, holding costs during that work, transaction costs on both ends, and a margin for risk. We show you all five for your property rather than presenting a number with no explanation.

Your neighbor's house was likely repaired, cleaned, staged, marketed for weeks and sold to a financed buyer who paid retail. A direct offer buys the house in its current condition with no preparation and no financing risk. Those are different products.

Yes, and plenty of people do. We do not ask for exclusivity, and using our number as a floor while you test the market is a sensible thing to do.

No. Assessed value is set for tax purposes and reflects assessment practice rather than what a buyer would pay.

None charged by us. No listing commission, no service fee, no evaluation fee, no fee for a referral to an agent.

Payoffs on any mortgage or lien, unpaid taxes and municipal charges, your own attorney's fee, and your share of customary closing items. Every line is itemized in writing before you commit.

No. If we want a professional inspection, we pay for it. We do not require you to obtain an appraisal, though for an estate or a divorce you may want one for your own purposes.

None. There is no cost to talk to us and no cost to decline.

No. Not for showings, not for closing. Take what matters to you and leave the rest.

In most of our purchases, yes. We confirm that in the written agreement so there is no dispute later.

Fire, water, mold, structural movement and long-term vacancy are all situations we evaluate regularly. They affect the number; they do not disqualify a property.

Yes. Leases run with the property and we do not require you to deliver it vacant or to remove a tenant.

That depends on title and, in an estate, court authority. We give you a realistic range up front and a firm date once title comes back. Any company promising a specific number of days before seeing title is guessing.

Later closings are usually easier to accommodate than early ones, and a post-closing occupancy period can often be arranged so you only move once.

We strongly recommend one, and in New York residential transactions attorney involvement is customary. We will never discourage you from having counsel review an agreement.

Before a binding agreement is signed, you can stop at any time with no cost. After signing, your contract governs, which is one more reason to have an attorney read it first.

Contact a HUD-approved housing counselor or New York's HOPP program at 855-466-3456 first. Those services are free and can protect options a sale cannot. We are glad to talk in parallel, but counseling comes first.

Usually not through a purchase, because there is no equity to convey. A short sale, deed in lieu or modification are the realistic paths, and a counselor can walk you through them at no cost.

Yes, once the Surrogate's Court has issued letters giving someone authority to convey. We work to the court's timeline rather than pressuring anyone to sign early.

We do not run direct mail campaigns targeting death notices or foreclosure filings. If you hear from us, it is because you contacted us.