First time buyer, co-op, bankruptcy, dog

Hello, I'm a first-time home buyer, 30s, looking to buy a co-op apartment in Harlem. I'm married and we have a medium-size dog (45 lbs). We've been pre-approved for a mortgage, have $75,000 cash for the down payment and closing costs. We make $95,000/yr (with my wife working part-time and doing a master's degree part-time). We want an old fixer-upper in poor condition in a small building (less... [more]

Hello, I'm a first-time home buyer, 30s, looking to buy a co-op apartment in Harlem. I'm married and we have a medium-size dog (45 lbs). We've been pre-approved for a mortgage, have $75,000 cash for the down payment and closing costs. We make $95,000/yr (with my wife working part-time and doing a master's degree part-time). We want an old fixer-upper in poor condition in a small building (less than 20 units). We both work for the NYC Board of Education and have stable jobs / work history. Clean criminal record. I declared chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2009 due to high credit card debt accumulated in 2008. How will this affect our chances of buying a co-op? Is there anything that I can do to improve this issue (the bankruptcy will appear on my credit reports until 2019). I can get a guarantor, if need be. Finally, we have a dog that is claustrophobic in stairwells. He's prone to getting panic attacks if he meets someone he doesn't know in tight spaces. Any advice here in terms of getting approved and/or getting evicted due to a 'head case' dog (he can bark, cry, and sometimes be aggressive in such circumstances)? Thanks for your advice, Harper [less]