buying directly from owner

Make sure you've got a real good lawyer!

Yes a good lawyer is paramount in this case. Also if it is a coop see if the owner is acquainted with the board president or a prominent member of the board.Introduce yourself and in a very deferential manner try to ascertain what they are looking for.When you submit your board package make certain that every single penny looks right, and make certain it is easy to understand and read. But really the attorney is very important.Oh and also once you come to an agreement make certain the signing of the contract happens expeditiously on both sides. "Civilians" don't have the cynical instincts brokers have when someone is feeding them a line and coyuld easily waste their time "trusting" something the owner says

We FSBO'd. Each party should have a sharp attorney who specializes in NYC real estate. That's it.

When you submit your board package make certain that every single penny looks right,

What does that mean?

#4--"'Civilians' don't have the cynical instincts brokers have.."

Give me a fucking break, broker.

#7--clearly I was being tongue in cheek with the term "civilians". But it is true--natural human instinct is to trust someones word. However we have heard so many lies and evasions that something that may not concern someone else might raise a red flag to us. And #6--what I mean is that each sum you write on your application (balances, debt, different accounts, income etc) should be easily referenced on the backup paperwork supplied.Sometimes it doesnt line up precisely, and there are coop boards that have nothing better to do than to question the discrepancy of a few pennies.

clearly a broker speaking on the last comments. Stop scaring us and get a real job. I've been a broker and I know the lawyers are the ones who really does the work.

how much does a good lawyer charge for a transaction from start to finsih

#6, it means that you must be exact in your numbers and provide supporting documentation. In other words, if you state you have $49,281.54 in your bank account, you must include your latest statement that has that exact balance. And don't try to flub, be honest. And accurate or it will hold up the process because they'll just come back and ask you for add'l info.

#10 a good lawyer chargest abt $1700 - 2500 depending on the transaction (i.e. condo, coop)

#9--Rather astute of you to discern that I am in fact a broker, given that I pretty much said I was. Kudos. Furthermore, if you were indeed a broker and never encountered a deal in which you added any value at all during contract negotiation and prior to close then either you were blessed with a ride of super smooth deals or you were a truly shitty broker.
Now more on topic, though still responding to your absurdly hostile comments--The Op was asking for advice on how to ensure that his/her deal direct with owner goes smoothly. I gave some advice. How you could read it as an attempt to scare people is baffling. It is simply good advice borne out of many annoying experiences. Things happen--the owner may change his mind, or be talked out of it, or any number of things. It is just a truth in all manners of negotiation to try to wrap it up quickly, but on a personal level it can be easy to accept when your new friend (the owner) says "I am so glad that you will be buying my apartment! I will sign when I get back from florida 10 days from now!" and the advice is just that rather than saying "ok! have a lovely time!Use that sunscreen!" you instead say "oh, where are you staying, why dont we have your attorney fedex to you!"

Well, #9, "I've been a broker" - If brokers are so awful then you too must be awful. I just don't care for prejudice & sadly there is a lot of it on this site. p.s. I am NOT a broker.

IS there any particular place that one would look to find listings that are FSBO? (That cater to the manhattan market)