Is this reason to walk from the deal?

It seems petty, but I'd say walk. It's going to drive you crazy if they don't change, right? Think of it like a boyfriend: if a nasty little thing annoys you before you even move in, you will want to kill the board within a year.

"low quaity rental" is an oxymoron.

Look up oxymoron.

he meant tautology. but lets focus on the question being asked...

You have to live with similar values to you. If the other people in your small building are ok with crappy hallways, and you aren't, you are starting out with a confict. You should not be a common shareholder with people who hold such different values. As they say, good fences make good neighbors, but you have no fence, you own the same building.

As someone who's been looking to buy an apartment for a while, I would really think about how easily you can find another apartment that you want to buy and how long you're willing to wait until you find a similar apartment. I don't know your circumstances, i.e., if this is a great buy, etc., but I'd really think carefully about how much effort you want to put into looking for a new place. I think there will always be something that drives you crazy since we all share such small spaces with our neighbors and it often seems a little like communal living in these buildings. It's exhausting and frustrating looking for a new place so I would weigh that factor if you're really happy with the apartment and the building in general. Anyway, best of luck to you.

newyorkgirl: I was in your shoes a couple of years ago - saw a lovely renovated apartment in a walk up, but I couldn't get over the fact that most of the owners were people who bought in the 70s or 80s for a pittance and did not want to spend any money on upkeep. I mentioned this to the broker, who told me that there was a tug of war between the old generation of owners and the more recent buyers to improve the lobby (which housed the garbage, believe it or not!) and the hallways, and in the long term the old generation would not have as strong a voice. I walked, because it would have been foolish to buy on the basis that something just might happen in the distant future. Good luck.

"What can i do before signing the contract to ensure this will be fixed by the board?"

LOLOLOLOL!!!!

Right -- because co-op boards take direction from people who aren't even shareholders yet.

of course i know the board wont take direction from me. but can i speak to them before signing the contract? or is that going to be deemed audacious/unreasonable?

Yes, that's ridiculous.

can't you ask if you can get it painted and recarpeted at your cost?

I'm sure THEY would go for that - don't think that's what newyorkgirl has in mind. Also, they would then brand her as a troublemaker.

And the board is certainly NOT going to speak to you before you sign the contract.(They will interview you after you signs the contract, to determine if they will let you in the building.

Yes, that is audacious, unreasonable, and totally unknowledgeable in NY coop real estate.

And, as on other threads, there are very different expectations in buildings between those who bought for almost no money, and those who buy now for a whole lot more.

What can i do before signing the contract to ensure this will be fixed by the board?
Vote when you get in the building. There are many possibilites:
1) 0fan :"You have to live with similar values to you. If the other people in your small building are ok with crappy hallways, and you aren't, you are starting out with a confict."
2) It's a small building and no one wants to spend the time to take on the project. One motivated person who is willing to do all the legwork can make a difference.
2a) How many sales have there been in recent years at "bigger numbers", vs how many people bought cheap, or worse are still sponsor owned RS/RC units? The more people who have already made a substantial investment in the property, the better chance you have
3) Pay for it yourself (batraa).
4) Read the board minutes and see if it's been discussd and what they were thinking about it.

30yrs - you have the patience of a saint.

newyorkgirl, are you saying the co-op has the money but just isn't willing to spend it? You did see the financials already, so you know how much is sitting there. Or isn't. The co-op may have just finished shelling out for a roof or boiler or something. Or the owners as a group just don't care that much about the hallways. Or the board may be burned out and looking for some fresh meat^H^H^H^H blood like you to take charge of a project like that.

Overall, though, it doesn't sound as if a small co-op would be a good fit for you.

One other thing. Don't make assumptions about other owners' capacity or inclination to spend money based on when they bought. My own building and board runs the gamut, and I've learned over 20 years here that the $250K and the $1500K owners aren't predictable at all. In fact, judging by the reaction to a recent assessment, those who paid more scream more.