Condo board interview

It's a building with 5 apartments. Wouldn't you want to meet your neighbors?

Not a legal requirement, however it is in your best interest to meet them.
They live above/below you, next door to you.
The "request" that you "received" today, was via e-mail, sent to you by the managing agent or a Board member?
This "meeting" will take place in the Buiding's lobby?

Go and say "Hello". Scope the neighbors/situation out.
Any specific, personal questions posed to you by them, would be out of the scope of such a "meeting".
Don't give up any personal info. Be cordial.
Say to each: "Nice to meet you. What apt. do you live in? How long have you been living here?"
"Good-bye/goodnight, it's been nice to meet you".
and then leave.

Excellent thank you

Your're welcome, seven7.
Enjoy your new condo apartment.

To keep the ball in your court:
Reply to the e-mail "invitation" you received, with a reply e-mail:

"I would be happy to take time out of my schedule to visit the Building and meet my neighbors.
I'm available (on whatever day is agreed upon - it's up to you.): let's say:
"7pm through 7:30pm."
That's enough for a handshake, with a few minutes to meet each of the five neighbors.
In and out of there.

strange. As a condo buyer, I would consider this a red flag.

Not strange at all. Condos have a right of first refusal. If the board doesn't like you, the building has the right to purchase the apartment. Would this happen, not likely. But in a small building, they certainly want to be sure there is a "fit".

a condo interview prior to a sale, which could lead to a condo exercising its right to buy the apartment instead... I would classify that as very strange. I would also not submit to such a meeting as a buyer of a condo, as the condo has no legal right to judge anything they could gather from a face to face meeting as to whether they are going to "allow" me to buy an apartment by exercising their right to buy the condo instead.

Should I bring flowers for the ladies?

Just follow each and every one of TrUth's commands, to the letter.

She has given you many many commands, but you must heed each of her orders.

Or she will tell you the date and time, with commentary.

Unless there is something wrong with you, meet with them. It's a good opportunity for everyone.

Will you be asking them what the rental policies of the condo are?

I just bought in a large condo building, and the board had to issue a waiver for its right of first refusal -- and for them to do that I had to fill out an application and provide some financial documentation, etc. I'm sure I could have blown most of it off if I wanted to (and I didn't sweat the paperwork details too much), but I wasn't bothered by it. No face-to-face meetings required, though.

As others have pointed out, they have very limited power given the unlikelihood of exercising ROFR, and you could easily blow this off. On the other hand, these are your future neighbors, and you don't want to start things off on the wrong note. They are just trying to confirm that you are a sane human being, and it's a great opportunity for you to meet them, too.

I am the first new buyer since the condo conversion
I'm sure that they are curious to meet me
I'm going to be fine, I guess i have to be keeping in mind the basic guidelines of a generic coop interview as that these people are not my friends (at least not yet) mostly listen almost never speak and dress in the conservative side

in a building that small its always in your best interest to meet everyone.

seven7: trollalanhart is making an arse of himself, as usual.

You'll probably go there after work on a weekday . If you dress in a suit for work, that's what you'll be wearing.

Strange .. you are buying a condo to avoid the COOP BULLSHIT. I would go "swaging" with my jeans hanging on my azz n baseball cap hanging on the side and go " WAT UP MUDAPHUKAS ? "

Small buildings are a whole different category of owning. They might be looking to get a feel of your level of expectations. They are likely self managed- and spend a lot of their time managing the building. You might have an owner or two that is looking to extract themselves from management responsibilities and are hoping the new owner will be fresh blood to help manage the building.

I've in the past owned both in big buildings and once, in a small self managed building . I prefer a small building . I have to say that being part of the decisional process used to give me somewhat a sense of pride I never experienced while owning a unit in a big condo, in fact I hated being so anonymous to everyone except for the doormen.

My previous purchase in a small building was a sponsor sale so I never had to be "approved" by the other tenants.
But from what I understand now it's not at all an unusual request, even on a condo.
Thank you all

A building that small, I'd want a meeting to see what MY future neighbors are like.
And a building this small will see you involved in many co-op'ish situations.
It's likely your all on the board.

I agree wholeheartedly with Gdale and Buster.