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New York Porch working sheet

New York homebuyer address check sheet

Start with the street address and property type. A house or condo route begins with the parcel or NYC BBL and unit lot. A co-op route begins with the corporation, shares, and proprietary lease.

  1. Record whether the home is a house, condo, co-op, or another form; the records and ownership interest are not the same.
  2. For a house or condo, confirm county, municipality, any village, school district, special districts, parcel or BBL, assessment, exemptions, and tax bills.
  3. For a co-op, review the corporation, shares, proprietary lease, offering plan and amendments, finances, underlying mortgage, maintenance, and assessments.
  4. Ask the building office for open permits, violations, certificates, zoning, and known approval requirements.
  5. Check the FEMA flood map and the local floodplain office; ask the insurer and lender what they require.
  6. Use DEC and other map layers only for screening. If wetlands could affect the purchase or planned work, request the current jurisdictional determination; a blank map is not proof that regulated wetlands are absent.
  7. For a private well or septic system, identify location, age, records, tests, maintenance, and local health-office requirements.
  8. For an older home, plan the radon and lead questions; use qualified inspectors and current agency guidance.
  9. Have the attorney and lender confirm title, survey, easements, liens, disclosures, insurance, and closing conditions.

Working record

Street address
Property type
Parcel / BBL or co-op corporation
Municipality
School district
Building office
Flood zone / map date
Well / septic record

Use this carefully: Map layers are screening tools, not surveys or legal determinations. A lawyer, surveyor, engineer, inspector, insurer, or agency may need to confirm the result.

Official starting points

Full explanation: Home environment and address checks · Reviewed July 13, 2026