A winning co-op offer, step by step

Fill out the REBNY Financial Statement

This is the standard Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) financial statement that every co-op board asks for: your income, monthly expenses, what you own and what you owe. The page adds up the totals for you and shows the finished form as you type. When you're done, click Share with Ian. He gets the PDF, an Excel copy and a private link to your statement.

It also works out your down payment, which you'll need for Step 4. Many co-ops ask for 20%, some ask for 25% or more, and you can always put down more or pay all cash.

Write your buyer bio

A short paragraph about who you are, written for the board. It's not a love letter to the apartment. It shows you're responsible, steady and easy to approve. Start from three bios that have won offers before, and have AI tailor one to you, this building and this neighborhood.

Get your pre-approval letter

You only need this if you're financing the purchase. Paying all cash? You can skip straight to Step 4.

A financing pre-approval letter shows the seller and the board that you can get the loan. Here's how it works:

• Using one of Ian's preferred lenders? Let Ian make the introduction. He'll set the stage and share the context up front, so you don't have to explain everything yourself. You can also reach out to them directly: click a lender below to see their phone and email.
• Already have a lender? Make sure they know NYC co-op sales well. Co-op financing has its own rules, and not every lender handles it. Then set up a discovery call.
• If the lender has an onboarding form, fill it out before your discovery call. They'll come to the call already knowing your numbers, which makes it a much more productive conversation.

These are Ian's preferred lenders. Each one has worked with him before and knows NYC co-op financing.

Provided as a courtesy, not a guarantee of services or outcomes. You're free to work with any lender you choose.

Email Ian a bank statement showing your down payment

Send a recent bank or brokerage statement as a PDF showing you have the funds for your down payment. Not sure what that comes to? Go back to Step 1: enter the purchase price in Step 1 of the form and it shows your down payment.

Remember to attach the PDF before you hit send.

Extra documents some sellers ask for

Different sellers, listing agents and buildings have different requirements. Some ask for these before they'll accept an offer, so it helps to have them ready. Ian will let you know if they're needed. Send each one as a PDF:

• Credit report showing your latest score, from Experian, Equifax or TransUnion
• Recent pay stubs
• Tax returns, usually the last two years