A CONSIDERED ARRIVAL
A considered arrival
By prior arrangement, coordinate luxury SUV viewing transportation and white-glove arrival, connecting the airport, hotel, sales gallery and neighbourhood visits around your schedule.
THE DAIMIAN DAI EXPERIENCE
New York, with
every detail considered.
PRIVATE VIEWINGS · PERSONAL ATTENTION
Thoughtful real estate service begins before the first viewing. Daimian Dai and Tru International Realty Corp. bring together bilingual guidance, curated property visits and local coordination for your New York journey.
Discuss your visit ↗Explore development support ↓Explore the buyer guide ↓
A PERSONAL APPROACH, AT EVERY STEP
From your first visit. To your next chapter.
Manhattan · Long Island · Queens
PRIVATE VIEWINGS, TAILORED TO YOU
Private viewings, tailored to you
Plan Manhattan, Long Island and Queens viewings around your budget, lifestyle and available time. Compare layouts, building quality, amenities, ownership costs and resale considerations with a clear sense of your priorities.
REPRESENTATION WITH CLARITY
Representation with clarity
Receive project guidance in English or Mandarin, with thoughtful offer preparation, negotiation and transaction coordination. Work alongside your attorney and lender through due diligence, contracts and closing.
A TRUSTED LOCAL NETWORK
A trusted local network
Connect with local legal, lending, insurance, accounting, renovation, moving and property management resources as needed. The relevant professionals deliver their services while Daimian and the team help coordinate communication.
BEYOND THE CLOSING
Beyond the closing
Continue the conversation after closing with rental management, property management coordination, resale preparation and future project comparisons shaped by your ownership plans.
REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT, FROM SITE SEARCH TO DELIVERY
Real estate development, from site search to delivery
Turn a development idea into a coordinated plan. Drawing on more than ten years of involvement in development and small-scale flipping, Daimian helps connect the professional team and coordinate decisions through design, approvals, construction and sales.
FOR DEVELOPERS AND PARTNERS
For developers and partners
Coordinate bilingual project presentations, client referrals, viewings, collaborative marketing and sales follow-up for Manhattan condominiums, Long Island homes and new developments in Queens.
Real estate development, from site search to delivery
Turn a development idea into a coordinated plan. Drawing on more than ten years of involvement in development and small-scale flipping, Daimian helps connect the professional team and coordinate decisions through design, approvals, construction and sales.
Define the project
Discuss budget, funding arrangements, timing and whether the goal is a new build, redevelopment or renovation for resale, personal use or rental ownership.
Find the site or property
Compare locations, site conditions and nearby transactions. Coordinate an initial professional review of zoning, potential building size and existing constraints.
Due diligence and feasibility
Coordinate attorneys, architects, engineers and lenders around title, surveys, existing use and records. Map acquisition, design, approval, construction, carrying and sales costs, with time and budget contingencies.
Design and team coordination
Connect architects and engineering consultants. Compare layouts, architectural concepts and specifications around the intended buyer and budget, coordinating design decisions with cost feedback.
Approvals and permits
Help track applicable planning reviews, building filings, revisions and permit milestones. Qualified professionals handle submissions under the requirements of the relevant city, town or village.
Contractor selection and construction
Help compare bids, scope and schedules. Coordinate owner–contractor communication and follow up on progress, budget changes and inspection milestones.
Completion and handover
Coordinate punch-list follow-up, inspections and documentation, including applicable final sign-offs, occupancy certificates (CO/TCO) or other completion records.
Marketing, sale or rental planning
Discuss positioning, pricing, photography, presentation and sales timing; coordinate viewings, offers and closing. For rental ownership, connect leasing and property management resources.
Small-scale flipping focuses on acquisition, renovation and resale, with the process adapted to the scope of work. Daimian and the team provide brokerage and project coordination; the relevant professionals deliver design, legal, lending, filing and construction services. Scope is agreed for each project; approvals, costs, schedules and returns are not guaranteed.
Discuss your development plans ↗YOUR NEXT MOVE
Buying in New York? Start with Daimian Dai.
Buying, selling or finding land to build your own home — start with clarity.
THE INFORMED BUYER
Your New York purchase. An informed beginning.
Manhattan · Long Island · Queens A practical guide for local and international buyers
01 / CHOOSING YOUR HOME
Condo or House: what changes?
Condo describes ownership; House describes a building. Even a detached house can be a condominium. This comparison uses a typical condominium apartment and a detached home owned with its land; the legal documents control.
| Consideration | Condo | House |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | Usually a deed to a unit plus an interest in common areas. | Here, a detached home purchased with its land; verify the deed, easements and boundaries. |
| Ongoing costs | Common charges, property taxes and insurance are typically separate; special assessments may arise. | Budget for taxes, insurance and upkeep; some communities also charge HOA dues. |
| Maintenance | Management coordinates common areas; governing documents allocate interior repair responsibilities. | Owners generally arrange roof, HVAC, grounds and pool maintenance. |
| Use & rental rules | Building rules can govern renovations, pets, lease terms and move-ins. | Local zoning, permits and rental rules still apply, along with any HOA restrictions. |
| Before you buy | Review finances, reserves, assessments, insurance, litigation and minutes; examine the offering plan and amendments for new developments. | Inspect the home, title, survey, occupancy approvals and alterations; review flood exposure, insurance and shoreline conditions for waterfront homes. |
| Lifestyle | Consider if building services, location and coordinated common-area maintenance matter to you. | Consider if privacy, outdoor space and independent living outweigh the work of maintaining a home. |
02 / THE COMPLETE PURCHASE BUDGET
What should you budget beyond the price?
Location, price, financing, sponsor versus resale status and contract terms matter more than the Condo or House label alone.
Taxes & recording
New York residential purchases of $1 million or more generally carry a buyer-paid 1% mansion tax on the full consideration. NYC adds higher-price supplements, shown below. Financing may also incur mortgage recording tax based on the loan and location; an all-cash purchase has no mortgage recording tax.
Title, legal & building fees
Allow for legal fees, title insurance and searches, recording, and applicable building applications, move-in deposits and working capital. Seller transfer taxes may shift to the buyer by contract, especially in sponsor sales.
Loan costs, prepaids & escrow
Financing may involve appraisal, origination, points and bank legal fees. Prepaid interest, insurance, tax escrows and closing adjustments also affect cash needed; not every item is a fee.
Representation & contract terms
Buyer representation compensation and who pays it depend on written agreements. The down payment is purchase equity, not a closing fee. Request an itemized estimate instead of relying on one flat percentage.
NYC combined mansion tax rates
For a typical entirely residential transaction, these totals include the state 1% tax and NYC supplement. The rate applies to the full consideration, not just the amount above a threshold. Below $1 million, this tax generally does not apply.
Nassau and Suffolk do not carry the NYC supplement; the state 1% mansion tax still generally applies from $1 million. Some East End towns impose additional local transfer or preservation-related taxes, so confirm the exact address.
Same $2 million residential purchase · cash exampleNYC $25,000 / Long Island $20,000
Mansion tax only, not total closing costs; assumes an ordinary entirely residential sale with no exemption.
| Total price (USD) | Combined rate |
|---|---|
| $1M–< $2M | 1% |
| $2M–< $3M | 1.25% |
| $3M–< $5M | 1.5% |
| $5M–< $10M | 2.25% |
| $10M–< $15M | 3.25% |
| $15M–< $20M | 3.5% |
| $20M–< $25M | 3.75% |
| $25M+ | 3.9% |
03 / INTERNATIONAL BUYERS
Can international buyers finance a New York home?
Some lenders offer foreign-national mortgages, including programs that do not require a US credit history. Approval depends on the lender, borrower and property; eligibility is never automatic.
What to prepare
Start with identification, residence details, income and asset evidence, bank statements and down-payment sources. Ask the lender for a written checklist covering foreign credit records, translations and any additional documents.
What to ask the lender
Confirm down payment, reserves, rate and APR, fees, treatment of overseas income, funding requirements and permitted occupancy. One bank’s terms are not a market-wide standard.
Program reference: HSBC Bank USA’s public international-borrower information. This example is not an endorsement, affiliation or loan commitment.
04 / FROM SEARCH TO CLOSING
Six steps toward an informed purchase
Define the use
Primary residence, second home or rental use can change financing, building eligibility and carrying costs. Separate the down payment, closing costs and post-closing reserves.
Arrange counsel & prequalification
Engage New York real estate counsel early. Confirm your financing budget and eligible property types; preapproval is not a final funding commitment.
Investigate before signing
Review the property, building and title with counsel and an inspector. Understand the contract’s financing contingencies, deposit terms and closing deadlines.
Review financing & cash to close
Appraisal, building review and source of funds can affect approval. For mortgages covered by Closing Disclosure rules, the disclosure must generally arrive at least three business days before closing.
Walk through & verify the wire
Check the property and agreed repairs before closing. Verify wire instructions with counsel or the closing agent using a previously trusted number, rather than a new email alone.
Prepare for ownership
Arrange insurance, utilities, building registration and maintenance. Price flood coverage for waterfront homes; check rental permissions, lease restrictions, vacancy and management costs.
YOUR NEXT STEP
Turn the information into your next move.
Share your budget, preferred area, intended use and financing needs with Daimian Dai to discuss property options, viewings and the next professional consultations.
References & review date
Reviewed September 11, 2026. General educational information, not transaction-specific legal, tax or lending advice. Costs, eligibility and rules can change; confirm the applicable requirements with your lender and professional advisers.
- Town of Southampton · Community Preservation Fund and local transfer tax
- NY Department of Taxation and Finance · Real estate transfer tax
- NY Department of Taxation and Finance · TSB-M-19(1)R NYC supplemental rates
- NYC Department of Finance · Mortgage recording tax
- NY Attorney General · Before you buy a co-op or condo
- NY Attorney General · Cooperatives
- HSBC Bank USA · International borrowers
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau · Closing Disclosure and costs
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau · Disclosure timing
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau · Closing wire verification
- NYC Department of Finance · Non-primary residence surcharge
- Internal Revenue Service · FIRPTA withholding
DAIMIAN DAI · Tru International Realty Corp.
“Your time matters. Every visit should move you closer to an informed decision.”
Tell us your preferred areas, budget, timing and what matters most to you.
LET’S FIND YOUR NEW YORK
Your next chapter.
Let’s talk.
Buying or selling in Manhattan, Long Island or Queens? Share your plans by phone, WhatsApp, WeChat or email. Consultations and office visits are by appointment, confirmed together. Service in English and Mandarin.
(732) 998-7777 ↗info@ddai7777.comWhatsApp · +1 732-998-7777 ↗
GREAT NECK
98 Cuttermill Road, Suite 343, Great Neck, NY 11021MANHATTAN
142 W 57th St, Suite 1009, New York, NY 10019
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