Much of the advice that goes with purchasing a condo also applies to buying a co-op, but there are some other key points to keep in mind as well.

1. Ask co-op members and supers which agents are most active in selling the co-op you’re interested in. Create a short list of possible agents and interview them to find one you feel most comfortable with.

2. Sign a buyer’s agency agreement with the agent you’ve selected. You want the agent to take you seriously and work to find what you’re looking for. However, add a clause that if you’re unhappy you can cancel the agreement. Also, make sure the clause that says the agent is entitled to a commission if you buy a unit that agent showed you is one month or less.

3. Get a copy of the co-ops by-laws, rules, and financial statements. Do some homework and make sure there is no deferred maintenance or other items what will cost you in the near future.

4. Talk to several neighbors around the unit you’re interested in; get a lay of the land to make sure there are no sound problems or other issues you wouldn’t like to live with.

5. Consider getting a professional home inspection to find out if there are expensive problems lurking in dark places that can affect your investment. 6. Finally, do your homework on the current sales statistics of the building so if you decide to sell, you won’t have to take a loss or spend months finding a buyer.