The Top 5 most important things to know before buying an apartment in New York City.

Many are surprised by the amount of paperwork it takes to purchase a co-op or condominium apartment in New York City.

As a real estate broker in Manhattan for over 17 years, I’ve put together numerous condo and co-op purchase applications. Recently I photographed some of the applications and the pictures show a major difference between buying a co-op or condo apartment.

Dubbed “The Mayor of the Meatpacking District,” long-time resident, Roberto Monticello, shared some crazy stories with DwellingsNYC about things he has witnessed in the neighborhood.

A writer and director, Roberto also discussed his most recent project, a highly disturbing documentary expose about the hundreds of children that are trafficked annually from overseas to the tri-state areas of New York, Connecticut and New Jersey.

The Top 5 new developments located in Downtown Manhattan’s best neighborhoods—West Chelsea, Flatiron, Soho, Tribeca and the West Village.