Notes from Donna

Straight talk about Long Island real estate

Short, honest reads for buyers and sellers, written the way Donna would explain it over coffee.

Selling

Why I Tell Sellers the Number They Don't Want to Hear

Overpricing is the most expensive mistake a Long Island seller can make. Here is how honest pricing protects your sale, your timeline and your net.

Buying

What Long Island Buyers Need to Know Before They Start Looking

Pre-approval, property taxes, attorneys and how offers really work: the things every Suffolk County buyer should know before the first showing.

Selling

Five Mistakes Long Island Home Sellers Make (and How to Avoid Them)

From overpricing to hovering at showings, the five most common seller mistakes on Long Island and the simple fixes for each.

Buying

The Home Inspection on Long Island: What Happens and What It Means

When the inspection happens in New York, what inspectors check, and how to handle what they find: repairs, credits, or walking away.

Neighborhoods

North Shore or South Shore? How to Choose Your Side of Long Island

Sound beaches or ocean beaches, villages or suburbs, commute and lifestyle: the questions that help buyers choose between Long Island's North and South Shores.

Process

What to Expect at a Real Estate Closing in New York

Who is at the closing table on Long Island, what you sign, what to bring, how long it takes, and how to protect your closing funds from wire fraud.