Dongqin (Vivikin) Wen Flushing, Queens & Long Island real estate, in English and Mandarin

Yes. Vivikin works with clients in English and Mandarin Chinese (普通话) from the first conversation through contract and closing. You can reach her by phone, text, email or WeChat.

Queens and Long Island. In Queens she works in Flushing, Kew Gardens Hills, Fresh Meadows, Bayside, Whitestone, College Point, Forest Hills, Elmhurst and nearby neighborhoods. On Long Island, recent clients have bought in New Hyde Park, Merrick, Albertson and South Floral Park in Nassau County.

With a co-op, you buy shares in the corporation that owns the building, and the co-op board must approve you. Boards often set minimum down payments, income and post-closing savings requirements, and limit subletting. With a condo, you own your unit as real property: there's no board interview, renting it out is usually easier, and condos often cost more than comparable co-ops. Many apartments in Flushing and Kew Gardens Hills are co-ops, so it's worth knowing which one you're looking at.

A common rule of thumb is about 2% of the purchase price for a co-op and about 3% to 5% for a condo or house. Costs include attorney and lender fees, title insurance (condos and houses), the NYC mortgage recording tax on financed condo and house purchases (1.8% to 1.925% of the loan), and New York's mansion tax on homes of $1 million or more, which starts at 1% of the price. Long Island costs differ, so ask Vivikin for an estimate on any home you're considering.

In practice, yes. In New York City and on Long Island, buyers and sellers each usually hire their own real estate attorney to negotiate the contract, review title or the co-op's records, and handle the closing. Vivikin works alongside your attorney from accepted offer to closing.

Commissions are negotiable and are not set by law. Since August 2024, buyers sign a written agreement with their agent before touring homes; it states what the agent will do and how they will be paid. Depending on the deal, the fee may be paid by the seller, the listing brokerage or the buyer. Vivikin walks you through the agreement in English or Mandarin before you sign.

Yes. There is no citizenship or residency requirement to buy real estate in New York. Condos are usually the most practical choice for buyers based overseas, because co-op boards typically look for U.S. income, credit and assets. Mortgages for foreign nationals exist but often need larger down payments, so many international buyers pay cash. Speak with an attorney and a tax advisor about ownership structure and taxes, including FIRPTA withholding when you sell.

With a comparative market analysis: recent sales of similar homes nearby, the listings you would compete with now, your home's condition and features, and where the market is heading. You see the recommended price and the data behind it before you decide.

Yes. Her specialties include investment properties, foreclosures and property management. For investors, she compares rents, expenses and resale values; for foreclosure and bank-owned homes, she explains the timeline, as-is terms and paperwork before you bid.

Call or text (347) 972-5378, add Vivikin on WeChat by scanning the code on this page, email vivikinwen1991@gmail.com, or send a message with the form below. Share what you're looking for and your timeline, and she'll reply with next steps.