About Dickler & Roth, LLP

About Dickler & Roth, LLP — Real Estate Law New York

When real estate law New York clients need a seasoned downtown Manhattan firm, Dickler & Roth, LLP delivers over 25 years of residential transaction experience from their offices at 19 Fulton Street. The firm handles co-op and condo purchases, townhouse sales, board representation, construction disputes, building violations, tax abatement matters, and bank closings throughout New York County. Attorneys Kurt L. Roth and Richard Dickler are known for fast, seamless closings — their team positions itself as a direct alternative to bank attorneys who lack urgency or local knowledge. Attorney Joe Varvara leads a team that includes skilled paralegals Diana Soldano and Damaris Espada, who are mentioned by name in dozens of client reviews. The firm is accessible to first-time buyers, experienced investors, and boards managing complex NYC transactions. For real estate resources across New York, visit ReachAttorneys’ Real Estate Attorney directory.

What Clients Say

Clients who have completed multiple closings with Dickler & Roth consistently return. Many highlight Joe Varvara and Diana Soldano as a team that proactively manages deadlines and communicates clearly throughout complicated transactions. First-time homebuyers say the firm made a confusing process feel manageable. Repeat clients handling both a sale and a purchase simultaneously report smooth, coordinated closings. People praise the combination of legal expertise, responsiveness, and reassurance that comes from working with an experienced team.

Real Estate Law New York — Practice Areas & Services

Residential Real Estate: The firm handles purchases and sales of co-ops, condos, and townhouses throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the New York metro area.
Board Representation: Dickler & Roth represents condo and co-op boards in matters involving building violations, construction disputes, and governance issues.
Tax Abatement Matters: The firm advises buyers and owners on NYC real estate tax abatements and exemptions that affect property value and carrying costs.
Bank & Mortgage Company Representation: The firm is experienced in lender-side closings, ensuring compliance and smooth title transfer on behalf of financial institutions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need a real estate attorney for a New York City closing?

New York is an attorney state, meaning a licensed attorney must represent buyers and sellers at closing. Unlike many other states, NYC transactions — especially co-op purchases — involve complex proprietary lease reviews, board approval processes, and title searches that require careful legal oversight. Having your own attorney, rather than relying on a bank’s counsel, protects your specific interests throughout the deal.

How long does a typical NYC co-op closing take?

A NYC co-op closing typically takes three to six months from accepted offer to closing date. The co-op board application and interview process alone can take four to six weeks. An experienced real estate attorney can prepare you for board requirements, review the financial documents, and help you avoid delays that push closings past deadlines.

What is a flip tax in a New York City co-op?

A flip tax is a transfer fee charged by some co-op buildings when a shareholder sells their apartment. It is usually a percentage of the sale price, profit, or original purchase price. The amount and structure vary by building, and your attorney will identify any flip tax obligations during the contract review phase.

Quick Facts: Real Estate Law in New York, New York

Manhattan Closings (Q3 2024): Manhattan recorded approximately 3,275 closings in Q3 2024, up 2% year-over-year, with sales volume reaching $6.52 billion — NYC Department of Finance — Rolling Sales Data
Signed Contracts: Signed contracts grew 8% year-over-year in Q3 2024, the fastest pace since 2021 — Corcoran Manhattan Real Estate Market Report Q3 2024
Average Price Per Sq. Ft.: Average price per square foot in Manhattan was $1,734 in Q3 2024, reflecting strong luxury demand despite broader pricing softness — Corcoran Group

What People Say About Dickler & Roth, LLP

Dickler & Roth, LLP, located in New York, New York, is a highly regarded law firm specializing in real estate law. Clients consistently praise Joe Varvara and his team for their exceptional professionalism, responsiveness, and ability to guide them seamlessly through the complexities of buying and selling homes. With a commitment to clear communication and a supportive approach, they have earned a reputation for making the real estate process not only efficient but also enjoyable for their clients.

Google Reviews for Dickler & Roth, LLP

Joe and his team were phenomenal. They were extremely fast, knowledgeable and helped us through every stop of closing on our house. We are so grateful to them!

It was a pleasure working with Joe and his team. They are excellent communicators and always responsive and insightful.

Professional team that did a great job representing us for our first experience buying a home. They really looked out for us and our experience was seamless. Thank you Joe and Diana!

They were awesome–responsive, fair, kind, and very efficient. I recommend Joe Vavara and his team (particularly Diana Soldano) unreservedly!

It was a pleasure working with the Dickler & Roth team on both the sale of my apartment and the purchase of my new home. I found them approachable and responsive. They worked diligently and efficiently ensuring smooth and timely transactions.

We’re so glad to have found this team! This was our second home purchase working with Dickler & Roth. Joe Varvara and Damaris Espada were with us every step of the way. They are professional and effective communicators who kept us well informed through the complicated NYC real estate purchase process. Joe even helped put us at ease during a stressful closing – he has a great sense of humor! We felt well represented and will certainly contact them for future legal needs.

We were referred to them by our neighbors who closed on a house a few years ago on our block. Joe and Diana (who we worked with on our home purchase) were simply amazing. Super responsive to all communication, kind, caring, empathetic, and very knowledgeable. I would recommend them to all my friends. Thank you Joe and Diana!

Joe Varvara and the team at Dickler & Roth made a complicated home sale easy thanks to their skill and hard work. I was extremely impressed with thier professionalism and willingness to proactively communicate with me throughout the process.

DR and I have worked together for years. Joe and Diana are extremely responsive and provide experienced and professional guidance throughout the entire transaction. Highly Recommend!

I can absolutely say after my fifth transaction, I HIGHLY recommend The Dickler & Roth Team. They are professional and at the table Joe will give you a level of comfort that he is in your corner, as well as his knowledge can keep you at ease when an obstacle comes along. I will be using them again in the future.

Joe Varvara did a great job of explaining the process and documents. Great job with the hand holding. Diana Soldano was fantastic keeping things moving and making sure everything was in order to keep the closing on track.

As a first-time homebuyer in NYC, I was fortunate to have Joe Varvara as my real estate attorney. The homebuying process is confusing to say the least. His responsiveness and availability to get on last minute calls and answer all my emails was a lifesaver. He was always ready to chat, providing clarity and guidance at every step of the way. Not to mention, I ask a ton of questions, and with no experience in the space, I was pleasantly surprised to find that he was always able to walk me through the details if needed. I really appreciated the level of patience he brought to our conversations.

Joe and his amazing paralegal, Diana, were very professional. They always responded to our inquiries immediately. It was a pleasure to work with them and I highly recommend them for real estate closings.

I am beyond pleased with the service provided by Dickler & Roth, specifically Joe Varvara! Joe is an outstanding attorney. His professionalism, attentiveness and compassion while dealing with the stress of selling a home is a welcome breath of fresh air. He answered any and all questions or concerns we came across. Diana in his office was extremely timely and detailed oriented. I appreciate both of them. I have no regrets on my choice to hire this phenomenal real estate team!

Thank you Joe Varvara and team for the quick and thorough consultation on selling and buying my new home. You all made my transition easy, you all demonstrated care and patient. I am extremely happy with your work. Thank you all again looking forward to working with you again for my future investments.

Dickler & Roth, LLP