stacey wuyts A condo is purchased fee simple where the owner owns the unit. A co-op is purchased as shares in the corporation that owns all the units. If a condo is foreclosed, the owner is the only person at risk. if a co-op is foreclosed all the tenants are at risk.

As an agent, the selling process isn't all that different.  It is all in the form of ownership for the buyer.

No one likely can say it better than Ken Jones and Michael Setunsky 

Michael Setunsky gave you the answer....

We don't have co-ops here however, Michael Setunsky and Ken Jones both have very good descriptions of the difference

Michael Setunsky has your answer.

There are several similarities of sharing common areas and having an HOA but a cooperative usually has an application process to qunatify new people wanting in and if the board says no you cannot sell your unit.

Michael Setunsky provided the short version very well!

Michael Setunsky nailed this one!

They are different forms of ownership, and there are many local differences. You will have differences in the paperwork, and most of the distinctions are handled by the title attorney who does the settlement.  

A cooperative is personal property and your receive a unit of ownership that is not real estate. You better understand the differences if financing is needed.

Ken did a great job in the explanation

The difference is in the approval process for the buyer.

In our area, the difference in selling is in the financing available.  When it comes to owning, there are legal differences.  

There a few things to say about both...too many to thumbnail

Coops owners receive shares rather than a a title.. there are other differences as well and most seem to have been covered already.

Well on a Realtors end of the transaction...nothing is really different, it's on the financing where you may have a problem. Remember, when you buy a Co-op you are not buying real estate, but shares in the Co-op association. Many lenders will not do Co-ops (I do them),but in New York, Manhattan especially, up to 70% of all sales are co-ops,and financing there it not a problem. Good Luck...Joe

There are many differences; I would never buy a co-op.

no experience with a cooperative

As Ken Jones wrote for the umpteenth time!

Others have answered.

Coops -- you buy shares in a building. Condos -- you buy real estate. Coops have the right to approve purchasers, i.e. shareholders and to refuse a sale.

One difference is that some of the forms are different.

Easy, we don't have coops in my area...

Ken Jones has a good link for you - definitely a difference you'll need to fully understand!

One is a Stock purchase and a lease, the other is a Real Estate purchase.