Husband left message about apartment & no one responded. It was listed as rented a few days later. Called, to see if there were any other available apartments, but number was disconnected & it looks like they've moved? read more

My boyfriend, my roommate and myself are all in our early 20s and often have a hard time renting apartments because we are so young - even though we're great tenants and very reliable. We had such a smooth time with this agency. We dealt directly with Amy and Dee, who were very nice, informative and helpful. Dee told us the first day we met her that they understand our situation would work with us to make everything go smoothly - and it did!! Quickest approval we've ever gotten and we're so excited to move in this week. We had a great experience with Brooklyn Real! read more

Having to use a broker is usually not ideal, but it's the reality in NYC most of the time. The things I look for in a broker are: 1. Knowledgable: they should understand the neighborhood and the apartments that they show off. Too many times brokers no nothing and show the listings blind. 2. Reasonable fee, up front terms: 15% is way too much, especially when you realize that haggling usually has to ensue. I hate haggling with people who are ostensibly trying to have my best interests at heart, so I look for a broker with a fair fee. 3. Friendly: There are way too many jerk brokers out there. My wife has been scolded, yelled at, and even threatened by brokers in the past, and that's unacceptable. 4. Shows me what I want to see: If I ask for a true 2 bedroom, I don't want to see studious. If I ask for light, don't show me basements. You get the point. Frances nailed all the points for us. She knew the neighborhood backwards and forwards (much better than we did) and knew many people in the neighborhood. She charges a flat 10% fee, which is reasonable in comparison to others, and was up front about it. She was friendly, and prompt in communicating with us, as well as patient and not pushy when we were deciding. She showed us the apartment we ended up renting, and sat with us through the signing process with the owner, as well as helped negotiate with him. I'd recommend her to anyone looking in Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill. read more

Highly recommended if you're looking for an apartment in the neighborhood. We worked with Frances to find a REAL two bedroom for less than we were paying for our one bedroom (a mythical beast!), and she was seemingly able to read our mind - showing us literally the perfect place right out of the gate. To give you an idea just how perfect it is: the landlord and her daughter's names are the same as my Great Grandmother's and Grandmother's names (classic Italian-American), the previous tenant is Russian (as is my wife), and so the house was decorated with tchotchkes from my wife's childhood, and the bakery on the corner (Caputos - one of the best in the neighborhood) has the name of my freshman college roommate. Coincidence? Sure. But still makes it feel impossibly perfect in a way that NYC real estate process never is (this'll be my 5th place in 9 years, and it already feels like home in a way nothing else has). It was such a pleasure using Brooklyn Real to find our next apartment - convenient, fast, thoughtful, connected to the neighborhood (she lives on our new block!), and all with a super reasonable fee that's proven more than worth it. We'd go back to Brooklyn Real in a heartbeat, but have no plans to need to do so anytime soon. read more

I was shown an apartment by Amy Leone with this agency. The apartment was great and fairly priced. What she neglected to tell me - despite me asking her a couple of times and despite me confirming the appointment just 2 hours before - was that there was an application out on the apartment. She seemed capable of getting my e-mails and getting on the phone the minute we parted ways, but she couldn't get the voicemail that someone had applied for the apartment? She was quick to rush me to a decision - to the point that I turned down another apartment. Now I find out that there's no apartment available - it's been rented. I've looked at places where there are applications out, but the broker is usually honest enough to tell you that. This is the first time where I felt I've been deceived, despite my attempts to avoid it. Avoid this broker (and presumably, this brokerage) at all costs. read more

Mary LaRosa Lederer is a friend and a realtor. Someone who knows the Brooklyn and Windsor Terrace communities and neighborhoods, and is someone I trust to give me straight advice and counsel when looking for a place to live. Thoughtful, generous with her time, and able to give a relative newcomer perspective on the ever-changing and challenging New York real estate market, I would highly recommend working with Mary to find a rental apartment, or buy or sell your home. She has great listings, all curated with a sense of comfort, durability, and a welcoming aura. When I first moved to NYC/Brooklyn in 2009, I had two weeks to find a place to live. My work was in Windsor Terrace, and I wanted to live nearby. One day I found a perfect apartment situated right on the Park. I was thrilled and Mary was a dream in securing that I knew what I needed to do to actually get the apartment, which in this case, included first and last month's rent and security. After renting in the neighborhood for several years, in the same place, I decided it was time to look for a place of my own. Mary again helped me with the hunt for a permanent domicile. Mary was always a straight shooter: she was clear on where the market was heating up, how much prices were changing, what she thought was well-priced versus over-priced, what she said she wouldn't buy (something that looked good but had mold issues) etc. She worked with me and my advisors over the better course of a year to find a place that is really best suited for me. She took into consideration my concerns, and had me look a little closer at a place I wasn't initially sure of, but fell in love with. From advising on the normal course of events, from offers, negotiations, Co-Op boards, management companies, and attorneys, to simply sharing advice on the Superintendent or building laundry, or, to simply making sure the walk-throughs were on-point, that everything was in working order, and that things were done "right," Mary is someone I would highly recommend to anyone and everyone looking to rent or buy in the area. read more

I just got off the phone with one of the partners at Brooklyn Real regarding a disagreement about damage to a property I'd recently purchased -- Brooklyn Real was the seller's agent. The disagreement was about damage to the property which I felt Brooklyn Real was party/mostly responsible for -- and I calmly, very non-threateningly requested for the partner at Brooklyn Real help cover the costs of said damage. Rather than greet this attempt at a compromise with any sort of professionalism (such as simply accepting or declining) the response I got over the phone was a vitriolic rant punctuated with a challenge: "Sue me!" before hanging up on me. A phone call (FROM her) minutes later included a second, equally nonsensical rant which included blaming me for making her cry (as if I can control another person's emotional state -- I only wish I had that super-power) and closing the call with an equally over-dramatic "do your worst!" before -- surprise surprise -- hanging up on me again. Needless to say, the nameless partner I had the displeasure of working with on the buy-side of this recent RE transaction acted neurotically and projected her own paranoid delusions into what should have been a civil, professional discussion. I certainly would never want someone with these qualities representing my home sale or any of my business interests. read more

Mary helped us sell our condo and we could not have been more happy with her and the Brooklyn Real team. We could tell she really cared, also jasmina who works there is very knowledgable and helpful as well, if you live in Windsor Terrace or Kensington I'd highly recommend checking them out, they service other hoods in Brooklyn too. read more

I was looking for an apartment for my family while I attend grad school in NYC. I happened to walk by this agency on the Sunday that I flew out to find a place and just walked in. Dee was there and took down my information and what I was looking for. I was able to come in the very next day to see a couple apartments that she had in mind. One of them was very close to what we were looking for, but we did end up getting a different apartment with a different brokerage. Dee was great to work with, very prompt in answering my emails and phone calls. I would definitely recommend her to others looking for an apartment in Brooklyn. read more

I'm not sure how they handle apartments or condos but for commercial spaces they don't know how to do that for sure . lack on communication and understanding really a disappointment ! Next time I won't waste my time with a small company like this you want real stuff done you call the big guys in read more

As a landlord and with so many options in the carroll gardens and park slope area, I couldn't have chose better than Brooklyn Real. They have gone beyond their responsibilities and catered to my needs. They have done research for me on a drop of a dime, given me quality tenants, and they will remember your name and everything about you. Thanks, Francis, Mary and Peggy. Keep up the good work!!! read more

Working with Brooklyn Real and Frances was a pleasure. In my experience, it has been rare to work with kind honest people in the NYC realty industry, but Frances was an exception. Please check out Brooklyn Real before you go to a Citi Habitats (the worst service and rates). read more

This review is long overdue as my girlfriend and I have been in our amazing brownstone for three months. We cannot recommend Frances from Brooklyn-Real enough! If you are looking for a place in Carroll Gardens or Cobble Hill, you should contact her immediately! She not only shown us the perfect place before it was on the market, but she then helped us ensure it was move-in ready. She's not the typical realtor who takes the broker's fees and you never hear from again. Frances genuinely cares and I promise, will find you the best places within your budget. read more

Frances Kopito listened to our concerns and requirements for a three bedroom apt in Carroll Gardens. She was very honest on rents, sqft and features. No hard sell. We are happy with our two bedroom, large bath and washer/dryer. Hope we never move but if we do, we are going back to Frances. read more

Brooklyn Real - Frances Kopito and Amy Leone - Real Estate Services Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Michael is, in a word, fantastic. His was the first (and should have been the last) apartment that we saw on our search. He was responsive, kind, professional and was nothing short of flawless throughout the search, from initial viewing to signing. I would not hesitate to recommend Michael to anyone, particularly those who have low tolerance for a pushy, intimidating broker. The place he found for us was on budget, brand new, perfectly located and he answered any and all of the inane questions in record time and with a smile. I would have a beer with this man. Five stars, A+, thumbs up, etc. for Michael and the entire Brooklyn Real team. read more

Frances and Amy helped find our dream home after months of disappointments and failed searches! We had very specific criteria to find a parlor floor apartment in Carroll Gardens or Cobble hill. We met many agents along the way. Some of them were merely unenthusiastic, many were down right shady and rude. So when we finally made it to Brooklyn Real and were treated with genuine kindness by these two lovely real estate agents we thought it couldn't get any better...but it did! During negotiations Francis really "went to bat for us" and helped convince the landlord to come down on his price. Thanks to her, we now live in a home that makes us smile every single day. We felt that paying her commission was worth every penny! This boutique agency has the inside scoop in the area and know many landlords. They are your insider guides to the neighborhood AND they have a reasonable fee of 10%, which you will be glad to pay given the service and listings you will have access to. I simply cannot recommend this place enough. read more

We met with the owner of the company to look at a place to rent. She seemed knowledgable, kind, and honest. We switched information and never heard from her again. Did not answer 1 phone call or email. Very disappointing. read more

I worked with Mary in the Windsor Terrace office of Brooklyn Real. She was organized, responsive, and fun to work with. She has lived in the neighborhood a long time, which definitely gave me more confidence. Overall, a great, painless experience. On the place I picked, the fee was only 10% - got to love that! read more

These guys were great. They listened properly and showed us exactly what we were looking for. Yes, there is a fee, but at 10% is 2-5% less than most. Frances was quick, flexible and efficient and a real pleasure to deal with. read more