Great experience. Ira worked hard to get us approved, and after a month living in the apartment, I'm loving it. I know the reviews might make you feel hesitant, but it's legitimate read more

Do yourself a BiG favor, don't waste Your MONEY and Your Time there any minute Burning $100 plus 1 month deposit and big shit time time time call text do anything they don't give a dumb about you ..........etc time time time ...................... waste time read more

My girlfriend and I had a relatively easy and smooth experience with Ira at Brooklyn Rentals. I was a bit spooked by a lot of the reviews here, but needed to be out of my home by Jan 1 and options were limited. Ira got our file approved within 24 hours, tho due to New Years and the weekend right after, he was very honest about us not being able to move in til Monday the 5th. Not ideal, but honesty and communication go a long way, especially after two months of dealing with very unresponsive brokers and agents. We did not pay any fees or deposits up front besides a $100 application fee. Our file was not the strongest (freelance/non recurring income and low credit) and Ira not only worked fast to get us approved by the landlord, he was communicative throughout the process without us needing to prompt him. All things considered, I viewed the unit on Dec 31, and we moved in Jan 5th - one of the fastest move in processes I've had in 19 years of living in NYC. Many thanks to Ira and Brooklyn Rentals for coming through quickly when we were in a pinch, in a holiday season. read more

We saw the bad reviews, but because the NYC market is just a nightmare and the unit was exactly what we were looking for, we went ahead. I really, really wish we hadn't. Just don't. So many red flags, terrible communication, and just generally a shady broker. First, my personal experience: We put down a good faith deposit of $1,900 to take the unit off the market and to prioritize our application. We begrudgingly paid the $200 fee for two applications, we gathered our documents and submitted. We were told we would hear back in 2-3 business days. We didn't, and every time we called we were told "Tomorrow." After 7 business days we called and demanded to have an answer for our application. We were told that the long wait time was because someone else had submitted an application for the unit and the landlord preferred the other applicant. The next day, we finally got an answer: We were denied for the apartment. Seeing as we put down a deposit to have our application prioritized and the unit taken off the market, this was obviously some bullshit and I genuinely wonder if they ever showed our application to the landlord at all. So we paid to give the apartment to someone else. So congrats to whoever you are! Luckily I got my deposit back the day after we were denied, but I still had to call them multiple times to have them send it. Now the stuff that everyone who finds this place should know: 1. They charge $100 per applicant. They do this "legally" by making you sign a document wherein it says that YOU (the applicant) hired them. This is not illegal, but it is shady. Any reputable broker/realtor will only charge $20 and doesn't hide these loopholes in the documents you sign. 2. They use a bunch of different monikers for their business: NYC Luxury Apt Rentals Co LLC Brooklyn Loft Rentals LLC Brooklyn Rentals LLC Flatbush Rentals LLC Ira Properties LLC AAC Realty Cooperation Why? Maybe to hide these reviews from prospective applicants? Who knows? 3. Ira Isaac is the main broker you will deal with, but from as far as I'm aware, he does not hold a broker's license. The broker name on the listings is Arman Ohevshalom who I confirmed is in the NY state database, but I never met him or spoke to him in any capacity. So who is he and why does Ira operate with his license? https://appext20.dos.ny.gov/nydos/list.do?anchor=6846d06.0 https://appext20.dos.ny.gov/nydos/list.do?anchor=6851369.0 4. I looked up the property we applied to on the department of buildings and found that it was owned and managed by Lilmor Managment. Turns out this company works with one of the worst landlords in NYC history, Jason Korn. So in the end we probably dodged a bullet by not getting the apartment. https://propertyinformationportal.nyc.gov/parcels/parcel/3051200054 https://apps.dos.ny.gov/publicInquiry/EntityDisplay https://www.yelp.com/biz/lilmor-management-brooklyn So all in all, the worst broker experience I've had in my life. 0/10 would not recommend. Hope this helps someone else avoid this disaster artist. read more

The apartment that we moved into was not safe. People broke into it twice after we rented it and continued breaking into an empty unit next to ours. We moved out in two weeks. Was this Ira's responsibility? He doesn't think so. We signed the lease and moved in. However, we learned from talking to the neighbors that this issue has been going on for months on the floor and caused others to leave. We believe that Ira and/or Eli knew about it, because they work with the management company frequently. They knowingly withheld the information from us. We presented these concerns to Ira and he refused to give us a refund after we moved out in two weeks and ignored our follow up email. This is unethical in any light. It is especially unethical because they were tenant's agents, not landlord's agents. They are responsible to act in our best interests. Also: - The realtors and office staff did not wear masks in all five of our in-person interactions. They said they "forgot them." That's 0/5 on masks. -Signs in the office advertise a "Non-refundable application credit check fee of $100 for each applicant." This is in violation of the $20/applicant fee limit set by the recent NY law. We got them to adjust to $20 for us, but this is a major red flag. See the photo below. -Eli (Ira's assistant broker) is a kind and thoughtful young person and we believe he wanted the best for us. We hope he finds a better company to work for. read more

Flatbush Rentals - Sign in the office: $100 fee per applicant, in violation of the recent NY State law requiring a $20/applicant limit. - Apartments Near Me - New York, New York

Ira Isaacs the scammer, took my $2300 deposit and has yet to give it back. I've called a numerous amount of times, as well as emailed. Whoever sees her next, tell her it's on sight. Update: I got my money back, but that still doesn't account for the fact that the woman who showed us the apartment, who also works for the company lied about her entire identity. She told us her name was Ira but when we got to the office, Ira is a man and apparently her name is Eileen. He apologized for her going 2 weeks without contacting us but it doesn't matter because who the hell just takes over $2k from somebody and then disappears without a trace? Which is EXACTLY why I'm not letting up. Either they fire her, or have fun getting sued read more

Upon moving out of this apartment, we have found out that they kept what we paid for last month's rent as a broker's fee. The reason we moved into this apartment is because it was one of their 'no fee' options after they trapped us with that false advertising on another listing. Run away from them. read more

Flatbush Rentals also know as Brooklyn Rentals LLC should be avoided at all costs. Ira Issac works for Jason Korn the #1 NYC slumlord of 2019 and 2020. Most of the apartments he will show you are owned by Korn and managed by Lilmore Management. Any apartment you rent will have infestation issues, leaking pipes, collapsing ceilings, mold, and heat/hot water issues. Ira Issac is NOT a member of of the Real Estate Board of New York and illegally charges prospective tenants a $100 application fee when the legal cap is $20. Brooklyn Rentals rewrote its lease applications to include a new disclosure, tucked in the many pages on which renters mark their initials but may not read carefully, stating that applicants had hired the company. This is only one of their many shady tricks they use to cheat unsuspecting people out of their money. Please do yourself a favor and look up every building you view in the 311 system and review all tenant complaints before putting down an application fee or deposit. read more

I've seen a lot of polarized reviews about this place, and I wanted to offer a perspective that would (hopefully) help someone make the most informed decision for themselves. I met the agents here after seeing a few places that weren't to my liking (through StreetEasy). They asked me to swing by the office to discuss a pocket listing (a listing that's not on the market). I did so and they said they had a rent stabilized apartment that they could show me, but asked if I would be willing to spend more than the typical one month's rent fee on it (given that they weren't showing it to anyone at the time). I agreed, and this is what I discovered in the process: 1. It's not uncommon for brokers to ask for a larger initial deposit on a property that is in a more desirable location and that has a lower turnover (because of it being a desired location). This was the case here, so I was not overtly alarmed. I knew it was a 'back street' way of dealing, but it was what I signed up for. 2. The apartment they showed me had no refrigerator and no stove. They told me I would need to buy that myself, or they could get it put in but at a higher broker fee to me. I agreed to the higher broker fee for them to put those in. After speaking with a separate broker friend, my friend informed me that it was a New York State requirement to provide both a refrigerator and a stove when renting a property out. 3. The unit itself was in disarray. They said they would not repair things (except in the bathroom). I was okay with this as well. However, in doing my due diligence, I looked up the building's 311 history (a recommendation someone else threw out on here) and saw that all of the misgivings I had while viewing the place were the same things that had been reported to 311. Meaning, the landlords had never taken care of the issues the tenants had brought to their attention (in my case, structural issues and electrical problems). 4. The 'agent' I was dealing with - Eli - does not appear to be an agent, nor does his colleague who also helped me (Ira). After mentioning some of these things to my broker friend, he asked in passing who these people were. He said he wasn't going to report them, but that he wanted to know to simply steer clear of them. Which I can respect. He looked up "Brooklyn Rentals, LLC" as well as "Flatbush Rentals" (on his database) and this does not appear to be a licensed real estate agency - neither are the two people whom I encountered. 5. The $100 I handed over for my credit report (happy to do it, I signed up for it) - I am sure - was not used on my credit check. In my case, the 'rental agency' and the rent stabilized building's landlord seem to be a part of the same group. I am sure this is the same for most of the properties they show. In my case, I saw/acknowledged several of the red flags along the way. I ultimately decided to pay the extra money elsewhere for peace of mind in wherever I choose to live. But that's not the case for everyone. Ultimately, what each person chooses to do is on them. But, given all of the wide-ranging reviews on here, I wanted to provide one that cuts through the noise and helps each person make the most informed decision for their own circumstances. read more

Should have listened to the reviews, and am now adding my own to the mix. I contacted Ira about an apartment, and was directed to visit the unit on my own--the super didn't know I had an appointment to view the apartment and wasn't aware of a broker working for the management company. The apartment fit my needs, so I traveled to the office on Flatbush to put down a deposit. Eli assisted me and did note the $100 non-refundable credit check. I waited a week to hear back from the office about my application, which in the end was never officially approved or denied. My credit and income are both good, yet I was told the management company wanted me to put down more money for a deposit or to get a guarantor (who would also be subjected to the $100 credit check). I balked at this, as I don't need a guarantor for my current apartment. I never spoke directly to the management company, so I can't for sure say what was the issue with my application. I called the office several times to find out if I was approved or denied after sending additional financial information, and my calls were never returned. The woman working in the office was polite and let me know Eli was always "on his way back to the office" but he never followed up with me. In the end I requested my deposit back (I kept the paperwork I signed when I left the deposit as proof in the event the office tried to refuse) and did receive it, minus the $100 as expected for the credit check. I feel I was lucky in that aspect, and I very much advise prospective renters to avoid working with these brokers. read more

Today I went in person to get my security deposit back, and Ira had a nasty attitude and was very unprofessional because I came in person to get my security deposit back, since he left me in limbo in regards to my application status for the apartment that I've recently applied for, and whenever I call him he either hangs up or doesn't bother to answer my calls at all. He has a very poor customer service skills and very unprofessional. Don't bother searching for an apartment with these unprofessional criminals, because they are not worth the time and money when applying for an apartment. read more

These people give NY brokers a bad name. After being lied to about an apartment being no-fee and available for immediate move in, I decided to rescind my application (which I think wasn't even submitted in the first place). After this, I was given the run around to get my deposit back. The contract they make you sign for the application deposit specifies that you can get it back 24 hours after requested. It will have taken me 96 hours to get my deposit after having to chase down either of the brokers (Eli and Ira) for any type of communication. Such a horrible experience. Please don't waste your money or time working with this company. Please note that they also work under the business alias Brooklyn Rentals LLC. read more

Horrible! Do NOT...I repeat...DO NOT give this business your time or money. They promised me 3 different apartments and ignored my calls for a follow up. Do NOT GIVE THEM YOUR MONEY! read more

I was successfully able to move after finding a place that I liked with the help of Eli from Brooklyn Rentals/ Flatbush Rental and would also like to discuss ways you can generally improve. Eli was later than 10 minutes the two times we did meet and I did not feel like my time mattered but rather I was working on his time. Though everything went smoothly, I did feel confused in the beginning and a little worried about being scammed. To start off, it is unclear what the name of the business actually is. I was unsure about who I was speaking with as I was told the phone belonged to one person but another person was actually answering calls and using it. That alone is enough to make anyone feel uncomfortable when sharing sensitive documents and personal information. Next, I would have also liked more reassurance from Eli by connecting me with someone from management. Granted there wasn't anything for them to exactly assist with or do, but if we are talking about making your client feel at ease and comfortable after showing any discomfort, I find it very important to hone in on that and work towards improving soft skills. Lastly, during the lease signing, I was not able to have and leave with a copy of the actual lease or any of the other paperwork that I signed while there. Eli explained that this was because management also had to sign the copies as well. I understood but again had my skepticism about it. I took a risk and thankfully nothing terrible happened but again, this is a hard position to put someone in when dealing with their sensitive information and having dealt with issues of fraud. To be fair, Eli allowed me to take a picture of the front page of the lease only and reassured that I would get a copy after management signs (I eventually did but only the copy of the lease). Overall, I'm in my new apartment and I am content so far. My feedback is specific to my experience and understand that everyone is impacted by Covid in some way. If niceties isn't a deal breaker for you then I would absolutely recommend this office. I hope this isn't the norm but if so, I hope someone will see this and work to improve on what they can. Good luck. read more

Ira got us the most beautiful apartment. No joke. Laundry in the apartment! Huge place and great price. We were skeptical at first. We assumed every realtor in New York City was some incarnate of satan himself and not to be trusted. But we are a month in, happily living in our new home, and have nothing but gratitude for Ira. The landlord even knocked down the monthly rent much to Ira's credit. The Flatbush Rentals team (which is also called Brooklyn Rentals) were courteous enough to work diligently around their many holidays (late September, early October). Don't be nervous, he's not a scammer. He's a chill dude who will have you covered if you're patient. read more

Thank you, Ira and Eli! We are happily moved into our new apartment. Ira and Eli kept in contact with us throughout the whole process and we appreciate that. Everything went well and I highly recommend them! read more

Eli was by far one of the best brokers I've worked with in my time here in New York. He delivers exactly what you want, at the price you want it. I'd been seeing apartments upwards of a month and Eli was able to deliver an amazing space with all of the amenities I was looking for and a balcony space to boot at a very reasonable price. I'd still be looking today had it not been for Eli. He spent the time to feel out what I wanted took me to multiple listings that I had requested to see and that I hadn't even seen. Eli was patient, straight to the point, transparent and helpful throughout this entire experience! read more

Why is 0 stars not an option? My experience with this realty company (known to me as Brooklyn Rentals LLC), was one of the most frustrating experiences ever! I found an apartment I was interested in on StreetEasy and made contact through the app. Ira reached out to me shortly after to arrange an appointment. On the day of the appointment, I get to the apartment to find it open, but unoccupied. When I contacted Ira to see where he was, he then informed me that he was not on site but that I was free to look around and contact him again if I wanted to move forward. Ultimately, I decided that although the apartment could use some work, I would put in an application. I went to the office located on Flatbush Ave the following morning where I was informed that I'd have to submit a non-refundable $100 fee for the credit check in addition to a deposit check equivalent to one month's rent of the apartment I wanted. If for any reason, my application was rejected, I would be refunded the full deposit. Conversely, if I was approved for the apartment but changed my mind, I would forfeit that money. Keep in mind that no lease agreement has been signed at this point. What ensued after I left that office one month's rent lighter was a month of me consistently calling to check on the status of my application while being told by the very polite and professional assistant that 1) both Eli & Ira were out of the office or 2) that they'd be available in an hour and would call me back. Let me tell you that NEVER, NOT ONCE did these people ever return a phone call. In the span of the month, I spoke to both of these individuals a total of 3 times wherein they would try to put me off by simply stating " I don't know why but the landlord is giving me a hard time about your application." I kid you not, I had more communication with the assistant, who couldn't provide me with any info, than I did with both Eli & Ira. After a month, on the 3rd time I made contact, Ira informed me that I'd need a guarantor. AFTER A MONTH OF NOTHING! Ultimately, I got tired of the games they seemed to have been playing and popped up at their office, unannounced, where I found both Eli & Ira and told them flat out either tell me my application has been approved or cut me my check and in less than an hour after leaving their office, I deposited my money back into my account. I can't tell you what to do or where to spend your money, but I strongly suggest spending it elsewhere. read more

I had the greatest experience with Flatbush Rentals, hands down! We were shown a place, loved it, met Ira, and he took it from there - all in one day. He took the reigns, simplified everything, helped us with the paperwork, was patient, understanding and overall absolutely great to work with. I highly recommend working with Ira and the Flatbush Rentals team! NOTE: I have NEVER written a review for anything before, so this clearly shows how strongly I support Ira and his team. (Not a paid ad either, just a happy customer) read more

DO NOT USE THIS GROUP. I visited an apartment on June 09, 2021 and put in an application same day. Since then I have had to send text messages, call, email etc. to get an ounce of information on my application. The guy I talked to first, Eli, just dropped from the face of the Earth after my application and "deposit" was put down. I was told the deposit would take the listing off the market--it did not. I was told the building management was aware of my application, I can only assume they were not. From the NINTH of June to today, the TWENTY-EIGHTH there was neither an acceptance nor denial of my application. I sent in $1,000 and was told $100 was non-refundable due to credit check and application fee (the limit is $20 BTW). I finally called and had to threaten them with the police in order to get my money back. Literally 5 seconds after I hung up the phone the money was sent back to me. This company is absolute scum. Save yourself the trouble. They don't give two fucks about you or the fact that you need housing. This isn't the only place I plan to air my grievances, companies like these need to be stopped. read more

My boyfriend and I had a very good experience with Flatbush Rentals. They do their jobs, they're honest, they're no-nonsense. What's not to like? Peter showed us the apartment and we put in a deposit and filled out the application the same day. They were very clear and open about everything - the broker's fee, the cost of the credit check, the amount we were putting down for our deposit (one month's rent), what information they needed from us, and how to get our deposit back if our application was rejected. They gave us clear receipts for everything. Lucky for us, our application was accepted and we signed a lease shortly thereafter. While a little slow (though to be fair, we filled out our application the Wednesday before MLK Day weekend and I'm sure that slowed things down), everything went very smoothly. I don't really know why people care so much about what the office looks like. It's not new or fancy, no, but it functions, and it has character. But that's really the vibe of Flatbush Rentals in general. It's a very warts-and-all approach to real estate, and frankly, I'll take that over slick-talking 22-year-old brokers in steel-and-granite "boutique" realty offices any day. We're moving into the new place in 3 days and we are very pleased. read more

Okay so apartment hunting is New York City is a total pain. I've been doing it for over ten years and it honestly is always full of hurdles to jump and unsavory characters. Upon reading their reviews, I was concerned. But Ira and Eli were absolute gems. Eli was running late from another showing so I had to see the unit I was interested in on my own. Normally this would be a turn off, but after seeing (and wanting) the place, I reached out to Eli to see what was up. He immediately picked me up from the building and drove me to the office. He was very pleasant and answered all my questions and asked me about application details to keep the momentum moving. Once I got to the office, I worked with Ira to place a deposit and get my application materials ready. By the next day, my application was completed, even with an out of state guarantor. Over the next few days I was able to reach either Eli or Ira if I had questions or wanted an update. They were perfectly easy to reach via text and always happy to give me an update. For an application placed fully on a Thursday, I had met with building management and signed a lease by Tuesday. Easy. No stress. Ira or Eli were kind enough to drive me where I needed to go (to the office, to the building manager's office, etc.) and even after the lease signing, Ira quickly answered follow up questions I had regarding contacting the super and getting a copy of my lease etc. I had a completely opposite experience than some listed here in the reviews, and I can honestly say I would work with Ira and Eli again in a heartbeat. (I'm hoping I don't have to cuz I love my new place and want to be in it for many years!). And just for the record, I am a visibly transgender women who has had issues with brokers and landlords being outwardly transphobic to me and have even been denied for apartments based on my gender identity. Never once in this process did I feel that my gender identity was an issue with these guys. They didn't bat an eye and were professional every step of the way, quickly securing me my dream apartment. Apartment hunting is stressful. It causes people to really be pushed to the brink and is a really high stakes situation for many, especially those living on a budget or with housing uncertainty. And there are definitely seedy brokers out there who would take advantage of that, but I found these guys to be the antithesis of that. Also to consider for those writing bad reviews or having negative experiences: brokers tend to work with a lot of landlords who have a lot of different qualifications for tenants they will approve. Brokers have to balance that with the needs of their client. I have learned from experience that if you assert your needs positively and actively, are honest with everyone (including yourself) about your finances and credit, have your documents and deposit money ready before you even start looking, and have a lot of patience for the process, things will turn out ok. It certainly did this time around. read more

DO NOT GIVE THEM YOUR MONEY!!!!! SCHEME.... SCHEME.... SCHEME..... Peter and his partner will steal your money. Peter showed me an apartment asked me for a good faith deposit which i paid ($1,500). He then gave me the run around for 7 days making it impossible to get an apartment on the 1st of the month. Told me management wasn't answering him and he would keep trying to contact them. After 7 days i demanded my deposit back. Peter tells me he needs 24 hours notice and i could pick my deposit up. When I go to get my deposit money Peter tells me its going to be $200. Our contract clearly says $50 credit check fee each applicant (I had 2 applicants). He then tells me he had to run 2 credit checks for each person which was a complete lie. I've rented many times in NYC and never heard of paying for 2 credit checks each person. I give him the benefit of the doubt and leave his office minus $200 for a fake apartment. I then go home and find out Peter has been listing the same apartment all week long on different sites trying to pull the same scheme on the next unsuspecting victim. After this I check on Yelp and other sites to find out many other people were schemed the same exact way my family was. The sad part is my father is a 100% disabled Veteran and my mother is elderly and retired. Peter knew the apartment was for my parents to be closer to their grandchildren. It's sad that people like this are even in business. I'm WARNING you do not give these scheme artists your money. What real estate office has bullet proof glass? Should've known!!!! Also people in the office complaining about deposits and people calling trying to get deposits back.... They run the same scheme over and over. read more

DO NOT GIVE YOUR MONEY TO THESE PEOPLE. ITS A SCAM!!! Just lost $200 to these people. Ira didn't help us at all just kept telling us tomorrow he would call and he never did. It's a scam. I hope that karma finds them. read more

If I could give zero stars I would. No one responds to phone calls or emails. They also work for buildings under salmon management and the receptionist is so rude it's like they begged her to answer the phone. Do yourself a favor take your money elsewhere read more

Avoid them at all cost. It's been over two months and the still haven't returned my deposit for an apartment. Also, the change $100 per application, which is illegal. They have dogged my calls and ignored my emails. read more

DO NOT RENT HERE DO NOT RENT HERE DO NOT RENT HERE READ ALL THE REVIEWS!!!!! PLEASE SAVE YOURSELF!!!! I am in the process of breaking my lease. Not only did the manager for this company CURSE at me on the phone, he also told me I should be happy my roommate is leaving and that "I will have more space" None of our problems are ever addressed. The sewer broke and there was sh*t all over from the overflow. It took them 36 hours to come and clean it and even when they did, they still didn't clean the bathroom. The never reimbursed us for the damage and the expenses we had. We were naïve and believed them when they said they were running behind and that would build my roommates wall... yeah my roommate didn't even have a wall for his room... or door... still doesn't DO NOT RENT HERE read more

Ira got me a great apartment where I wanted, he was really attentive and responsive and made everything quick and easy. Helped me out a ton. read more

Look, this is a rental company in Flatbush. If you're looking for a fancy hipster boutique rental place, move on. This is so no-frills, it's almost comical. Having said that, I am renting from these guys and I think some of the points raised by folks are exaggerated. Their job is to find a place for you. They're not your landlord. If you have beef with your landlord. It's unfair to blame them. I had some really crappy experience with Nooklyn, who always told me that this particular apartment that was so cheap was "just rented." Right. At least these guys are somehow straight, and there was no bait-and-switch. Sure, small-talk with them is weird. But they are nice enough and they organized us a great apartment for a decent price, in close proximity to all the places we cared about. Why only 4 stars? We had to get the keys from the Super ourselves and had to hassle the landlord to get our copy of our lease. Whatever, no big deal. One additional point... Jeez, that office. Treat yourself and some new chairs. read more

Should be ZERO or NEGATIVE stars. Got a random text from a man named Joe who couldn't speak proper English, about a listing for a 2bedroom studio apartment in Bay Ridge for only 1250... which apparently he thinks is the "Average" for this area... He probably doesn't even live in any of the five boroughs. Probably trying to get money from credit checks or application fees - asked him 3 times when I can see the apartment, no answer. STAY AWAY FROM THIS WEIRD, SKETCHY REALTY! read more

Wow so dilatory in their tactics. Full deposit made, they told us they would give us a response within four days, it's been two weeks now with us trying to get a hold of them to get things moving. Each time, we get something like: "he's not here right now... call back in half an hour... call back tomorrow...call back in half an hour... speak to so and so" The secretary raised her voice without me raising mine, very rude, annoyed that we've been calling. Listen, if you told us to expect a reply within a certain time frame, and you said everything was ready, and you haven't been trying to reach us, and we've made our payments, of course we are going to be persistent with this. This "company" has been VERY unpleasant to work with. Will update as we progress. As of now, extremely disappointed. read more

After reading the reviews I went into attempting to rent from Flatbush Rentals with caution and I'm glad I did. I questioned Ira in the office about the bad reviews and his response was "You can't believe everything you read online." When I told him I worked in online marketing for the past 3 years and the few positive reviews were clearly fake he shrugged it off and wouldn't respond about it. I saw an apartment late Wednesday night of this week with a realtor named Joseph. He was very helpful and we discussed the apartment would be $1350/month and I could take it on December 1st. He told me I was the first person to see the apartment and I could decide if I wanted it overnight and let him know in the morning. I texted him at 11 that night and said I would take it and I would be in first thing at 9:30AM to drop off the deposit. When I showed up at the office, I spoke with Ira, who should not be in the real estate business at all. I expressed all of my concerns with him and told him very clearly before I put the deposit down "I want this apartment, don't bait and switch me, if it's not this apartment I want the deposit back" and he assured me it would be fine. After submitting all of my paperwork and a $500 deposit I get an email from him saying to call. When I responded saying I was at work and asked what the issue was he just said to call again (clearly doesn't want anything in writing). I called and he said that somebody else had put in an application for the apartment for $1400/month that would be moving in the next day but he had other apartments he could show me. Keep in mind I was the first person to see the apartment at 9PM the night before and dropped off my deposit as the office opened. Seemed liked the bait and switch I specifically told him not to screw with me on. He claimed it was another realtors office but if I could do $1400 and move in on the 15th I could have it. When I questioned why I would get it for the same price and date over the other applicant he had no answer for me. Eventually I told him to offer management the $1350 and I would take it early on the 15th but management declined. Ira did not seem to understand that putting in a deposit means taking the apartment off the market and because of this I lost the apartment and about a half days work going back and forth fighting with him. When I called him out on his mistake I suggested he take the difference out of his commission from the management company since he was going to lose the full commission anyway and he declined on the "principal of it." This coming from a man with clearly no principles. Eventually I went back to the office and picked up my deposit check where he had the balls to tell me it would cost $40 for the credit check. I obviously refused to pay this since he should have never ran my credit had the apartment been off the market as he insists. Would never trust or work with these guys again and they should lose their realtors license because they are clearly braindead and lazy and have no business being trusted with anything. Read the positive reviews for yourself. Some of them are literally copied and pasted with a different ending line with a different fake name. I'd be willing to bet the "Brooklyn B" review that appeared here yesterday after I confronted them is a fake review as well after I called out how obvious their fake 5 star reviews were. Stay far away from Ira and Flatbush Rentals. read more

I have no idea what all the bad reviews are about. My roommates and I were in a tight spot where (admittedly, my mistake) we didn't realize that our previous lease was running out sooner than we expected and we needed to be out in 3 weeks. Cue trying to find an apartment in NYC for 3 fresh out of school guys with less than ideal salaries. This is pretty much panic mode for a lot. My roommates don't have the best credit, so our options were pretttyyy limited in terms of selection. 7 days before we had to move we found Ira through Craigslist. Let me tell you, this guy went through every step and jump to make sure the times worked for us. It wasn't easy. The apartment he showed blew me away. Pictures weren't doing it justice, (Ira, if you're reading this, spend some money on a good camera man :)). I immediately wanted to put down a deposit and talk to my roommates into it later, so we did that. This was just the tip of the iceberg of the issues that Ira handled for us. So one of my roommates had to leave the state for a week before our move. That meant that after I saw the apartment on Friday, we only had 1.something days for all of us to see the apartment and approve it, with my roommate having to leave 11am on Sunday. Ira got up and drove for 2 hours to show us the apartment at 9am on a Sunday. If that's not commitment to your client, I don't know what is. That roommate is picky. He was really into another more modern apartment where he thought windows were more efficient and blah blah blah. Ira told him. You go with this, we will talk with the landlord and you pay a little less for the loss of window efficiency. And he delivered on that promise to the t. Very happy. He then worked with us tirelessly through our situation of not being able to be at the same place at the same time very much, getting us the keys on time, and letting us move out of the old place without inconveniencing the old landlord. He then helped us set up utilities, internet, everything, making everything painless, and followed up with us making sure that we have received all the keys from the management etc. I would highly recommend Ira to any of my friends. Yea, his offices are barren, but to me that just shows dedication to the craft and his customers rather than flashy nonsense. Oh and all of the bad reviews: NO FEE means no realtor fee. It DOES NOT mean there are no application fees as imposed by the management companies. How this is flying over so many people's heads is beyond me. read more

We saw a great apartment on Craig's List and reached out to Ira for a viewing. He responded quickly and set us up to look at it the next day with his colleague, Peter. After viewing the apartment we were ready and excited to sign, but after landing on their Yelp page and seeing the low rating had some trepidation. We explained to Peter how we were feeling, and he was very understanding, explained their process and was not at all pushy. In the end we decided to give them the benefit of the doubt and apply for the apartment. This was on Labor Day Sunday. Peter and Ira pushed hard to get us approved and to the front of the application queue. We were approved on Monday and signed the lease on Tuesday. They worked with the building manager to get the apartment refurbished before we moved in and were very communicative around keys, arranging to meet the super, etc. We couldn't be any happier with the process and highly recommend Flatbush Realty! read more

They steal money from you!! Do not give your money to them. They stole my money. They will show you beautiful apartment And then tell you to put down a deposit of the whole rent of the apartment and never give you back. I am filing a report against them. read more

It's been quite the journey, but Ira at Flatbush Realty came through and got me a great place at a good price, in the location I wanted. Let me tell the story as I experienced it, so newcomers can get a good example of what renting in NYC is like. I siphoned off four days to come to New York and bunker down to find a place. I found a nice place offered by a man named Ira, that looked to meet all of my criteria. I met Ira at a place just south of Prospect Park, and he showed me a great place - I loved it. He said there was no broker's fee, but there would be a credit check fee and application fee (~$500 at the end of the day). I agreed to come in the next morning to put down a $1000 deposit to have the apartment taken off the market. That night, I checked out Yelp to read the reviews, and was totally thrown off by many bad reviews - really scary ones too. So I texted Ira and called it off - I wasn't going to risk my money. The next day, I discovered that Yelp filters out a lot of reviews, and found a TON of good reviews for the place. I changed my mind and texted Ira again asking if the place was still up for grabs, and he said yes. I went in, placed my deposit, and gave him all of the necessary paperwork. A few days later, I found out that my application was rejected due to insufficient funds from my guarantor. I was thrown off, but Ira offered another great place nearby for the same price, this time with more lenient management. We were able to snag that one, and moved in a few days later. I paid first month's and security, got internet and keys, and am now happily settled in. This company, and Ira, is as good as any, but for a cheaper price. Most brokers charge a month's rent fee (~$2000 for a 2br), but Ira only received around $500 from me in the end. A great deal if you ask me. Shoot me a message if you need more convincing, these guys are legit. -David read more

Flatbush Rentals helped me and my boyfriend find our current apartment, which we love: the rent was right within our budget, the location was exactly what we were looking for, and the space itself is better than anything we could have imagined. After meeting Ira and explaining what we were looking for, he immediately showed me 3 apartments that fit the criteria. He said to me, "We're going to rent you an apartment today," and he was absolutely right. We put down the deposit that day, a Thursday, and by Monday we were signing the lease. Given the horrible experiences we had with several other brokers, including one who essentially stole our money, Ira was a godsend. I also appreciated the fact that he took the time to review all of our paperwork and ask for additional documents to make our application as strong as possible. Give Ira a call! You won't be disappointed. read more

ABSOLUTELY DO NOT GO HERE. Ira and Peter have NO business ethic or personal morals. As we have been living in a developing world doing humanitarian work for the past 4 years, our financials were solid but we needed an agent who was going to help us translate our financials to the New York context. Instead, Ira and Peter TOOK OUR MONEY and application fees with ABSOLUTELY NO INTENTION OF EVER HELPING US. Their customer service was ABYSMAL and they wasted our time and money. Instead, we found another agent who worked hard for us and we got approved for another apartment right away. Shame on you, Ira and Peter. read more

I wish I read the reviews BEFORE I applied to an apartment with these people. On July 17th I contacted ira for a listing at 971 east 34th street. He responded back to me two days later with a video. When I arranged to go see the apartment on July 20th he stated he wouldn't be there but I can get the key from the lock box and view it myself. I had no issue with that but that should've been a red flag for me. I liked what I saw and gave him a call to let him know I will be applying. He let me know up front they require a good faith deposit (Refundable) and $100 credit check fee (Non refundable). Eager to apply, I agreed. I submitted my application two days later on July 22nd. After that I heard NOTHING. 4 days went by and I started to get nervous so I decided to call. I was then informed that I would need a guarantor although my income is great. Luckily a family member who makes 80x the rent was able to be my guarantor. I quickly submitted her application as well as her credit check fee ($100 again). Days went by. Move in would've been August 1st. I was assured that no one else applied for this apartment and the application process takes a while. I'm a first time renter so I thought maybe I'm being a bit hasty. On Monday August 3rd I was informed by Ira that he would hear back from the landlord by Tuesday. On Tuesday he gives me a call at 6:30pm to let me know that another broker showed the apartment to someone and that "this applicant did not need a guarantor" I was FURIOUS. He began to talk about other apartments for the same price. (He wants to keep my deposit) But I was NOT interested. He said that the "landlord" was supposed to let him know by today (Wednesday) what his decision was. The entire business day went by and I recurved no call. I decided to call him and he let me know that they're going to go with the other person. This screams bull to me. PLEASE listen to the reviews. These people in this office are LIARS and scammers. He strung me along for two whole weeks and now I have to start my search over. I will be picking up my DEPOSIT tomorrow and I do not recommend this place at ALL. read more

Some background here, my fiancé wrote this review in late September but for some reason the post remains hidden. So I created an account just to copy and paste her review for everyone to see. One month in and every sentiment of her review remains true. "We saw a great apartment on Craig's List and reached out to Ira for a viewing. He responded quickly and set us up to look at it the next day with his colleague, Peter. After viewing the apartment we were ready and excited to sign, but after landing on their Yelp page and seeing the low rating had some trepidation. We explained to Peter how we were feeling, and he was very understanding, explained their process and was not at all pushy. In the end we decided to give them the benefit of the doubt and apply for the apartment. This was on Labor Day Sunday. Peter and Ira pushed hard to get us approved and to the front of the application queue. We were approved on Monday and signed the lease on Tuesday. They worked with the building manager to get the apartment refurbished before we moved in and were very communicative around keys, arranging to meet the super, etc. We couldn't be any happier with the process and highly recommend Flatbush Realty!" read more