My wife and I met Matt at an open house when we first started contemplating the idea of purchasing a property in Cambridge/Somerville in the fall of 2016. We were new to the area and to home buying in general. Matt gave us a brief overview of the home searching and buying process at the open house, and he reached out to us with a personal note saying that he would be happy to answer any questions we may have. In our first interaction, Matt came across as genuine, professional, but not pushy. Even though we told Matt that we were only considering the idea of buying a home, Matt stayed in touch, checked in with us periodically, and took the time to meet with us again (twice) to walk us through the process in more detail. When we become serious about buying, Matt was the first agent who we thought of. For 2-3 months, we maintained a pace of making one offer per week. It was the busy season, but Matt was always on top of connecting with sellers' agents to obtain useful information, doing market analysis, putting our offers together, etc. One of the most valuable resources Matt brought to the table was his network of real estate professionals. When we finally had an offer accepted, the seller wanted a short turnaround, and as a result, we bumped up the inspection date to about 1-2 days after offer acceptance. Matt quickly arranged a top-notch home inspector for us, who did an amazing job in explaining what areas were being inspected and what the potential problems might be. We ended up walking away from the deal based on the results of the home inspection. Matt was professional throughout this process, and remained our advocate from arranging the inspection, communicating with the seller's agent, to getting our deposit back. My wife and I both learned a lot from this deal, and we truly appreciated the network and professionalism Matt offered. Our second accepted offer was for the property that we finally purchased. It was quite a unique and stressful situation. The property is located in a prime location in Cambridge, and not surprisingly, received multiple over-asking offers that waived everything. Based on market research and our previous experiences (lost offers), Matt suggested an offering price that gave us a competitive edge (got us to the second round of bidding), and advised us on how to "sweeten the deal" while respecting and working with our appetite for risk. Matt also helped us arrange a home inspection (with the same inspector) before the offer deadline with a very short (e.g., a few hours) of notice. Everything went smoothly later on and the rest was history. Looking back, we really enjoyed working with Matt and appreciated all he has to offer -- knowledge, empathy, professionalism, resources, and a good sense of humor. We will be happy to refer friends to Matt in the future! read more

Two years ago, my wife and I decided to start looking for an apartment to buy in the Cambridge area. It's only now that I realize how lucky we have been to meet Matt early on. During our first meeting, Matt took the time to explain all the steps involved in the search + offer + mortgage process. He was knowledgeable, meticulous, and patient, as I was bombarding him with questions. He also made sure that he understood our mindset and what we were looking for, to better drive his search for our new place. After countless visits and some offers refused by the sellers because we were aiming too low on the few offers we made, we realized that the market was too crazy for us to play in (more than $100 k over asking price). We decided to keep on renting and gave up the search. Despite the huge amount of time and energy Matt spent to help us, he did not show any frustration when we let him down. He only showed understanding and kindness. Two years later, we decided to search again for an apartment to buy. Calling back Matt was a no-brainer, and I was pleasantly surprised that he remembered us (and our taste) so well, and that he was willing to start the process again with us. The market was still crazy (seller market at its top), but Matt was very diligent in picking the right listings for us to visit. He once again showed the depth of his knowledge of the Cambridge / Somerville / Arlington area: assessment of the location, the listings, quick to point out defects or raise red flags... We knew that to get ahead of the competition, we had to visit listings as soon as possible. Matt made it possible by always being prompt and able to organize visits with less than 1 day notice. This really moved the needle for us. While drafting offers, Matt really helped us thinking about our financial situation, what were the risk around each contingency, what where the prons and cons of our offers. He always answered our questions fast, even during the weekends or late at night. He never pushed us to overbid outside of our comfort zone, which I appreciated greatly. Buying a place is a very stressful situation and a huge commitment to make, and Matt eased our fears, without ever being pushy. Thanks to Matt, we finally got a place that we love, in a great location. Buying in such a competitive market was not an easy fit, but we knew that we had a trustful partner with us. Even after the offer was signed and accepted, Matt went out of his way to answer our questions about the loan process, insurance, and helped us until we finally had the keys in hand. Writing this review and thinking back about the whole "adventure", I can't help but think that we were lucky to have worked with Matt. read more

This is the second time my husband and I have worked with Santana Properties, and once again we are beyond satisfied with the work they did for us. First, we bought a condo back in July of 2014 with them. This summer, we used them both to sell that same condo and purchase a house. With two young sons, we were looking for a team that would be able to provide us with a smooth transition and a quick process. Matt Slowik as our buyer's agent and Todd Denman as our seller's agent were able to do this, and we would highly recommend them to anyone. We worked with Matt Slowik to purchase our new house. Because of his advice, the very first offer we put in was accepted! Matt was away with his family when we placed our offer, but he was still available to talk and even got back to us during his layover! With such a competitive market in Waltham, we couldn't believe that our very first offer was accepted. Matt was also able to get us a quick turnaround, with a closing date less than 8 weeks away. Unfortunately our appraisal came in below selling price, but Matt was able to appeal and have the appraisal changed. This was a major win for our financing! Matt also gave us some very good advice on how to decide what offer to place, and he was able to get us a closing credit from the sellers. Santana Properties was able to make the entire process of both selling a condo and buying a house extremely smooth for us. They coordinated all the logistics and made sure that everything fell into place without any major issues. We still can't believe that in a matter of eight weeks we went from not knowing this house existed to living here! Matt, Todd, and the rest of the team all made our buying and selling such positive and painless experiences. Most of our friends thought we were crazy to buy and sell at the same time, but it was actually pretty easy with help from Matt and Todd! read more

My partner and I, both first-time buyers, couldn't be happier with our new home. Matt Slowik played a big part in making that happen for us! We would (and do) recommend that friends looking to purchase around Boston get in touch with him. 1. Matt is very courteous and respectful of all parties. The Seller's agent mentioned they'd had an unusually positive experience working with Matt, and were happy with how well he had communicated updates to them. This really smoothed the process for us. 2. Matt is very responsive. He made time to attend open houses that we mentioned (often at the last minute), put together documents quickly on little notice, and answered all of our (many) questions thoroughly. 3. Matt has a solid and realistic view of the markets around Boston. This was very helpful in getting an early view of what options we had and where it made sense to focus our search. 4. Matt gives a great overview of the purchasing process. Beyond the nuts and bolts of buying (which we knew very little about), Matt also describes the emotional roller coaster of purchasing and prepped us before each step along the way for how we might feel--and why that was totally normal! Our first meeting with him was basically a master class in first-time homebuying. 5. Matt does a great job in reading the situation during the negotiations, suggesting different courses of action but making sure that when it comes time to act, he is representing your intentions. 6. The network of professionals that Matt works with is top notch. We were extremely happy with the suggestions he made for an inspector, lender, and attorney. The team together made buying as easy for us as possible. read more

Matt Slowik was recommended to us by a coworker, and my spouse and I couldn't be happier with the experience. We were just beginning the process of planning to buy our first home when I reached out to Matt. He immediately got on a call with us, guiding us through the initial steps and preparing us for what to expect. His expertise was evident from the start. As we began looking at houses, Matt played a key role in refining our search. He carefully considered our feedback after each viewing and adjusted the search criteria accordingly. Week by week, we felt more confident about what we wanted in a home. Matt also made himself available for many of the viewings, offering a second, experienced set of eyes. He pointed out details we would have otherwise missed, which proved invaluable. When it came time to make an offer, we felt completely prepared. Thanks to Matt's thorough guidance, we understood all the relevant information and had a solid plan in place. Once our offer was accepted, we knew exactly what to do next because of Matt's coaching. Beyond his support during the home-buying process, Matt connected us with trusted lenders, lawyers, handymen, and electricians he had worked with before. These recommendations saved us the stress of finding reliable professionals on our own, and the quality of their work was outstanding. Matt's expertise is unmatched. His ability to balance timing, attention to detail, clear communication, and an understanding of when to make strategic moves was remarkable. In a competitive market like Greater Boston, having a realtor like Matt truly made all the difference. read more

We were first time buyers and one of my husband's coworkers pointed us to Matt. We are very glad she did. He took care of us from start to finish. He sent us listings daily and did a great job of getting us to see places we were interested in, working around our crazy schedule. He was always upfront and honest with us and was great with communicating with us. When we had an offer accepted, he walked us through the whole process. With Matt's help, it was easy and as stress free as something like this could be. Even after the sale, he has been keeping in contact, making sure we are getting settled and offering recommendations for contractors and handy-people to help us get our new place in order. One of his great strengths is his market analyses. For every house we considered putting an offer in on, he took great pains to put together a comprehensive market analysis of the property. Right now, buyers are at a disadvantage in many ways and Matt's understanding of the market helped us make informed offers on properties. He spent time looking over condo docs and other paperwork to help us find limitation in those contracts that might make a seemingly great property a no-go for us (pet limitations, parking restrictions, etc.). He is really good with the numbers and data crunching. He made sure we understood the financial situation as well as the emotional situation when it came to making offers on properties. Matt's analytical abilities, his strong work ethic, and his personable demeanor makes him a great person to help you navigate the confusing maze that is the Boston real estate market. read more

My wife and I worked on and off with Matt for about 2 years to find our home. That's right... 2 years! :/ Poor Matt! Matt was patient, not pushy, in helping guide the two of us towards what we were really looking for in a home. We looked into numerous towns, both urban and suburban, and went to more open houses and showings than I can count. We made multiple offers on various homes throughout that time period, and finally moved into our new home a couple of months ago. Throughout the entire process, Matt was cool, calm, and collected. We never once doubted that he had our best interest in-mind. He is extremely thorough with his market analysis and is able to get a good read on what his client's needs are. He earned our trust very quickly, and I speak for both my wife and I when I say that we felt truly lucky to have had him as our real estate agent. Matt's intuitive approach to each specific, very different, potential home that we looked at was impressive. He had a good sense of when to be aggressive, and when to ease up a bit during offer negotiations. Matt was able to offer up good advice and perspective to us upon request, which we were very thankful for. In the end, my wife and I found our home in an extremely competitive market, under intense timing constraints, and are very happy with where we ended up. Matt was instrumental in not only helping us find our home, but also in putting together a fair, thoughtful, and winning bid. Matt is a hard working, professional, and trusting individual. I couldn't recommend him more to anyone in the market for a new home. read more

As a first-time buyer, Matt helped me immensely. Because this was my first time buying a home, and because of my perfectionist tendencies, I wanted to take it slow and get a sense of what was out there before placing any offers. I asked Matt to send me a wide variety of options, even ones he didn't necessarily think I would be interested in, so I could get a sense of what was out there. I ended up going to half a dozen open houses or private showings almost every weekend for almost four months, and Matt went along with me to almost every single one (even the ones I told him ahead of time I was unlikely to make an offer on!). Throughout all of this, he was incredibly supportive and I never felt pressured to move on a place I didn't love. When I did find that place I loved, Matt was right there with me. He and his team had everything ready to go. He had me pre-approved for a loan early on in the process, had a great lawyer recommendation ready, as well as a list of top-notch inspectors. He knew the market and had a spot-on recommendation on what my offer should look like. Once I decided to move forward, everything went incredibly smoothly and progressed exactly as planned. Thanks to all Matt's help, I now have a wonderful home that I absolutely adore. Throughout the entire process he was incredibly knowledgable and friendly, and has kept in touch even after the sale to make sure I've been happy with everything. It's been a pleasure working with Matt, and when I eventually outgrow this place (hopefully not for several years!) I look forward to working with him again. read more

My husband and I were fortunate enough to come across Matt pretty early into our home buying process. He was a great adviser, every step of the way. During our initial chat he helped manage our expectations about the Somerville housing market, and from then on, he had great pointers for every property we considered - things we'd missed that could be important. That helped us feel confident and learn more as we went along. Once we were ready to make our first offer, Matt was instrumental in helping us put our best foot forward. He rationalized for us how we should view the competitive impact of each component of our offer. Our offer was accepted - a rarity in the Somerville market, and we later learned that in the multiple offer situation, our overall terms had stood out. Matt then managed all interactions with the selling agent on the other side, which we were thankful for. He expertly coordinated between us and the sellers (viewings, selling us furniture, etc.). He helped with questions and connections on various other aspects of this phase - contacts to help us rent our old condo, contractors, lawyers, inspection specialists, etc. Matt had a great working relationship with our lender, which again, helped everything run smoothly. Overall, Matt was an invaluable part of our homebuying team. His calm, confident and relaxed personality and attitude meshed really well with ours - we never felt pressured at any stage. We couldn't be happier with how everything went down, and would recommend Matt in a heartbeat. read more

I would recommend Matt 10x over; he's a smart, cautious, and thoroughly analytical. The first time we met, we sat down and he walked me step by step what the process would look like. This was huge for me given it was my first time going through the process. Going through the search, Matt looked at my price range, potential re-sell, and overall neighborhood feel that would match my lifestyle. He provided input into every open house we went to and Matt came prepared knowing comps, trends, and potential potholes. When I was going through the offer, Matt sent me a thorough digest of what I would need in order for my offer to be successful. He never pressured me but would rather have me evaluate the options. He would also go into the different scenarios where certain contentions would mean more, vs. others. I cannot tell you how many times I asked the same questions all the while getting patient answers in simple terms. Matt was available close to 24 hours a day via email, text...he did a walkthrough with me at 7am in the morning. Matt never pushed me and would rather walk me through next steps in a calm, collected manner. While processing and negotiating, Matt would analyze variables and would yield on small concessions to make way for bigger "gets." Matt was able to save me a few grand, get me a warranty on a roof, and slash my closing costs by 85%. In a Somerville market where you blink and it's gone, this became a huge asset for me to have in my corner. read more

Crazy to say but I have now worked with Matt for over 10 years. He has guided me and now my wife and me through a number of real estate transactions. Matt is always extremely prepared. During the search phase he provides the general market conditions to sets expectations. We went to countless viewings with him. Even when we went to open houses on our own he would do his best to check them out as well so he could always provide his input. He never pressures but provides sage advice. When readying an offer, Matt will scour the market to see what makes sense and will reach out to the other agent to see what the pulse is. In fact when purchasing our last home on Matt's advice we were able to save nearly 100k from what we were about to offer based on what he was seeing and hearing. Matt takes the same approach to selling as he does with buying. He will research your neighborhood for comps and provide what he thinks a fair range is to help you establish a selling price. He has a great network of stagers and photographers to make sure your place looks great. He keeps you up to date throughout. Even after our transactions we find ourselves reaching out to Matt. He has a tremendous network and is always willing to share it. He is one of the first people we reach out to for referrals when we are looking to get work done. It is great knowing that we have someone like Matt around. read more

We reached out to Matt for help selling our property in the Medford/Somerville area after walking through an open house he and his team held down the street. We could tell they not only had a strong grasp of the market but also went above and beyond catering to potential buyers. After meeting with other realtors, we made the decision to work with Matt and never looked back. While we waited to list, Matt kept us updated on the market with weekly comps to inform our ultimate list price. Matt was then instrumental in the preparation for listing during the coronavirus lockdowns and was thoughtful about how best to navigate the brief "new normal" of the real estate market from list price adjustments and timing of the listing to cover photo selection - details often overlooked. As showings came and went, Matt was always available to discuss feedback and next steps regarding interested parties and incoming offers. Matt was extremely helpful negotiating offers and never tried to push us into something with which we weren't comfortable. We were fortunate in the end to receive 5 separate offers and Matt deserves all the credit for making that happen especially during such uncertain times due to coronavirus. Overall we had a great experience working with Matt and the Santana team behind the scenes. We highly recommend them to anyone selling in the Boston area. read more

We had been going to open houses for a number of months before meeting Matt at an open house. He was very helpful in brainstorming layout modifications that could address some concerns that we had. He also alerted us to the proximity of a nearby business and recommended that before proceeding, we come during the day to observe the traffic and noise conditions. Although the condo was not a good match for us, we were impressed by Matt's buyer's perspective. Matt took the time to really understand the tradeoffs from our perspective: price, location, condition, etc. He was very good at helping us evaluate properties' condition, neighborhood and location. He was quick and responsive, as is essential in a seller's market, arranging additional showings on short notice, and putting in the extra time needed to research recent comparable sales in the neighborhood. When we found a house that we really liked, Matt encouraged us to bid, even though it seemed like a long shot. He was very helpful through all of the stages of the bidding and negotiations, through the closing. We feel very fortunate to have worked with Matt and highly recommend him. read more

TRUST is the first word that we think of to describe Matt! And it didn't take long for Matt to earn our trust. Matt's professional expertise in the ever changing world of real estate cannot be understated. Initially, we were steadfast about selling our home "as is". Matt understood and respected our opinions. We discussed what needed to be done to get our home ready for the market. As we started preparing our home, Matt had some cosmetic improvements which we decided would definitely enhance the overall appearance. After seeing the difference some painting made, we all agreed additional work was needed. Though we were a little apprehensive at first, Matt's professional advice was "spot on"! Because of his vision for our home we received and accepted an offer after 5 days on the market. During this process, he kept us in the loop every step of the way. The "team approach" of Santana Properties is not just a phrase. Matt and his team truly live it! From design ideas to taking care of all the details, small and large, Matt and his team are truly amazing! We highly recommend Matt to anyone thinking of selling their home! read more

We met Matt at an open house and later contacted him to be our buyer's agent largely due to his approachable and pleasant personality. We were seriously considering buying the condo he was selling and we scheduled multiple trips to evaluate the property. Each time Matt was very helpful and answered all questions thoroughly, promptly following up when certain issues required it. Ultimately we did not buy the property but we did start to work with Matt as our buyer's agent. He patiently worked with us for an entire year while we searched for the ideal condo. Matt dutifully, and in some cases in a time crunch, always provided a comprehensive financial analysis on each unit that we were considering, and also spent as much time as needed discussing with us the pros and cons of each property. During closing, Matt was very accessible and stayed ahead of the process, despite massive disorganization on the side of the sellers. In summary, we have no reservations in recommending him as a great buyers agent for those who are navigating the chaotic Boston real estate market. read more

Where do we start?? Our house buying process would not have been so smooth and great without Matt, despite the blizzard (in Jan 2022), the changing market, and our own priorities! We were first time home buyers, casually looking and Matt made us feel so heard and validated in our decision making process. He agreed to meet us for property visits the day after a huge blizzard, and was extremely prepared and knowledgeable about the properties we visited. We ended up finding our dream home sooner than we thought we would, and Matt was available and ready to talk us through the decision points based on what he knows we value (we asked SO many questions!!! Matt is the definition of patient and caring!!). His market analysis helped us make the best decision for us, and it worked out great :) The other thing (among many things!) that we SO APPRECIATE about Matt is his network and willingness to connect us with awesome professionals. When our washer broke, our electricity went out, you name it -- Matt always has a contact and is quick and generous with his responses. read more

I worked with Matt Slowik at Santana to both buy (2017) and sell (2020) a home. I highly recommend Matt and the entire team! Everybody I worked with was extremely knowledgeable and personable. I'll focus on the "selling" as that was more recent: Matt and the Santana team kept us updated regularly about what to do at every step. They went above and beyond on multiple occasions- from ensuring we had perfect photos to helping us with furniture. Liz helped us stage the house, which ended up looking much better than anything we could have ever done ourselves! They were very proactive with marketing, and ultimately, I have no doubts that they added significant value while also making our lives so much easier. You will be in good hands with Matt and the rest of the Santana team. They know the area, they are personable, they go above-and-beyond, and they are true professionals. read more

I could not recommend Matt with higher praise; he exceeded expectations on every front. The sale of my house had its share of unique complications and Matt was there to support me each step of the way. He was extremely attentive, communicative and helped me navigate every turn in the road. I applaud the way Santana Properties stepped up to expedite the closing on my home and feel grateful to have met all the people on their team who lent a hand. Considering my ambitious timeline, Matt worked tirelessly without ever letting me see him sweat. Matt handled the sensitive nature of my sale with grace and understanding... constantly going above and beyond to make me feel assured. He was responsive, around the clock, and made sure I had full understanding throughout the process - I couldn't be happier to recommend him and his team. read more

We had Matt Slowik as our broker and he was just the best. He educated us on the buying process, discussed our requirements with us to make sure he understood them. He then suggested areas to look at and highlighted properties for us that would meet the requirements. He was available when we needed him, and came to see properties with us - and regularly kept in touch. He was mindful of our list of "must haves" and even reminded us of them when we needed a reality check. He was very open and was really enthusiastic as well as a lot of fun. He gave us very informative selling price data when we were ready to make an offer, and we got the property we wanted only because of the way he advised us to put the offer package together. His team were great and he was able to recommend attorneys and surveyors etc - anyone we used was great. read more