A Polish friend of mine recommended Proper Real Estate because they are local and family friendly so I called and left them a message. After receiving no response I went to their office in person and saw an employee smiling and having a conversation with a young couple and their toddler. She looked up and asked if I needed help. I told her I was looking for a 2 bedroom. "For you and a roommate? Go to StreetEasy, all our listings are on StreetEasy," she said and then returned to her conversation. I'm left to guess because I have a lot of tattoos she assumed I was another rich hipster ruining the neighborhood when in fact I was looking for a home for my wife and our soon-to-be-born daughter. So I guess just use StreetEasy? read more

Dorothy found me my dream apartment (price, location, size) in a matter of hours. Excellent communication and a joy to work with. I will be using Proper Real Estate for all my future apartment hunting because I never dreamed finding an NYC gem apartment would be this seamless. HUGE thank you to Dorothy and Proper Real Estate! read more

The team at Proper Real Estate is great and I would highly recommend their services! They were great to work were very friendly when going through the apartment application process. read more

I found my current apartment in February 2022 through Proper Real Estate. Proper is extremely trustworthy. They wouldn't list an apartment that wasn't of great quality. It's obvious that they do their due diligence and have great relationships with landlords throughout the area. They know who will be good tenants and landlords. What was important to me was finding an apartment that would accommodate my needs, feel safe, fair pricing, and was taken care of by the landlord. I have just that. I am so happy to be placed in this building (posting this ~ 2 years after living here). Their office made the search for an apartment, touring, and paper work a breeze. They didn't waste any time and the office was extremely sharp. Next time I need to move, I will be in touch Proper!!! Thank you so much! read more

Donna found me an incredible apartment in Greenpoint and was extremely kind / attentive throughout the process. She was highly recommended to me by a friend and I am very glad I connected with her. I would've never found a place like this elsewhere and I'm so grateful for her help! read more

We worked with Donna and Dorothy and they were so pleasant and helpful in getting us our dream apartment!

Donna was amazing! She found me a truly incredible apartment that I would have never been able to find. Really nice family office with great Greenpoint knowledge and recommendations read more

Terrible Service. Walked into the store to get a document Notarized and was immediately stopped at the door by an older woman who said (which I believe is due to the color of my skin) "No,No,No whatever service you need we do not have for you" without even asking what services we needed. When later asked what service we needed we were immediately told no and showed the door. Terrible service. Sad to see that you can be polish in a Brooklyn neighborhood surrounded by blacks and minorities, and still express this type of racism at your business. I will never go again and I will NEVER recommend to anyone. read more

I was losing hope on the search for an apartment until Proper helped me find the perfect home! It feels like a miracle.

If you are looking to rent an apartment in the Greenpoint area, visit Donna and her family at Proper Real Estate first! I responded to an apartment listing on StreetEasy, and I met them at the Proper office before seeing it. Donna told me that her son, Chris, going to show me the original apartment, but then afterwards that he would show me a second apartment that just opened up and wasn't even listed yet. It was a little pricier (an additional $150, still within my budget) but she told me to trust her and that I'd love it. Well, she was right! The original apartment was just fine, but when I saw the second apartment, my jaw dropped. It was perfect! I went back to the office with Chris and applied that same night. The application process was so easy and seamless, and the lease was signed within two days. Donna even gave me a small discount on the brokers fee for using cash. This is a small, local, family-owned business, and they really do treat you like one of their neighbors. Nothing like the skyscraper, bureaucratic real estate management companies that are all over Manhattan and Williamsburg. If I ever want to move to a new apartment in Greenpoint (but why would I, right?) then I will definitely be going back to Proper. Definitely use them! You won't regret it. read more

I was really not excited about needing to have a broker, but then Donna, Chris, and the rest of the family helped me get out of a freshly signed lease once it became clear it was a bad fit. They didn't need to do this, I'd already paid them in full and the deal was done, but Donna personally took care of it and helped defuse the situation. Then they got me my dream greenpoint apartment on the low end of my budget. If you want to move in Greenpoint and you've made peace with needing a broker, go with them. read more

Proper real estate recently put us in a roach infested building. When confronted with photos of the issue, they called them "waterbugs" and inferred it wasn't a big deal. We are now in a very difficult situation with a pest infested and poorly maintained building. Don't rent with this real estate firm. read more

Wow. I don't have enough good things to say about Donna and Proper Real Estate. I was so stressed about finding a great place in Greenpoint. Donna was kind, patient, and diligent AND she found me a great deal in a beautiful building. It's so clear she knows the neighborhood like the back of her hand, has great relationships and connections with landlords and tenants alike throughout Greenpoint and Williamsburg and gets results. I was stuck in the whirlwind of StreetEasy and Zillow, having places disappear before I could call a broker. Not the case with Donna. I'm moving into my place on March 1st and I've already sent a few friends her way! read more

I have worked with Donna twice now- you simply must go to Proper Real Estate if you're looking for an apartment in Greenpoint- she and her family know everyone. We're really very happy with our new place- my husband wasn't there when I saw the apartment the first time and another couple put in their application. When that unfortunately fell through for them, Donna was kind enough to give me a call. I really appreciate her help and knowledge. Don't hesitate to take your business here! read more

Donna and Dorothy are mom and daughter team who grew up in the area. It was so helpful to look for a nice and clean apartment in greenpoint and can't recommend enough of their service. They are warm, nice, and personable! They have close relationship with landlords and knows who's the right fit. Must go to them if you are apartment hunting around the neighborhood. read more

If more people had the experience I did with Donna when looking for a place in Greenpoint moving wouldn't be so daunting. It was fast and smooth sailing from search to signing. read more

Donna and the rest of the team at Proper Real Estate are AMAZING!! I've been renting in New York for years and I've never dealt with a company so easy to work with. Unlike many real estate companies, their team is made up of very down to earth people who really care about finding you the perfect fit for a home. They are efficient, organized and were happy to respond to all of my questions. You can tell that this family owned business truly knows the neighborhood. They are an essential part of the Greenpoint/Williamsburg community. I am extremely grateful to have found them. I highly recommend working with them!! read more

Donna and her family are so wonderful to work with! Donna and her daughter got me a great deal on an apartment and were so kind and thorough throughout the whole process. It's been nearly impossible to find an affordable apartment in Greenpoint lately and with their help I was able to quickly secure the apartment I've been looking for! read more

By far the best rental experience I've had living in NYC after 7 years - wish I could give more than 5 stars! This is a wonderful family owned establishment that provides a white glove experience and looks out for their renters. Chris, Donna, and Dorothy were all extremely helpful during what is normally a very stressful process and I cannot say enough good things. So happy to have found the Proper Real Estate team and will plan to use their services for future rentals. read more

I cannot say enough good things about Donna, Jerry, Chris and Dorothy! They helped me rent my first studio apartment three years ago and have been SO fantastic ever since. The building my apartment was in, was always clean, well maintained, and newly renovated. After needing to move out of the city due to our current COVID climate - they let me break my lease without penalty. They have been so understanding and I couldn't recommend them more to potential renters. Thank you guys so much!!! read more

Donna and Patrick were extremely helpful in my apartment search. I had been searching for about 3 months in a really competitive market and they helped me find a perfect apartment. I highly recommend using their services! read more

Donna is THE BEST!!! We had such an easy, wonderful experience working with her and Proper Real Estate. She got us in to see a darling apartment before it was listed and helped us negotiate the rent and sign the lease with ease and professionalism. I have worked with so many brokers in NYC in the past, and she is hands down the best. She really makes you feel like she is on your side and wants the best for you! If we ever move again, I will absolutely ask for her help! read more

Donna and Dorothy helped me find an amazing apartment in Greenpoint! I could not be happier with the overall level of service they provided. Simply the best! read more

My boyfriend and I had to find a new apartment in a little over a week, and from the moment we landed upon a Proper Real Estate listing, we were so well taken care of. The agents were kind, patient, and honest, and they practically bent over backwards to help us get our new home. The approval and signing process was seamless, and we left very happy customers. Not to mention, it's clear that Proper is a staple in the community, make it just that much sweeter to do business with them. 10/10! read more

This is a far overdue review but well deserved nonetheless. Donna and her family team were so lovely and easy to work with when I moved to Williamsburg in January 2021. Clear and prompt communication, and plenty of patience to boot. read more

I rented a rent-stabilized, one-bedroom railroad from Donna at Proper (whom I liked - she seemed friendly, straight talking) about 5 years ago. It had some ugly elements to it - drop ceilings in some of the rooms, for instance - but I did a little work on it myself and was happy with it. Good deal, nice location in Greenpoint. After speaking with some of the other people living here, though, I discovered that the Polish landlord was overcharging some of the tenants and that he had a history of sending notices to tenants saying that his son or daughter was moving in and that he wouldn't renew their lease. When they moved out, a stranger would move in. Some of these tenants had questioned the illegal rent practices, others had just been there awhile and he wanted to raise the rents, in a quest to get as many apartments as possible out of regulation. Then Donna called me and told me my lease wouldn't be renewed because the landlord's daughter was moving in. She explained that the daughter was just finishing college, they would start eviction proceedings against me if I didn't go, etc. I got in touch with previous tenants who had been pushed out in this way, and they said that Donna had made the same call to them, saying the exact same thing - daughter was graduating from college (apparently the daughter has been doing this for over 7 years! A long graduation), etc. So, after living in this apartment for five years, I have to figure out what to do. If you want to use Donna at Proper, then you have to decide if it's worth it. You might get a good apartment, then be asked to leave it eventually, by Donna herself, for reasons that you know are dishonest (she seems to have a set script for this kind of thing, and must do it for many of the Polish landlords who hire her). It's a little frustrating, especially after you have paid her a broker's fee. If you rent a rent-stabilized apartment from her, I would urge you to immediately contact the Department of Housing and get a rent history. It's possible you are being over-charged (even by hundreds of dollars a month), but you only have about three years (less, in some cases) to remedy the situation. I have even heard stories about tenants in Greenpoint finding out they had been living in a rent-stabilized place for years without even knowing it. They had been paying market rates, being massively overcharged. Be aware of your rights, especially if you are dealing with Proper Real Estate. read more

If I could give her no stars, I would. Donna rented us an apartment in a building that was infested with bed bugs. Then she helped us find a new apartment a few weeks after that discovery - charging us no additional broker's fee (as was only right). After living in our place for 3 years, we discovered our new landlords were planning to renovate an apartment in our building without using a contractor licensed to deal with lead-based paint (as is required by federal and city law). We have an 8 month old. The landlords forced us out and Donna "brokered" the deal. Pretty awful. She's uneducated about the basics of tenancy and landlord rights, is only interested in protecting her business interests, and is a pretty terrible person to boot. She seemed to think it was extraordinary that we were still unhappy with being kicked out even after the landlords paid our moving expenses to get us out. We had to leave a rent-stabilized apartment and find a new place in 10 days, all with an 8 month old, because the landlords and Donna didn't want to abide by the law. I'm reporting her to the Better Business Bureau. Awful, awful, awful. read more

Thank you Yelp for letting us review real estate places on here.... I worked with Donna about a year and a half ago, and I can only barely remember her name because my roommate and I refer to her only as "Cat Hater". I even came up with a little tune at one point about how much Donna freaking HATES pets. Unfortunately she owns some properties in Greenpoint, or so she claims. She swore up and down that no matter how good the cat, or how litter box trained they are, "THEY WILL PISS ALL OVER THE FLOOR AND RUIN IT TRUST ME!!" Which is why she doesn't like to rent out to pet owners. She also lies about which places allow pets and which don't. I looked at the same apartments with different brokers after her, and they all told me that a cat or even a small dog was fine...... Cat Hater! Pet Hater!! She also tries really hard to not have to negotiate the price on an apartment at all. She tries to get the most money and fees as she can. She has an air of condescendence about her, and thinks she knows everything. I will say that she does have some decent apartments under her belt, so if you can sit there, grin and bare it, go for it. Just know that you might be paying a little more for an apartment then its worth. Also, try to talk to the landlord one on one without her there , especially if you have a pet, (honestly its really between you and them, Donna lies and says they won't budge but most of them will, especially for a cat.) trust me, Greenpoint is a super pet friendly area, Proper real estate just isn't a pet friendly agency. I managed to find a pet friendly apartment, and talk $200 off my rent for my awesome kickass apartment in Greenpoint.... no thanks to Donna. What did the kitty cats ever do to you Donna? read more

My guy and I used Proper Real Estate last month and they helped us find an apartment in Greenpoint quickly and within our budget. I'm in love with the apartment & the neighborhood. The process was... fine. Good: -Process was quick -Our apartment is fabulous Unfortunately, two shady things happened and they will keep me from recommending the broker to my friends, or to you: 1. We told Proper about our 10lb adult dog the second we walked in their office. Said we didn't want to see ANYTHING unless dogs were allowed. They assured us the apartment they showed us allowed dogs. It was written into lease & signed. Fast forward to two weeks after we move in, the landlord (awesome man) stops by and is *shocked* to see our dog. He said he specifically told Proper that he didn't want dogs in the apartment and they had told him we had a cat. His fault for not reading the lease before signing it, and he's fine with it now after meeting us and the dog... but definitely not how I want to start a 2-year relationship with my landlord....which is why I had been upfront from the beginning. 2. At the instruction of the broker, we left a check with them made out to the landlord for a specific date (move in date). I get a call one day (10 days prior to move in) saying that the broker had changed the date on my check so they could go ahead and give it to the landlord. Um. That's illegal. I calmly explained that I didn't feel comfortable with them changing anything that's written on my check and that if the landlord wanted the check for immediately, I'd bring another check. But it had already been done and given to him. I was about 2 minutes from calling the bank and stopping payment on the check.... but after speaking to the landlord myself, I felt better about it. Apparently our landlord knew nothing about this and assumed Proper had told us which date the check was to be written out for. I didn't want to fault the landlord for something the sketchy broker had done. So, yeah. Our story ended well... since our landlord is awesome and we're happy. I won't be using them again and I won't recommend to my friends. The fee was minimal (one month's rent) compared to other places, but I feel a little bitter that I paid so much to be lied to. Yuck. Bottom line: Proper Real Estate has good connections and can probably find you a great place/deal... but my advice if you do use them is to SPEAK TO THE LANDLORD YOURSELF before you sign anything. And make sure you are there for all negotiations. read more

I have been having the hardest time finding an apartment, even though I have great credit and excellent references. I did not have a NYC job and my current residence is out of state, so I was told by most realtors that I needed a guarantor. I called Dorothy about an apartment listed on "naked apartments". I explained my situation and they were perfectly willing to work with me. Patrick showed me the place, and was very friendly and professional. I told them I was very interested, so I brought my checkbook and paperwork to Donna at their office. I knew that there were other people very interested in the apartment, but Donna's hard work, speed and experience, landed me with a signed lease that day. I couldn't be happier with my experience. read more

After a disastrous experience with another broker, my boyfriend and I went to Donna on my friend's recommendation. She found us a large 1 1/2 bedroom for $400 less than our monthly budget. Awesome? Awesome. Why not 5 stars? Donna can be a little difficult to get ahold of because she does such a high volume of business. You also have to be really fast -- when she says to come see an apartment, go as soon as possible because it'll be gone tomorrow. Overall, though, we were really satisfied and would definitely use Proper Real Estate again to find a Greenpoint apartment. read more

I worked a bit with Donna a few months ago. They showed me and my girlfriend a few apartments. One was CLOSE to what I was looking for, but not right. We had already given her a list of things we were looking for over the phone, which she neglected to consider. Donna kept doing this annoying thing where she would ask, "it's a nice apartment, right!?" while nodding her head and smiling. Almost like a jedi mind trick thing, but the Force was weak in Donna, so I was unconvinced. When my girlfriend and I didn't sign any leases, we got the third degree, and declarations that we weren't going to find anything better in our price range (which was $1600). Donna kept asking, "why? why? why?". You want to know why? First of all, I don't feel I have to explain myself to a greedy little broker for a service that I potentially will be paying a month's rent. If I say it's not what I'm looking for, save your breath and both of our time and let's move on. Secondly, if I told you I don't want to live on the east side of McGorlick Park because it's not close enough to the trains, you shouldn't have taken me to an apartment that far out. Telling me that it's "not that far" from the trains isn't going to trick me into agreeing. I would be the one that has to make that crappy trek day in and day out to commute to work, so if I say it's too far, then for me, it's too far. Third, I'm a grown ass man in my 30s who isn't willing to put up with roaches, crappy water pressure, and a view of a brick wall. Not that I feel I have to explain that. Luckily for me, I didn't have to pay a broker one copper penny. A friend hooked me up with a perfect apartment for less than I was willing to pay. Hey, I'll pay for a broker if I have to, and they find me a place I want. But in full disclosure, I think the lot of them should be drown in a river like a bag of rabid raccoons. read more

Donna told us to hold off on applying to a few apartments that were at the top of our price range, because something comparable but less expensive was about to become available. She contacted us when the cheaper ($300 less per month!) apartment was available. We viewed it that day, were the first to see it, and signed the lease the same evening! The whole process was quick, easy, and well worth the brokers fee. read more

I would suggest Proper Real Estate to any of my friends and family. They are a warm, welcoming business that takes all the stress away from finding an apt in New York. They helped my sister and I find an apartment in Greenpoint and we couldn't be happier. They are upfront and professional and make the leasing process smooth and efficient. They care about their customers and are very upfront and honest when considering different areas and helped us find the best fit for us. They helped us find an apartment better than we could have imagined getting. If I need to ever move again, Proper Real Estate will be the first people I call. read more

Family-owned business that has been in the neighborhood for decades. They know and are trusted by all the Polish landlords and, better yet, know how to talk with them to get what you want. They aren't caught up in making big bucks for themselves and are friendly and, get this, HONEST. I can't believe I just called a broker honest. But Donna and Chris are--they're the shit. read more

SERIOUSLY. You guys, I'm working with Donna right now and she's fucking amazing. She's hands down one of the nicest brokers we've dealt with. I have a cat, she knows i have a cat and she's completely accommodating. We've put a deposit down on a place super close to the trains, for 1600$ that will probably be cool with the fact we have cats. It's not up to her, it's up to the landlord. suck it. she rules, proper real estate rules. I never want to work with any company ever again. everyone who gave a bad review is wrong... read more

I just had a fantastic experience with this broker. All of the other brokers I spoke with said that the apartment I wanted (2 bedroom for $1600 or less) didn't exist in Greenpoint, and Proper showed us places that fit the bill, one of which we took for below $1600. Numerous friends recommended them, and I'm happy to say my expectations were met. If I ever find myself looking for a place in Greenpoint again I'll be going there. Honestly I'm pretty mystified by some of these negative reviews--I didn't have anything close to a bad experience, and felt like I was in good hands with Donna, the woman doing the negotiations with the landlord. Everything happened in a timely manner, with minimal waiting around time, and the broker's fee was a standard one month's rent. In addition, the person that showed us the apartments was really forthcoming with information about the area (closest laundromats, new restaurants/bars, grocery stores, etc.). read more

Donna at Proper Real Estate really helped us out. Unlike most brokers who just show up late, let you in, lie about the price, and then have the audacity to demand thousands of dollars for their "service", the folks at Proper actually helped me in my housing search. They specialize in Greenpoint / Williamsburg, and have a lot of ties to the Polish community there it seems. They gladly showed me half a dozen properties in the area and kept calling when new ones showed up. When we finally found the right place (which was right where we wanted it and in the price range we were looking for), they helped close the deal fast so we could move in immediately. They even helped negotiate a new fridge and air conditioner! read more

My overall experience with Proper Real Estate was great! I mostly worked with Donna and Patrick but anytime I visited the office, the whole staff interacted with me in. Everyone was very friendly and helpful. Donna was professional,and genuinely seemed to care. If i were to move again in the future I would definitely return and go through this company. read more

They should change the name of this place to Donna Gets It Done. Look, finding a good deal in Greenpoint is (to quote Clueless) like trying to find meaning in a Pauly Shore film. But Proper Real Estate will find that meaning, and in your price range. Our new landlord had our (baller) apartment listed with another company for $400 more a month, but Donna handled the negotiations and got us in for the original price of $2K (after other brokers, like the corporate scumbags at Apartments and Lofts, told me that was Just Not Possible in Greenpoint). And she could do this because she knew the owner, speaks Polish, and is basically the Queen Bee of real estate in GP. Here's how you do it folks: be available. My roomie and I got our dream apartment because when they said jump, we said how high. Real estate is a shitshow, but unless you plan to see places *as soon as they come up* (literally, within hours), someone keener and more available will get it, and become the first person she calls. Keep your phone on and be prepared to leave work early and often. Good luck! read more