!!!!DO NOT RENT THE BASEMENT APARTMENT ON 46 STREET AND BROADWAY BUILDING NUMBER 32-18!!!!!!! THE OWNERS AND THE REALTORS ARE VERY SNEAKY AND SHADY!!! This review is a little over due but I just wanted to make sure I got my deposit back, because that's how shady Sterling and the owner of the apartment I rented is. I rented a basement apartment on 46 street and Broadway. The process of renting was with Kate. I would say it went rather smooth, but than again they knew I was desperate for an apartment. After I gave her $500.00 to take it OFF the market, another realtor almost walks into the apartment to show my new apartment AFTER I SIGNED THE LEASE?!?! Five months go by and I went to meet my boyfriend outside. We were gone for only 15 minutes and when we came back I noticed my litter box was moved and pulled out from its corner and turning facing the bathroom (pictures will be put up to explain.) I know there's NO way I moved it or my cat, its one of those huge litter boxes, actually really heavy! So, my boyfriend then decided to snap pictures in the hallway in different spots. He snapped his first couple that day, and boy, we were up ALL night til the next day because of the things we found in pictures in that basement apartment, we left the next day (pictures will be put up.) When the bathroom door is open, the mirrors reflect down the hallway, which is where most faces were captured and every time we went back we kept taking pictures. The first picture we saw, which was the day of the incident was a man and a woman. When we zoomed in on the phone we saw a man and a white woman. Now, I believe in this kind of stuff to an extent but wow, when you see faces behind you in a picture it becomes realer than real. I just bursted into tears, couldn't believe this was actually happening. Every picture we took after that had a face, it wasn't like we captured one and would convince ourselves that were crazy, faces just kept showing in our pictures clear as day. The next couple of pictures were big faces, small faces, deteriorating faces, faces with teeth and just the whole vibe in the apartment was negative even before we took the pictures. This happened April 29th. I tried my best to contact the owner and tell him I wanted to leave but as usual he never called back, just like all the "supers" that were supposed to come and change my lights, you know, those long iridescent lights that people have in their offices that are extremely difficult to change. And the only attempt he made was showing up on a Sunday morning and calling my cell phone at 7 am when I waited two days before on a Thursday on my day off only because he said he was going to show up. What a waste of a day that was. Finally, Margaret contacts me from Sterling, mind you she was not the person who I worked with from the beginning. She then begins to tell me that for each day the apartment is not rented they can keep that days rent from my deposit. Whatever. She than tried to make a deal with me. The deal was if I left on May 18th they would give me back $300.00 from my rent of $1200. Does that sound the least bit fair to you. I finally negotiated and we came to a verbal agreement of $500.00 back If I was done packing and leave on Sunday the 19th and I would get a check for my $500.00 dollar dog deposit and 1 month security. So Saturday May 18th comes and Margaret comes to bring me the $500 dollar deposit. She then tries to tell me that if you divide the number of days with the rent I should really be getting back a rough estimate of $460, not $500. THAN WHERE DID YOU GET $300 FROM????? I simply told her no and for the simple fact that after we made a verbal agreement she calls and tells me that the deal is off because the people cannot move in anymore. Are you serious I had to book a storage unit and a u haul because they wanted me out in THREE DAYS and they think they can cancel just like that? Back to the day when she came over, I told her I was taking out all the locks in the door and putting back the ONE lock they gave us. She leaves and comes back 15 minutes later explaining that Mike will be out of town and that hell get me my deposit next wek. NO WAY I told her, the deal was I would leave early if i got my deposits plus the $500.00 and when I told her I would leave she said shed give me a company check and comes the next day pissed of with a personal check. I took it and never looked back. That place and those people were a HORROR!!! PS. I still have not gotten a copy of the lease til this day and FYI after I told the owner's family, the supers and the realtors which some (not giving any names) agreed with what we saw they raised the rent $100.00!! read more

This place does not even deserve a single star... Let me begin by giving a special S/O to Andreas (the listing agent on the place we wanted), who was not only unprofessional, unreasonable, AND unresponsive, BUT ALSO: - tried to convince MY realtor to manipulate me out of more $$ for a fee UNDER THE TABLE (thank goodness my rep had better ethics than that) - continued to ask for more and more financial info that was out of the norm in a way that seemed like he was fishing for net worth more than "credit worthiness" and justified the third degree he gave us by very unprofessionally implying that my partner and I looked like we could "break up" at any moment or turn out to be squatters (b.c of the rent moratorium - which is not only dismissive and COLD to people who needed that moratorium to keep their homes but also a PRESUMPTUOUS AND GROSS thing to say to a potential client...) - failed to submit my application for SEVERAL DAYS after receiving it, until we practically begged him to do so by which point the place was already taken (which could mean it was either already off market and Sterling23 were fishing for extra application fees, or the landlord never got my app to begin with so we were NEVER even considered) - and couldn't be bothered to answer his phone in a timely manner, at all, or worse, couldn't give a straight answer to anything without 30 minutes of mansplaining how real estate works... And for those of you w/ student loan debt (b.c you got a college education like so many MILLIONS of others), BEWARE: Sterling23 Realty CONSIDERS YOU A LIABILITY. No matter if you make MORE than enough money to pay back your loans...and definitely missing the irony that they're harshly judging applicants for debt they incurred IN ORDER TO GET THE JOB THAT ALLOWS THEM TO PAY THEIR RENT IN THE FIRST PLACE.... But you know, maybe they just thought we were too "UPPITY," if you catch my drift... Hate to say we were discriminated against (despite Andreas actions all but telling us so), but Sterling Realty: either be better or just OUTRIGHT TELL PEOPLE YOU'RE PREJUDICED AND LAZY. read more

Five stars on Yelp denotes 'As good as it gets' and INDEED Sterling Realty Solutions is just that. As good as it gets. In New York City those words go a long way, especially among Millenials who know they have a wealth of options at their fingertips. My girlfriend and I, we would never have been able to navigate the tricky, real estate underbelly of New York City without their help. Specifically the delightfully approachable and quick-to-respond Anna Pobyvanets. I couldn't possibly recommend her enough. She is every Millenials dream. Anna will work with you over text, answer any questions you may have, and won't bat an eyelash, no matter how much you pester her, change your mind, jump around, etc. I am a scatterbrain in every sense of the word and she had no issues whatsoever keeping up with me in our iMessage thread as well as our e-mail thread. Anna is truly an Agent for the 21st century. She GETS IT. I never met any other members of the team until I went in for the lease signing (yay us!) but they were just as friendly as Anna was and I bet if I had collaborated with them instead, it would have been just as smooth as working with Anna was. What else can I say? They were awesome. Straight shooters through and through. If you're looking for an apartment in Astoria, which is only going to get more and in-demand as the years go by, then look no further than Sterling Realty. They have your back! And your front too! read more

My boyfriend and I stumbled upon Sterling Realty when we walked by one of their Open Houses on a random Saturday. We knew that we were in the market to move in the next few months so figured it couldn't hurt to walk in and check out the new building since the area was already of interest. Even though we wen't very serious about locking anything down that day, Andreas spent a solid 30 minutes showing us all of the building amenities and different layouts of the units. He was extremely knowledgeable but also laid back (not sales-y like many of the realtors in the city), letting us take our time as we took a closer look at everything. His demeanor and knowledge of the building/area ultimately motivated us to push up our move and secure one of the new units in the building. Andreas let us go unit-by-unit until we nailed down the perfect apartment for us. He even worked with us to push back the lease start date as far as he could to help us coordinate with our existing leases. We're so grateful for Andreas's help throughout this process and highly recommend Sterling Realty as a true ally in the apartment search! read more

I finally understand the value of a broker in NYC! I have met with countless real estate agents within the past couple of years, and none compare to the patience, kindness, and determination that embody the realtors at Sterling Realty. I worked with both Andreas and Helen, who worked day in and day out to find us the perfect apartment. We were three girls looking for a nice, affordable 3 bedroom in Astoria that was pet-friendly. It wasn't an easy task, but Andreas and Helen stuck with us. Within minutes of an apartment being listed, they would call us. Andreas bought us coffees and physically drove us to and from apartment showings. Helen consistently followed up with me, and I received at least 8 phone calls within 3 days asking how I was, if we liked an apartment, even if she wasn't the one who showed us. They both worked hard to lower prices, and I truly felt that they cared. We eventually found the perfect apartment with a wonderful landlord. We couldn't be more relieved or more grateful. Work with Sterling Realty. You won't regret it! read more

If you've ever looked for an apartment in New York, then you're aware it's kind of like the Hunger Games. When my fiance and I were trying to find a place in Astoria that would be move in ready by the end of May at the latest (we had to be out of graduate student housing before June), we did not know what we were up against before we started our search. Luckily, we found Sterling Realty on StreetEasy, and even more fortuitous we got connected with Dmitry! Dmitry definitely came through for us after we had our first apartment essentially stolen out from under us at the last second. He quickly helped us problem solve the situation and offered to show us another apartment the next day that wasn't even on the market yet. We ended up falling in love with the new place and locked it down on the spot--plus, it was in a MUCH better than the first apartment we lost (everything happens for a reason, right?) Bottom line: if you are looking for an apartment in Astoria, definitely go with Dmitry at Sterling Realty, you won't be disappointed! read more

After dealing with a few brokers in Astoria, my fiance and I quickly realized Andreas was different. He showed us one apartment we found on streeteasy, and after showing it to us he picked up on our body language that this apartment was not going to be a good fit. He asked if we had the time to go see another apartment building in which he had multiple units available He spent about 30 minutes with us going back and forth between 3 apartments at the new building, helping us decide which one would be right. He was helpful, knowledgeable, and had a great relationship with the owner and building management company. After choosing the apartment and filling out the application on Saturday, we were approved and signed the lease on Monday. Andreas worked with the management company to get us the lease quickly so we could read it in advance and arranged an early move in date. Overall, I would highly recommend Andreas to anyone looking for a new apartment. He was professional, courtesy, and honest during the process. read more

I used Sterling Realty back in May 2012 to help me find my current apartment . I worked with Kate and she was such a huge help and a pleasure to work with. She listened to what I as looking for in my ideal apartment and found it on the 1st try!! At the time I was working with a handful of other brokers and while they were all nice and from reputable places I just wasn't impressed with any of the places they showed me. Kate worked hard until the very moment I moved in. The rental was for a 1 year lease and she talked the landlord into 2 years at my request, she ran around and got me my new apartment keys when I was stuck at work, she even ran over to the apartment to accept the delivery of the new refrigerator when I couldn't be there. These were things she did after I paid all my money & all paper work was signed. She could have easily not kept in touch with me after that but that is not how she operates. I would highly recommend Kate and Sterling Realty to anyone I know. read more

We worked with Andreas, the owner of the place. We sort of stumbled upon Sterling Realty when we were looking at apartments in the area. We were immediately greeted by one of his agents, whom we communicated our needs. We were fortunate to have Andreas there within a couple minutes we walked in. Understanding our needs, he quickly showed us a place that came in the market recently. My friend and I were both pleased with the place and decided to sign immediately. The approval process, signing, and meeting the landlord all took within two days, which could have taken a couple hours had we been more prepared the first day. The entire process moved extremely quick and efficient - only capable with Andreas's dexterity in client services and business efficiency. He was a pleasure to work with, and a trusted resource for all who have the privilege of doing so. read more

AMAZING SERVICE!!! Working with Luis at Sterling23 was easily the best experience I have ever had working with an apartment broker. After being in NYC for several years, I have experienced many terrible broker experiences and many who have conducted business in a very shady way. Luis was the complete opposite. From our first showing of the apartment, Luis was never pushy, answered every question, and was amazing at coordinating everything we needed when negotiating the lease with the owners. Above all, he was EXTREMELY flexible and accommodating in helping us through the rental process despite our very demanding work schedules. He took care of everything! This was without question the easiest and smoothest renting experience I have ever had. If you are looking for an apartment in Queens without question go to Sterling23 and ask for Luis! read more

My roommate and I had such a fantastic experience with Anna. She went out of her way to get us our amazing 2 bedroom apartment in a brand new building!! and we couldn't be anymore thankful. We needed a place pretty fast, so she quickly understood what we are looking for and made herself available the following day to give us a tour of all the places that matched our criteria. The next day Anna was kind enough to drive us to all the apartments (which by the way were exclusive for Sterling Realty). She was incredibly honest and gave us all the pros and cons for each apartment. We made our decision the same day, left a deposit and within 24 hours signed our lease for our AWESOME 2 bedroom apartment in a brand new building! We would definitely recommend Anna and assure you that you will be in good hands! read more

My husband emailed Sterling Realty on a Monday and within a week, we had found a great apartment! Margarita was quick to respond to our email request and had apartments to show us right away. We saw about a dozen places in 2 days, all in different parts of Astoria. Margarita is sweet, kind, helpful and clearly knows the area very well. She asked plenty of questions and listened to our needs. Margarita was informative and worked with us in every step of the process, down to the lease signing. She even provided me with a recipe for a home remedy for colds, as I was a little under the weather on the days we went looking at places. :) (What a thoughtful, extra touch!) Overall, we were very happy to work with Sterling Realty and especially with Margarita Kostenkova. Recommended! read more

Working with Alex Bjorklund at Sterling Realty was truly a dream of an experience. From the get go, he was communicative, prepared, friendly, and most of all honest in all of our interactions with him. After contacting him about a property we saw online which was already taken, he took us to a different apartment in the same neighborhood that soared above our expectations - he then helped us through the application, got us the fee we wanted, and now I can't wait to move in. I have never had such a completely positive and stress free experience with apartment hunting in New York. I'm blown away, and so grateful to Alex for all his work and professionalism. Andreas, who met with us to sign the lease, was also extremely helpful and professional. HIGHLY recommend! read more

Definitely recommend ! My boyfriend and I were looking for an apartment in our budget all over New York with or without broker. It turned out that it wasn't so easy... Some of the places were def not presentable small AND expensive , not to mention that broker didn't even bother to come and show us the apartment himself!! With Sterling Realty this wasn't the case! Dmitry was our broker and trust me when I tell you : he makes it happen!:) Whatever your needs, location and price, he will listen and then find the best possible apartment for you! Now thanks to the agency and especially thanks to Dmitry we have our nice and affordable apartment in Astoria . Don't hesitate, they are great and know the market very well! Good luck in your search! read more

Margarita Kostenkova was an absolutely ideal broker, and helped me find an amazing apartment in Astoria! Margarita was always on time and always available to speak. She was extremely quick to respond to all the questions I had. Throughout the entire difficult process of finding an apartment, I felt like I had someone I could count on to help me with whatever I needed help with. She also always wore a mask and took all Covid safety precautions. I also briefly met Andreas at Sterling, and he too seemed like a wonderful individual to help you find a place. In short, I couldn't be happier with my experience with Margarita and Sterling23. Thank You! read more

I had the excellent experience of working with Andreas from Sterling Realty. Let me initially begin by giving the highest praise to this realty group; they are polite, punctual, and work their hardest to find the perfect place for you. In regards to Andreas, he responded immediately, worked around challenges (I arranged the entire leasing of the apartment from Mississippi), and ensured that I as the client was pleased. In addition, Andreas and Sterling Realty have a great understanding of Astoria! If you are looking to move to Astoria, LIC, or anywhere in western Queens, you need to do yourself a favor and work with this realty group. read more

I worked with Dmitry Kolpakov to find a new apartment in Astoria. He worked hard for us and when an apartment we hoped for fell through on our end, he stayed on the case. We've now got a great two-bedroom in a family-owned building on a quiet street. Dmitry was clearly on good terms with the landlords, and we couldn't be happier with how he listened to our hopes for a place and found us somewhere on a very limited time-table. He made what can be a very scary situation much less so, and without any pressure or sharkiness. He knows the neighborhood well, and I would happily recommend him to friends. read more

Hey everyone! I just wanted to share my experience with the guys from Sterling. I actually found an apartment thru them last year... They were very helpful and showed me quite a few options, even though my budget was pretty low. A couple of months ago, my friends were looking for a place, so i recommended Sterling, and guys were very helpful again. They followed up with my friends, and went out of the way to find something for them. They had to co operate with some other broker, but they managed to get them a place. I would recommend them to anyone - they work hard for their money!!!!!!!! read more

My two roommates and I started our move to Astoria with very little idea of just what we were getting ourselves into. Luckily, we were introduced to Anna while we were looking at an apartment and it is thanks to her we live in Astoria today. Even after one offer falling through, Anna was able to find us something else that fit what we were looking for in no time flat and she made us feel very comfortable with her and Astoria in general. We love the place we are in now and if we ever wanted to move we would absolutely be looking to Anna and Sterling Realty Solutions first. read more