Zealestate Group - Brooklyn, New York

Jenna C. E.

Omar went above and beyond! Last fall, we toured an apartment just to get a sense of layout/location, etc, as we couldn't move until the following summer. Omar remembered our fondness for the building and the block, and reached out to us months later when there was a unit available, saving us the hassle of a search! He also managed the renovation of the apartment prior to us moving in, and it was better than we ever could have imagined it. A gorgeous new kitchen, thoughtful touches all around the apartment (covered radiators, a coat rack and key hook installed! And more!). Omar and his team did such amazing work and we are so grateful to them and love our new home. Thank you, Omar!

Daniel Q.

Stay away from this firm! So unbelievably unprofessional. When I was working with them I went to look at online reviews and found that about half were negative, I should have listened to the reviewers! It would have saved me a huge headache.

I worked with Omar. He was barely responsive, and only after multiple texts/emails from me asking for follow ups. I eventually got through and signed the lease for a wonderful apartment in Park Slope.

A few days after I signed, Omar tells me the landlord won't countersign the lease until after I wire them the first month's and security deposit. When I told Omar that I had a few questions about this and wanted clarification before I wire them thousands of dollars, he went on a full tirade equal to what I can only say was a 7 year old who didn't get what he wanted for dinner and his parents were making him eat broccoli.

Meanwhile, I get an email from the landlord saying that Omar told her that I refuse to pay rent and am no longer interested in the apartment. Which wasn't true, I just wanted a clarification before I send thousands of dollars! He texts me saying that he and the landlord no longer want to work with me and they will refund me the "good faith deposit" I sent them. All of this happened within 20 minutes.

Honestly, the most unprofessional person I have encountered while living in NYC.

Frank O.

Worked with Omar trying to find an apartment for me and my wife in Brooklyn. Omar was fantastic. Had a lot of great places to show us and did so efficiently, mostly driving us around to each place. Wasn't pushy at all. Gave us his honest opinion on places. Overall made the experience as painless as possible. Worked with a bunch of real estate agents in the past and he is by far and away the best.

Charley L.

My husband and I worked with Omar over a two day period and we signed a lease at the end of the second day. When you set up an appointment to view an apartment you will most likely be viewing it with other people (we were looking during the busy month of August) but he doesn't make you feel like it's a competition. The best part about using Zealestate is that they move fast and Omar knows the people in the surrounding neighborhoods - handymen, landlords, tenants, neighbors, etc. - which makes it feel like you aren't using a shady broker. The broker's fee is equivalent to what you will find anywhere else but Omar is really taking you into consideration when he places you in a unit. He worked with us to find the right place and made sure that both landlord and tenants would be a good fit. Also, he was very respectful to other tenants moving out while showing their apartment and even offered to bring one tenant coffee - he is frank with you and doesn't want to waste anyone's time. Would use them again for sure!

Note: Was training more people while we were there.

Aaron M.

Avoid at all possible.

A week ago, we found an apartment through StreetEasy listed through Omar/Zealestate. When we questioned the high broker fee -- 15%! -- he offered a lower monthly rent.

However, when he sent us the application later that night, he included the higher monthly rent. We noted this as we submitted all of our paperwork (W2s, banking accounts, etc) and paid for the application fee.

We never heard from him again. No one was in the office when we stopped by during the week. He took our application money but never responded to multiple emails, calls, and voicemails.

Joseph C.

Made an appointment to meet with Omar to see an apartment in Gowanus. 15 minutes prior to the showing I received a text stating, "I'd like to inform you in advance that there is a 12 to 15 percent fee on the apartment based on income and credit." i asked if it was negotiable and he immediately texted back, "let's cancel". I received an email seconds later informing me the appointment was cancelled. The fact that he refused to show me the apartment, abruptly sent a cancellation and was unwilling to meet with me is a nonstarter. I am in sales for a living and would never, ever treat a prospective client this way. I have low expectations from agents and brokers in general, but this is a new low.

Shannon K.

Omar was very professional, friendly, and EFFICIENT. He was very good at squeezing as many apartments as possible into the limited time we had, and ensuring that we only saw apartments that fit our criteria and style.
Will be using Omar again on our next move.

In fact, I’ve been through 5 brokers in NYC to date and Omar is the only one that I would use a second time.

Amanda L.

I put down a $500 deposit on an apartment, and was told I would receive the second half of the application that evening via email - which I never received. When I contacted Jonathan (I had to email and call just to find out why we never received the second part of the application), he said the landlord did not want to rent to two people (married couple). He said we could come get back the deposit, as promised in the receipt we were given, since we were not approved, but then when I tried to schedule an appointment for getting the money back, he would not respond to my numerous calls, text messages, emails, etc. I contacted the general phone number listed for the company, and was told Jonathan would get back to me, but he did not, and then I was no longer getting a response from the general phone number either. These people are con artists, and illegally withholding deposits given in good faith! Do not use zealestate!