Testimonials

I've used Compass (specifically Mat and Christine from the Blackburn team) for both finding a rental and purchasing an apartment. My first experience with them was for a rental and it was a pretty standard, run-of-the-mill service. We also already knew what building we wanted to move into so it was about admin more than anything else. I have to give credit to Mat who was very flexible and accommodating with me since half the deal was taking place while I was in the Netherlands. For the purchase of my home, which we only recently closed, they were absolutely fantastic. Buying a home in New York City is stressful and when you're buying from a sponsor, it is easy to feel like you are being taken advantage of. Mat was beyond patient with us, he spent a lot of time talking to us - listening to our concerns and providing advice. Any time I felt anxiety about anything, I would text Mat and within 2 minutes I'd have a response and more often than not, a phone call to talk through it. I really felt like he went above and beyond and would highly recommend him to anyone. Christine has been a great additional support. While we only chatted on a few occasions, she very patiently would talk me through the purchase process, what to expect, and make sure I didn't have any concerns. The very slight criticism I have is that they recommended a lawyer that I felt was extremely mediocre and not at all interested in fighting for us but I believe they've had some good feedback on her from other clients so maybe our experience was a fluke. I would highly recommend them and will definitely use them again if needed.

I can honestly say that it was a pleasure to work with the Barak Blackburn team at compass when I sold my condo in Brooklyn last year. The team came highly recommended by a trusted friend in the industry, and when I met them in person I was impressed with their knowledge of the area and many years of experience. The sale of my condo wound up being complicated and took many months because of issues with the building which I owned. I was so grateful through the entire process to have partners in the entire Barak Blackburn team guiding me through every step in the sale and every complicated decision to make along the way. Christine, in particular, was incredibly generous with her time and advice and helped lift my spirits at times when things were particularly challenging. I am so grateful to her and the entire team for their unfailing commitment and optimism about selling my apartment. In the end, I wound up getting an all-cash deal and everything worked out with the sale and the closing beautifully. I couldn't have been happier with the result! If you want to work with real professionals who know the real estate business inside and out, and who have advise you can trust, I recommend working with the Barak Blackburn team.

Stephen is the best Realtor®️ I have ever worked with. From day one, he made everything easy and simple. I feel he advocated on my behalf and really made the sale happen. Closing on an apartment during the pandemic was no easy feat! Amazing that he could negotiate to get me the asking price even as prices were dropping. I really felt he kept me updated at every step of the way and took the time and effort to check in with me. He was amazing with the open houses and that certainly helped to sell my condo. I was worried about selling my apartment with no furniture, but he reassured me and arranged for virtual staging, which was astounding! My apartment looked stunning in the brochures without being “fake looking”. I highly recommend Stephen to anyone looking to buy or sell. He’s a detail-oriented, hard-working Realtor®️!

I've known the Barak Blackburn team for quite a few years, and they always rise to excellence. My friend, Marlon James, an established author, told me in mid-December 2017 that he has been looking for a place in NYC for over 6 months and haven't found the right place, yet. He was looking for a place where he could live comfortably, work on his upcoming back, and pay a fair price. I, immediately, knew that the Barak Blackburn team would solve his quest. And indeed, the agent showed him 4 places in one day, and he texted me: "Thank you for the introduction. I love them all" he signed the lease!

Christine came as a recommendation from a friend. From the initial contact, she came back with a game plan, pricing, and strategy for getting our house on the market. Even though we delayed the start, as soon as we were ready, Christine and her team went full steam ahead. Within a very short period, we were under contract. In the time leading to closing, she kept us informed and advised us on what we needed to prepare for the final date. The experience with her and the team was fantastic. We highly recommend them for any of your real estate transactions.

Our experience with the Barak Blackburn team has been very positive. They are down-to-earth, patient, friendly, and know the neighborhoods we were looking in very well. We worked primarily with Christine and we felt that she helped us get a good price on our current house. She is also a fun person to look at houses with! We have worked with quite a few real estate agents in New York City and we will only use the Barak Blackburn team going forward.