Merit Group & Associates Real Estate Brokerage Firm

I was so fortunate to find Paul and Linda after dealing with the typical slimy NYC firms. You know the ones-- the places that look more like the floor of the NYSE than a room of people who want to help you find your home. The places that make you sign an agreement pledging 15% commission before ever stepping foot in an apartment. The places that blatantly show you the wrong apartment, or that pull the "Sorry, that was just rented, let me show you some similar places [that are further away and dirtier and shittier]." And of course, all of this is when those firms bother getting back to you at all.

That is NOT what I found at Merit. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere is warm and familial. Throughout the search and application process (including when the first place I applied to fell through, and I wasn't charged the application fee), Paul and Linda really listened to my concerns. They took their time with me; for example, I wanted to see a place that already had an application pending, just in case, and Paul took me. We both knew it was a waste of time, but it was still helpful for me to go. They were honest and upfront with me, knowledgeable about the neighborhoods in which I looked, and--perhaps most importantly--Paul convinced me to expand my search. If I hadn't, I wouldn't be writing this from the new apartment I love in Jackson Heights.

Like many non-native Manhattan dwellers, my experience with Queens was limited to a few basic landmarks (a bar or two in Astoria, Citifield, LGA.... yeah that's it). So when Paul first suggested Jackson Heights, I told him it was too far. Case closed. Look at a map. Still, the pickings in Sunnyside at my budget were slim, so eventually I relented and agreed to just look at a couple of places in Jackson Heights. As we drove over, Paul pointed out restaurants I might like and told me about the neighborhood.

I ended up in a studio with a brand new kitchen and bathroom, courtyard space, a few blocks from the trains. It's not "too far"; my commute to Midtown is exactly the same as it was when I lived in the East Village.

And to boot, my broker's fee was less than those aforementioned sleazy Manhattan firms.

Paul and Linda were great to work with and I am very grateful to have found them!

[Also posted on Yelp]

A real Neighborhood Professional, Very Helpful and Friendly. Paul and Linda were most concerned that the Sunnyside Area was right for my needs, they wanted to make sure that I would be happy there. Sunnyside is defineitly an area that you need a Local Professional to find the best deal. I will recommend Paul and Linda at Merit friends and family.

Apartment hunting has been a nightmare for me. Aisha was eager to help me find a new place in Brooklyn. She was great at communicating and flexible with scheduling as my work hours are odd. She asked me questions to better understand what I was looking for which I appreciated because she saved me time in the long run. I felt compelled to write a review after seeing someone complain about her as she was very informative about the neighborhood and took me to go see multiple buildings. I agreed to meet Aisha at a coffee shop near the apartment so we could go over paperwork because realtors are not allowed to give out addresses until a disclosure form from the Department of State has been signed. My experience with Aisha was extremely pleasant and I would recommend her to anyone looking for an apartment because unlike other realtors, she was honest and compassionate.

My partner and I needed to find an apartment quickly. Linda - one of the Merit brokers - came in on a Saturday (during a BLIZZARD) and helped us secure an amazing apartment for $125 under the original value within 24hrs, working from dusk till dawn.

point is, I highly highly recommend using Merit!

(fyi I posted this same review on Yelp. it's not spam, I just wanted to make sure people found this review since there are 0 online reviews about them so far!)