COVID-19’s Impact on Boston Real Estate This is an unedited re-post of an article originally published on May 2nd, 2020 during the first wave of Covid in Massachusetts. Since Q2 2020, the All-Transactions House Price Index for the Boston Metropolitan Read More
How to Find the Right Apartment: Balancing Price, Location, and Amenities Balancing Act Finding the perfect home is rare—that’s why most people rent instead of buy. Renting requires a balance of priorities and some level of compromise. The three main Read More
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EXCELLENTTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I moved very last minute from California to Boston and I had heard that, to find an apartment, it was crucial to get a good broker. Well, I’m so happy that Greg was recommended to me! He went above and beyond to send me apartment options, give me virtual tours over FaceTime or YouTube, and was very communicative about the whole process. I really felt very advocated for in a housing market that I was not familiar with. I will def. reach out to him again if I need to move within Boston in the future!
Owner's reply
Thanks so much for the review Santi! I’m happy we were able to quickly secure you a great apartment in this competitive market and that you felt well informed throughout the process. It was great working with you. Best of luck in your new place and welcome to Boston!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Working with Greg was great! I had full trust in him, and he went above and beyond to help us find a place while we were still across the country--doing FaceTime viewings, following up with other agents, etc. I would definitely recommend working with Greg to friends and family.
Owner's reply
Thank you for the kind words, Katie! We're happy to hear that Greg was able to help you in your apartment search, even from afar. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we look forward to helping your friends and family in the future!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Blackacre Properties was a pleasure to work with! I’m a first time landlord and they helped find me great tenants for my condo in Boston and took away the stress of the process. Greg and Julina kept in constant communication and handled all of the paperwork for the rental. They are true professionals and easy to work with. I will absolutely use Blackacre again.
Owner's reply
Sean, thanks so much for taking the time to leave a 5-star review! We're thrilled to hear about your positive experience with Greg and Julina. We love working with first-time landlords and are glad to know your experience was seamless and stress-free. We look forward to working with you again!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. It was an absolute pleasure working with Greg! He was incredibly responsive and supportive through our entire moving process. Greg helped us rent our Boston apartment and find a new place on the South Shore. He was respectful of our time and highly professional. I could not recommend working with Greg more. We will continue to work with him for years to come!
Owner's reply
Hi Julia, thanks so much for your kind review of Greg and Blackacre Properties! We love working with clients like you, who know exactly what they’re looking for in a new home. Congrats on your wonderful new place on the South Shore and we look forward to working with you again!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I cannot recommend Greg and Blackacre Properties highly enough. Having lived in Boston on and off for over a decade, I suddenly found myself needing to rent an apartment in downtown Boston for work with a relatively modest budget. Greg was accessible and thoughtful in his recommendations and helped me consider factors in my apartment search that I otherwise never would have taken into account. I am well-positioned to say what an independent apartment search in downtown Boston is like (I tried it!), and how Greg helped streamline that process once we began to work together. Specifically, Greg was able to help me narrow down the very long list of available apartments that were worth visiting, taking into account things like nearby greenery, beauty/age of buildings in the area (something I cared about), street parking availability, tourism flows (esp in summer), public transport accessibility, local amenities (grocery stores, restaurants, walking paths, access to the Charles), and building amenities (rooftops, courtyards, etc). He also helped me gauge prices in terms of local apartment offerings (and so could help me figure out what I could expect and what was a deal and so might go more quickly). I had originally thought that using a broker would be only for people with a large budget for their apartment search, but I finished this process thinking that even apartment searchers with a more modest budget can benefit from working with someone like Greg. Greg helped me maximize my time in town, helped me visit apartments remotely (which was easier once we had made clearer what I was interested in, and which he did by FaceTiming me from the apartment, which he physically visited), and then facilitated the signing of my lease after I had left town. One final note: a number of the apartments I visited on my own in downtown Boston are represented by brokers who are understandably ambitious, but also pushy and competitive (with one another). Having a broker on your side--especially someone like Greg who is thoughtful, reasonable, and easy to get along with (for other brokers)--helps insulate you from having to manage those relationships directly. Once you visit an apartment represented by a broker (the vast majority of apartments in downtown Boston), you will be paying that broker fee---so why not pay it to someone who can think with you, navigate the world of apartment brokers, and also negotiate for your interests? So overall, even in the rental market and for those with a more modest budget, working with a broker can make a lot of sense (even financially). If you are looking to work with a broker, I highly recommend Greg Kanarian at Blackacre.
Owner's reply
Laura, thank you so much for taking the time to write such a thorough review of your experience! Going forward, I'm going to refer anyone looking to rent an apartment in the competitive Boston market to read your post. You hit on all the pain points and why working with a renter's agent can be invaluable. Thanks again and congrats on your new apartment!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Greg was the best agent that we could have asked for. I'm very picky and had been looking on rental sites for about a month for a new apt. With Greg, the first listing he sent to me and my roommate was the one we rented! He worked with us to ensure we included all the info that we could to strengthen our application and secure the apt on this competitive market. He was the best advocate for us to the owner. I say all this after having lost out on other apts prior to working with Greg. Despite having great credit, income, and history, I was always passed over for stronger candidates, but with Greg the first application was all we needed. It was such a welcome relief after a long and harrowing apt search! He answered all our questions about the lease in a timely manner and made sure that the listing agent made all corrections necessary to the final version. We were well-informed every step of the way.
Owner's reply
Thank you so much for sharing your positive experience, Gwen! We’re thrilled to hear that Greg exceeded your expectations by advocating on your behalf and keeping you well-informed during the apartment search process. Our goal is to make that experience as smooth and stress-free as possible. Enjoy your beautiful new apartment (and roof deck) in the Back Bay!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Greg from Blackacre Properties was extremely communicative and hands-on during my search for rental apartments in the summer of 2023. He was quick to respond to my questions with informative answers, and most importantly, I could tell his priority was in advocating for his clients when he successfully negotiated a better lease for me. I strongly recommend Greg and Blackacre Properties for your real estate needs. Thanks again Greg!
Owner's reply
Thanks so much for your 5-star review Chan! As you point out, communication is key (on both sides!). In the competitive Boston market, its critical to be on the same page as your agent so you can act fast to lock up the right apartment. Thanks again for your review!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I cannot recommend Greg and Blackacre Properties enough. I recently worked with Greg to rent my 1BR condo and as a first time landlord he made the process quick and simple. He was able to market the place beautifully and secured a tenant quickly. He also provided me with all the information I needed on my end to complete the process. I will certainly work with Blackacre in the future.
Owner's reply
Thank you for your 5-star review Allisson! We love working with first time landlords - our goal is to ensure a smooth, seamless, and stress-free rental process. Thanks again!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I was lucky enough to come across Greg when I was first renting my property in Bay Village, and have now worked with Greg for many years. His knowledge of the rental market, his professionalism and candor throughout the process, and his willingness to go above and beyond are just a few reasons I've continued to work with him, and will continue to do so going forward.
Owner's reply
Hi Kristen, thanks so much for your review! It's been a pleasure working to find tenants for your beautiful home in Bay Village (IMO an undiscovered gem of a neighborhood in Boston). Now an essential part of our listing process, we first used a video tour to help rent your place during COVID. Thanks again for your review and trust in Blackacre!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Greg and Blackacre were extremely helpful in facilitating our move! Greg works very fast, got us a showing of an apartment within a couple days, and helped us get all of our documents in order to sign our lease! We couldn't be happier, and we recommend Greg and Blackacre to anyone looking to move!
Owner's reply
Hi Ana, thanks so much for your kind review! Having a wants and needs list in mind, like you did, really makes the search process much easier. I'm glad were were able to get you into an awesome new apartment so quickly!Verified by TrustindexTrustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more