This is a very odd listing. Several months ago when this apartment was first listed the broker showed me the place. On my way out he said I better make an offer by the end of the day because there was lots of interest and they are going to make a decision by the next day. I called back but my call was never returned. I even called once a week for the next few weeks and never received a call back.... [more]
This is a very odd listing.
Several months ago when this apartment was first listed the broker showed me the place. On my way out he said I better make an offer by the end of the day because there was lots of interest and they are going to make a decision by the next day. I called back but my call was never returned. I even called once a week for the next few weeks and never received a call back. On occasion I even spoke to the office secretary, not just some voice mail machine, so there is no doubt that the message was received. I even had friends call the broker to see if his behavior was any different, but they also received no response. This was months ago yet the property is still listed here on StreetEasy. It is not listed as ‘sold’ or 'in contract' and even if it was it seems suspicious that a broker would not call back. Anyone know what is going on? Are they just trying to establish a price to sell the unit to an insider that wants to combine this small unit with their apartment? Very odd!
[less]
Response by julia
over 15 years ago
Posts: 2841
Member since: Feb 2007
I just sent an e-mail asking what the monthly maintenance is...the apartment is a good price in a great neighborhood so maybe it's not real.
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by Salut
over 15 years ago
Posts: 132
Member since: May 2010
It's a 100% scam. They don't have the listing; at best they're trying to rip off the FSBO owner. Worse, the apt. is not even for sale and something more sinister is going on.
I've never heard of this agency. Most likely "the office secretary" is someone who happened to pick up the phone (which is prohibited). Scam scam scam. Think boiler room operation.
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by ab_11218
over 15 years ago
Posts: 2017
Member since: May 2009
metrostar is a tiny realty in midwood, i think. most real estates in southern brooklyn leave the listings and don't bother updating. they even run ads on craigslist for stuff that has been sold for as long as 1 year.
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by Number48w12st
over 15 years ago
Posts: 9
Member since: Jun 2010
As I said, I saw the place. It was probably the second day it was listed and then they never returned any of my calls or that of anyone I know that also called.. The apartment was in dire need of renovation. Probably looking at $200k just to bring it up to date and not do anything fancy. Its was essentially a 16x16’ room with a fancy marble fireplace and two large windows one of which was stuffed with the air conditioner. The square footage was inflated by double counting the floor space for a home made loft unit which you could not stand fully erect in and an office space underneath that you had to duct down to enter. Not a bad use of the space but the unit was of questionable construction and probably not legal. The bathroom was a wreck and required a total gut renovation. The kitchen was literally a former closet with a slop sink, counter height fridge, and very old 20" stove. It also needed a gut renovation. The main room had some lovely plaster details and the attractive fireplace but it all needed repair and repairing that old plaster and preserving the original details can mean big bucks. But all that aside, my comment was that about the fact that the broker never returned any calls. How could he be helping the client or himself if he doesn't return calls? My suspicion is that they were just trying to establish a market value for the place so that they could sell to someone else in the building. That is the only thing that makes sense for the odd behavior of the broker. Guess they didn't want to pay an appraiser and instead thought nothing of jerking around good honest people like you and me who are trying to actually buy a place. Yes Metrostar is the broker and they seem to operate in Brooklyn selling multi family type rental and commercial properties. Seems very odd that they would get this listing of a prime Manhattan location. That is another curious thing about it, why did the seller choose this broker and not one of the 'big boys' that could bring buyers that are ready, willing, and able...
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by Number48w12st
over 15 years ago
Posts: 9
Member since: Jun 2010
The listing is now marked as 'in contract'.
I feel sorry for the seller. He probably didn't know better and got screwed out of a much better offer because of this screwy Metrostar broker.
I just sent an e-mail asking what the monthly maintenance is...the apartment is a good price in a great neighborhood so maybe it's not real.
It's a 100% scam. They don't have the listing; at best they're trying to rip off the FSBO owner. Worse, the apt. is not even for sale and something more sinister is going on.
I've never heard of this agency. Most likely "the office secretary" is someone who happened to pick up the phone (which is prohibited). Scam scam scam. Think boiler room operation.
metrostar is a tiny realty in midwood, i think. most real estates in southern brooklyn leave the listings and don't bother updating. they even run ads on craigslist for stuff that has been sold for as long as 1 year.
As I said, I saw the place. It was probably the second day it was listed and then they never returned any of my calls or that of anyone I know that also called.. The apartment was in dire need of renovation. Probably looking at $200k just to bring it up to date and not do anything fancy. Its was essentially a 16x16’ room with a fancy marble fireplace and two large windows one of which was stuffed with the air conditioner. The square footage was inflated by double counting the floor space for a home made loft unit which you could not stand fully erect in and an office space underneath that you had to duct down to enter. Not a bad use of the space but the unit was of questionable construction and probably not legal. The bathroom was a wreck and required a total gut renovation. The kitchen was literally a former closet with a slop sink, counter height fridge, and very old 20" stove. It also needed a gut renovation. The main room had some lovely plaster details and the attractive fireplace but it all needed repair and repairing that old plaster and preserving the original details can mean big bucks. But all that aside, my comment was that about the fact that the broker never returned any calls. How could he be helping the client or himself if he doesn't return calls? My suspicion is that they were just trying to establish a market value for the place so that they could sell to someone else in the building. That is the only thing that makes sense for the odd behavior of the broker. Guess they didn't want to pay an appraiser and instead thought nothing of jerking around good honest people like you and me who are trying to actually buy a place. Yes Metrostar is the broker and they seem to operate in Brooklyn selling multi family type rental and commercial properties. Seems very odd that they would get this listing of a prime Manhattan location. That is another curious thing about it, why did the seller choose this broker and not one of the 'big boys' that could bring buyers that are ready, willing, and able...
The listing is now marked as 'in contract'.
I feel sorry for the seller. He probably didn't know better and got screwed out of a much better offer because of this screwy Metrostar broker.