Urban Real Estate

Says rent for awesome apartment in okay crime neighborhood is $1250. If you have a voucher that covers that and more they don't care because it is not a 3 bedroom voucher. 3 bedroom vouchers are about $1600 what gives? Found dream place and in barred because of a voucher that is almost $1500.

We currently live in an apartment in South Loop and were looking to rent a condo with more space and amenities. We connected with Lauren and Kyle who provided outstanding service during our search. They were very communicative, informative, and friendly throughout the entire process. We would highly recommend them to anyone seeking to rent or own.

The service and support I received from Kyle Huff was outstanding. Despite it being the depths of winter and the holiday season, he found me the perfect rental apartment with everything I wanted. I was impressed with his quick turnaround, knowledge of the building and representation. He made it so easy - HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

We worked with Jazmyne Zasanski. We had such an easy and pleasant experience thanks to her and were able to find an apartment where we see ourselves for a good number of years! She was super responsive, answered all of our questions, patient, and gave us many many options. She also had a great attitude and was extremely flexible to our needs. Highly recommend working with her - and we definitely plan to again in the future when we are ready to buy instead of rent!

We recently moved from NYC to Chicago and did most of our apartment search from out of state. We were initially skeptical that we needed a broker after our experiences with brokers renting apartments in NYC. I'm happy to report that we were wrong about this. Kyle went out of his way to help us throughout our apartment search and made the process much easier and less stressful.

After we came up with a list of apartments we were interested in viewing he made all of the arrangements so that we could see them in one day and make a decision over a single weekend. He was helpful and upfront about the pros and cons of different buildings and neighborhoods, which we really appreciated as we are much less familiar with Chicago. After we decided on an apartment Kyle helped make sure we submitted all of the necessary documents so that we could quickly get a decision from the landlord.

He also made sure that all of our questions were answered and that we understood the terms of the lease before we signed it. We were really impressed with Kyle's professionalism and hard work and we highly recommend using his services.

Kyle Huff was more than helpful in finding us an apartment in South Loop, Chicago. He was extremely honest, upfront, and was able to find us a great apartment that fit right in our price range! He was extremely communicative and easy to reach to answer any of our questions at all times. Kyle made the nightmare that is finding a right Apartment in Chicago a breeze!

Urban Real Estate helped me rent an apartment in downtown. Kyle is a patient individual who looks for your interests. He is well connected and knows the downtown pretty well. I needed to move in quick and he adjusted his schedule for my needs. Thanks for that Kyle! Would recommend him to anyone looking to rent properties in Chicago!

All of the phenomenal reviews about Kyle Huff are well deserved! Kyle helped me find my new abode in Chicago in a matter of days. The current real estate market is fast paced and competitive. Kyle helped me keep calm and find the place that met my needs. I highly recommend him!

I was connected with Kyle Huff through my cousin who lives in Chicago. He made the process of finding an apartment very straightforward and easy. He provided a good list of properties for me to look over, and offered useful commentary while touring. He is very knowledgeable of the reputable property management companies in the area. He also made sure to follow up with me regarding my experience with the management company whose unit I chose. I would definitely work with him again and highly recommend him to anyone searching for a property in Chicago!

Unlike the many others we had a very negative experience with Urban Real Estate. A realtor is to provide Sales and Service.the two basics for any business. They were 0 for 2. Our property was listed for many months with Urban. Initially we understood that the pandemic was the reason for inactivity. But our agent didn't even contact us weekly as requested via phone or email to update the status or report activity.

Recently the agent told us of a bid, which we accepted, Then the purchaser had to "clear things with his attorney." Two weeks later we heard nothing. NOTHING! From the other comments, this appears to be a common occurrence with Urban agents.

After countless terrible experiences and scams while searching for an apartment in Chicago, I got connected to Kyle Huff at Urban Real Estate and he delivered. Not only did he get me viewings of the apartments I was looking for, he showed up on time, was prepared with all of the details of the units and was able to ask pointed questions on my behalf while conducting the viewings.

Beyond that, when I finally applied for the unit I wanted and the leasing agent on the other side of the transaction began acting a bit weird, Kyle advocated on my behalf and ensured I got the unit. Once it was clear that I would get the spot, he followed up to make sure the lease was signed properly, and that the units listing was changed. When I am ready to buy a home, Kyle will be my first call. He is a professional which is difficult to find in the Chicago real estate scene these days.

We have worked with Lynn twice over the last few years to find a condo to rent in Chicago. She is fabulous and worked tirelessly to help us find a place we love to call home. From the start she was very responsive and emailed us listings in our target area which met our criteria. We also found listings on our own and Lynn steered us away from particular units which appeared great in the listing but apparently had sat for many months unrented due to issues. Lynn clearly knows South Loop very well.

After we found a few places that we really liked, Lynn was able to setup viewings for all the condos the next day which was impressive given we were in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Signing the lease required some effort and Lynn seemed to be available at all hours by email and text message. She guided us through the process and was able to point out concerns during the walkthrough which we had missed.

She then advocated on our behalf to have these fixed prior to move-in. Though she did not function as our lawyer, it did provide us comfort knowing that Lynn also had a legal background when we were reviewing the lease. The bottom line is Lynn made the search easy and with minimal stress. My wife and I are so happy to have found Lynn and will continue to work with her for our housing needs in Chicago!

Run the other way, they charge a fee when they start your listing, they say it is for photos?

I was lucky to meet Lynn Brahin when I was looking at Open Houses one fall weekend. At that point, I had been living in a rental apartment in Chicago less than a year, and going to Open Houses just to get a feel for the Chicago real estate market (well, that, and I just have fun going to Open Houses and seeing the other buildings in my neighborhood).

A couple of weekends later I found a condo that I loved, at a price that was reasonable. The listing agent was pushing to be the sole agent in the deal, and I was not comfortable with that arrangement. I had previously owned homes in New England, but had never purchased a condo in Chicago, so I really needed an agent to assist me with the local home buying process.and I wanted someone on my side, not a seller's agent who was just negotiating a deal. Lynn had made such a great impression on me at the previous Open House that I called her up and explained the situation.

We decided it would be a good idea to look at other condos (in that building, in other buildings in the neighborhood, and a building I liked in an adjacent neighborhood). She was phenomenal at helping me sort through the pros and cons, and was a helpful sounding board as I went through my decision making process. In the end I realized that the condo that I originally fell in love with was definitely the one for me.

Since I was new to the area, Lynne gave me multiple recommendations for mortgage companies, lawyers, condo inspectors, moving companies, and cleaners. She has a great attention to detail, so she made sure I had all my ducks in a row throughout the long and difficult sales process. I ended up moving in just before the COVID quarantine hit, but she still made sure to check on me a couple of times in the middle of the quarantine -- even though the sale was complete.

Not only is she a great real estate professional, but a wonderful person who genuinely cares about the well-being of her clients! I'd highly recommend Lynn as a Chicago realtor for anyone buying/selling a condo or renting an apartment -- especially for someone relocating to Chicago. Her wealth of knowledge about the city is invaluable; she gave me some great tips on things to see/do in the city, as well as helpful information about things like voting and volunteering. Urban Real Estate is very lucky to have someone of her caliber on their team.

I cannot say enough about Lynn Brahin - this is a realtor that goes above & beyond for her clients to find them the perfect place! Lynn scoured multiple neighborhoods with me as I was new to city living & she made sure I knew what all my options were. She knows so many locations around the city and had the best tips for my new neighborhood. If you are looking for your next home, give Lynn a call - you will be so happy you did!

Janet Seehausen presented a private rental to me. There were several issues with the property that were not discovered until post move-in. Items that a realtor who had been working with a property for over 6 months would have been aware of and by law, required to disclose.

Ted Sveda is at best unprofessional, at worst just a jerk. He's useless as a "property manager". When I first moved into my condo in March there was zero indication the balcony wouldn't be usable during the summer. When the building circulated information that balconies would be unusable due to construction April-October I requested a reduction in my rent.

I wouldn't have paid as much for this condo knowing the balcony (a selling point) wasn't available for the majority of the lease. Ted called me yelling at me that I was being ridiculous and the owners (Grace and Charles) would be more than happy to kick me out if I felt the lease wasn't satisfactory. Normally, I'd be hesitant to put in writing that he was yelling, but I was traveling for business when Ted called and took the call sitting next to my co-worker who had no idea what the call was about.

When we hung up my co-worker said "who was that and why was he yelling at you? Is everything ok?" Ted insisted there was no way the owner could know about the construction, which is absolutely ridiculous. When my condo was sold Ted told me the new owners would handle the pet deposit. When the new owners told me they don't take deposits and I asked Ted to return the deposit he doubled down saying it'll be returned when I move out. He's so incompetent he doesn't know how a deposit is handled, and will lie instead of finding out the truth. I would avoid Ted at all costs when you're looking to rent, sell, or buy property.

I had the pleasure of using Urban Real Estate to rent a condo, my agent was Ksenia Yankilaytes. She responded almost immediately to my on-line request to see a unit and we set the meeting for the next morning. She arranged for me to view two different places with options for more units coming available to better fit my timeline. She explained the add ons for each unit so I was aware of all the charges that would occur which better helped me decide what would work.

When she called me back that same afternoon to tell me she found a unit which was specifically what I needed and she could show it to me as soon as it was listed, I was thrilled. I kept her up to date with my schedule and she contacted me to arrange to meet her along with the listing agent and the owner in the unit and it was acceptable to all parties.

She efficiently reviewed my application and noticed I had missed signing one document, but since she was on top of things I still got the paperwork done to make the rental mine in less than 24 hours after viewing. She was professional and really listened to my particular rental situation. She went the extra mile to get me the perfect place. She is quite personable, and I highly recommend her.

She really knows Lakeshore East properties but I am sure she just knows real estate, no matter where in Chicago it is. I read a past review that was less than stellar, but it is definitely not the same experience I had, so I dismiss the negative review as inconsequential and want to share with you my positive experience. Ksenia got it done and my stress level disappeared after she took over.

This review is based on my recent experience with one of the realtors, Ksenia Yankilaytes, working at Urban Real Estate. I have been in contact with a realtor at Urban Real Estate regarding condo rentals in Chicago. Finding a place in Chicago can be exhausting and stressful, however, Debbie Smith, the first realtor I had been working with, did everything she can to answer any questions, and get me the best deals she could find out there.

We were scheduled to view a property on Thursday, Dec. 21 at 6:30 p.m. The time and date had been constantly changing throughout the week, and that is understandable considering it is the holidays and people need to get things done before Christmas and the New Year. On the day of the viewing, Debbie contacted me at 4 p.m letting me know that one of her coworkers, Ksenia Yankilaytes, was going to take over due to heavy traffic at the time of the showing.

Everything was set and ready to go until I had a work emergency that came up at 6 p.m. My boss was completely against me leaving before the work gets done and I had no choice but to request a reschedule of the showing. Now to make things clear, throughout the entire time that I had been in contact with Debbie, I was never provided with a proper phone number to call in case of emergencies.

I made sure to mention my phone number several times in my emails, because calling or texting is much easier than emailing. I get over a 100 emails a day as an Engineering Consultant, and sometimes the emails I would get from Debbie would end up lost in this mess. Despite the fact that I've tried to get a phone number several times, it never happened.

Back to the scheduled showing date; the minute I received the news that I am unable to leave my work, I made sure to contact Debbie and Ksenia, using the only provided method (through email) at exactly 6:09 p.m, which marks it at 21 minutes before the showing. In my email, I made sure to let both parties know exactly what happened, and how sorry I am for the whole messed up situation.

I asked if it was possible to reschedule, and made sure that it would be at any time that was convenient to them. This is basically the most I could do, I understand that everything was already set up, but I will not put myself at risk of getting fired, so Ksenia doesn't experience an inconvenience. After I sent out my apologetic email, instead of receiving an email to reschedule, Ksenia decided it was best to insult and humiliate me.

She called me unprofessional and was upset that she had to wait on me, despite the fact that this is her job. You are a realtor, and emergencies happen, especially during a time like Christmas. Instead of insulting your clients, you should be patient and understanding. Clearly you don't know how to speak to people. I should have trusted the reviews, but I was so naive at the time.

Do not use this service unless you'd like to be insulted and humiliated, if God forbid, you get an emergency. I can refer you to Gold Coast Realty, they are professional, understanding and their services are much much better. I have attached the emails below for further details.

Ted Sveda is the worst broker/agent in the world. If you like to be harassed and yelled at please use him. He's rude and unprofessional. Bring ur money elsewhere.

I had a fantastic experience with Urban Real Estate. Brian Serva helped me to find the perfect unit based on my needs, was quick to respond to my questions, and was incredibly kind and patient throughout the process. His professionalism and genuine personality shined throughout all of our encounters. I will be recommending Urban Real Estate and Brian to my friends and family!

We reached out to them for one of the properties listed on goldcoastrealty.com. This review is for the broker from landlord's side - Vickie Liu, who is one of the Associate Brokers at Urban Realty. There was another broker involved on our end(also from Urban Realty). Vickie Liu is very unprofessional, unresponsive, misleading and to be honest an unethical broker.

I would never recommend anyone to work with her. We liked the listing and reached out to them. The broker on our end set up a viewing. We liked the apartment and wanted to move ahead. She mentioned that the current tenant wants to move out Jul 15 (as he bought a new apt- she was his broker/agent too!) and we wanted the apartment on Jul 25, so it should work out perfectly with cleaning etc.

We were a little concerned as the current tenant's lease was until Aug 12. So we reached out to her again and asked her to confirm and confirm again that the current tenant can move out and there should be absolutely no issues in us moving in on Jul 25. We waited extra 2 days just to get a confirmation on this from her. After 2 days, our broker said we should go ahead and put an application plus fee of $50.

We did that, they ran a credit check on us. After all this, we were waiting and waiting for a reply from Vickie. We waited for 1 day and asked about application - no response from her. Then after a couple of days (since application) she talked to our broker and said owner is a surgeon in Texas and hasn't got a chance to look at application. Fine we waited another day.

And another day! I reached out to her personally (while cc'ing our broker) for an answer, no response! Then after 4 days since we put in the application, our broker said the owner said no because he doesn't want to lease the apartment before Aug 12. What! Woh! Didn't we ask her to check and double check this thing before putting an application.

She wasted our 1 week (which is crucial in apt hunting -given the prices change daily nowdays), did a credit check on us, took $50 fee and never even had the courtesy to apologize. She had no right to do a credit check on us without confirming with the owner first. I have followed up multiple times with the broker on our end. He always says - he hasn't heard back from her.

This also sounds fishy too me. We lost another deal because of her dilly-dallying. This is a perfect example of conflict of interests. She said yes to us without even talking to the owner because she was working for the current tenant too! Very unprofessional broker, would never work with Urban Realty again.

Urban Real Estate is fantastic. When I contacted Michael Emory about possibly moving back to Chicago in the next year he took the time to show me properties that I would be interested in. He listened to what I was looking for and then showed me some condos that would be a perfect fit for me. He is the guy to go to if you are looking for a great place in the Loop!

Urban Real Estate is the sellers' broker for one of the properties I'm in interesting in. The listing agent was not available to show the property so they sent someone else from the organization. He was very uninterested in promoting the place and tried to rush us out of the property as quickly as possible. When I had follow up questions, the only thing Urban Real Estate could tell us was that "we could not confirm but as of 2 weeks ago, it was correct to our knowledge." I asked them about one of the condo policies of the building and what was covered under the HOA and they were unwilling to disclose that. What a bunch of d-bags. I feel sorry for the sellers.

I had the pleasure of working with Michael Emery on the recent purchase of my condominium. I found Michael and Urban Real Estate to be experts in the local market and market conditions. The showings were well planned and my time was not wasted on properties that didn't meet my basic requirements. Additionally, I found Michael's specific knowledge of properties to be very helpful during my decision-making process. I would recommend this business to friends and will use Urban Real Estate when it's time for me to upgrade my condo.

I filled out the generic form for more information on one of the properties listed on Urban Real Estate's website and when one of the agents responded she was very rude. That was in April. We decided we didn't want to work with her or the company because of this. Last month in May I decided to give Urban another try, hoping not to get the same agent regarding another unit.

Unfortunately we did get the same agent and again she was just as rude to me. Her explanation was she was on a phone responding to my emails, in which she was very short, but to me that is not an appropriate response, it's an excuse. I feel that if you don't have time to properly spell out the word "you", or even address me by my first name, (she would start every email as E, not Elizabeth, E. what is this, Entourage?), maybe you should wait to respond.

I feel it's very unprofessional to put "u" in an email to a potential client, especially someone you haven't met. When I asked for her manager's contact info, she did give his information so "I could complain" about her to him, as she put it, which also didn't sit well with me. I sent an email to her boss, Michael, and explained to him the frustration I was accumulating trying to work with his company.

The only request I had in the email was that we DO NOT work with Janice Arthur, and asked if either he himself would be willing to help us, or if he could put us in touch with someone else who would. Michael never responded to my email. This company is a joke. Obviously a lot of people complain about their listing agents if Janice herself tells me here is his email address so I can complain.

We since then have moved on to Dwell Apartment Finders. We are currently working with an agent, (Sam), who is nice, kind, and very professional. I highly recommend her. She has found us a few listing with Urban, but has been working with Janet, who is also extremely nice, unlike Janice Arthur.

Great help! Way better than Apartment Experts! Go with this company if you want to get good help finding what you're looking for

Michael Emery is absolutely terrible - borderline negligence with a healthy dose of incompetence. We had him rent our apt and he was lazy in the approach, did a terrible job with the contract and ended up costing us a bundle due to his shoddy work. AVOID AVOID AVOID. Urban will the absolute bare minimum for a fee -- not interested in developing repeat business or ensuring the best outcome for their customers. what a joke!

Still a terrible joke of a broker and the continued terrible negative yelp reviews attest to this! I've had to do multiple transactions in Chicago over the last few years and my interactions with this useless crew still stands out. run the other way if these guys are involved!