I don't write reviews like this lightly. While visiting Chicago, my boyfriend stopped to read apartment listings posted in the window of this realty office. When the owner noticed our group (all people of color), he walked up and locked the door, even though we were just standing outside and not trying to enter. Shortly after, a security guard told us we shouldn't be "hanging around" because it was private property, and the owner then unlocked the door to speak with him. We were not disruptive or doing anything inappropriate the situation felt targeted and racially motivated, and it was extremely uncomfortable. read more

Brian, who I believe was the bald guy, showed how much people of color bother him. We were escorted off property into the unbearable cold for "loitering" nearby his doors (we had just finished a boat tour with the next door business and were waiting for our uber). read more

Honestly couldn't even enter the door because the owner locked the door before I could enter. We were looking into the advertisements on the wall and I was heavily considering buying an apartment in Chicago but after the initial experience, felt that this was rude and unacceptable behavior. Another note, whether related or not, my friends were with me and we are diverse group of people. As such, it felt targeted as we weren't even given the chance to enter. What a way to conduct business read more

Felt uncomfortable by the realtor sitting in the office. His demeanor to new guests is unfriendly and it made our group feel unwelcome. If this how he deals with new guests, I can't imagine how he is to deal with on a regular basis. read more

Unacceptable behavior from a spineless employee. As our group showed interest in the apartments posted outside of the apartments, the employee, I believe his name is Brian, (bald and of small stature), seemed to potentially profile us, lock his door and call security. Uninterested in a business that would hire someone like this. Do not work with this company or this man. read more

Terrible, rude, & unprofessional service. Michael left for vacation without telling anyone to refund first month's rent that I paid up front. He expected to hold the money for 6 days until he came back for vacation. He gave me no notice whatsoever that he was leaving for vacation. Brian will discriminate against you & acts extremely conceited. I am a highly qualified candidate & have already been living in the building in a different unit for 5+ yrs and they still made excuses to not approve me for a new unit. STAY AWAY! Do not work with these people, they will do everything to steal your money with application fees. Use a private landlord or just live in a different building. read more

It goes without saying that I'm a fan of Marina City. The buildings are iconic, and I've wanted to live in them since I was a child, living in the suburbs and coming downtown to eat lunch at the Walnut Room at Marshall Field's with my mom before spending the afternoon at the Art Institute. No, what makes me a fan of Alto Realty is that they clearly feel the same way about Marina City that I do. And over the years - and yes, I mean that, years - that I've been calling Dustin Harvey to walk through empty units, visit open houses, ask after listings on the website, and generally be a pest, in all those years, he and the rest of the Alto team have always been kind and polite, unstinting with their time, friendly, taken my inquiries seriously, and honest to a fault about the buildings - both the good side and the not-so-good side. I've NEVER felt pressured or sold by them, and likewise I've never felt ignored by them. They clearly understand that when you love a special place like Marina City, you love it, warts and all. So now, after all these years, I'm finally going to be living here! This is after using another agency to show me apartments, looking at dozens of units, being shown even MORE apartments with Brian Muir, the agency's owner, on his vacation day, and then making decisions and signing leases from hundreds of miles away. And throughout it all, Alto has been cheerful, friendly, communicative and easy to work with. Honestly, I feel like I'm moving into the family home. I can't wait to settle in! read more

Alto Realty is everything you could ever want from a downtown realty company. My husband and I had the pleasure of working with the owner Brian Muir. He is an expert in the downtown condo market and a pure joy to work with too. He has an educational background in Architecture and has first hand knowledge of property management and condo association inner workings. Brian was so kind, patient and organized throughout our condo search. My husband and I can be particular so we must have visited nearly 50 listings in a mere few month timeframe. Brian was always prompt and calm in his communication with us and very detailed and thorough when scheduling, visiting and recapping viewings. Brian and his company even assisted us with reletting our downtown apartment for the remainder of our lease which provided us the increased flexibility and finances to buy sooner rather than later. We've bought our share of properties over the past several years and have worked with our share of realtors too. Brian is among the best! Please feel free to message me directly if you'd prefer any more details. read more

I'm a happy Marina City resident. I gravitated to the building for its location and iconic history, found a warm community that felt like home, and renewed my lease to live in my apartment on 30th for a 2nd year. Alto Realty -- particularly Michael, who I usually communicate with -- is responsive, accommodating, and personable, not to mention very knowledgeable about the building. The office's location on the lower level of the Marina City Towers is also convenient for residents who may want to pop in to ask something. For anyone interested in living here, I point them to Alto. read more

I love Marina City and Alto Realty! I have lived in Marina Towers for almost 3 years now and absolutely love it! I think the rent is a little more affordable than other apartments in river north and a much better value. I love the huge balcony and the view from it! Also, the rooftop view is breathtaking! Alto Realty is also great because they are super responsive and helpful. I usually work with Michael in their office and he is always so quick and helpful! If I have an issue, it is taken care of that day. I am very happy with living here and plan to stay! The apartments for rent go quick! My recommendation is to check their site for postings frequently because it's updated often and make an appointment quickly once you see something you like. read more

From the moment I walked into Alto's office at Marina City I have been impressed!! These folks are true professionals! From the intake form to signing a lease and getting the keys to your new home - Alto Realty covers every base, crosses every t, and dots every i. I feel like I have the best landlord in the city and am part of a real community living at Marina Towers. read more

We always find the staff at Alto Realty great to work with! They are consistently professional, friendly and always provide helpful information when asked. They have been renting out our condo for us for years and we really enjoy working with them. Alto Realty's owner' Brian Muir lived in Marina City for many years, serves on the condo board, and knows everything there is to know about living in these iconic mid-century modern towers. Highly recommended if you're looking to rent or purchase! read more

In the last 4 years that Alto Realty has been located in Marina City, I've had the pleasure of working with Dustin Harvey at least once every year. He manages our apartment unit for the owner, and when he finally saw its condition after our living there for 8 years with no maintenance or improvements by the previous managers or landlord, he sent his handyman up to scrub clean all the radiators and fans, seal all the windows, fix the bathroom light, replace the water heater and make it accessible, and caulk the bathtub again. He really cares about the units he's charged with maintaining. He didn't fault us for the water damage on the cabinets, as he could tell it was an architectural flaw. When our landlord was deciding to sell or whenever we felt like looking to see what else was available, Dustin happily showed us upcoming rental units available. He didn't try to cover-up or omit any negatives, and he always offered to negotiate with the landlord for us a lower rent since we had been such good renters in the past. He didn't dissuade us from using another real estate agent when we looked at other condo buildings, but in the end, we came back to Dustin because he's most knowledgeable about Marina Towers, and I know he would always be upfront and honest with me about any unit I looked at. Our last transaction with Dustin was buying a condo he was the seller's agent for, and we felt completely comfortable he could represent both the seller and us, the buyers, without any conflict of interest or self-serving motives. Dustin always works later than office hours, and the day we asked to see the unit we bought, we kept him a couple hours after work, and he continued to work into the night taking and making phone calls to make this deal happen in 24 hours. Even after the contract was signed, Dustin continued to assist us by letting us out of our lease, pro-rating our rent, setting us up with his cleaning lady, recommending and setting us up with a great inspector, recommending awesome, affordable furniture stores, working with the seller to fix things the inspector found questionable and getting us free, designer furniture he had in storage. He always returns e-mails and phone calls promptly. I totally heart Dustin! He's the best real estate agent I've ever had the pleasure to call mine for a short, short time. read more

My review is only for the rentals side of Alto Realty (not for the sales side). I used to live in Marina Towers a while back in a unit that was managed by them. Owner of the unit was a fairly nice guy but I constantly had negative experiences dealing with Alto Realty. Whenever there was issues with the unit, they were always very slow to respond. I usually dealt with Jamie (who is basically a receptionist/administrator there) and I did feel she was generally rude to me. And when I finally moved out after a couple years, they took away a significant portion of my deposit even though I spent a week cleaning up the place before moving out. They probably do this to make up whatever repair costs they have to pay during the time you live in your unit, even if it's for things that are not your fault (things like leaks beyond your control, especially considering the fact that the building is very old) . Again my review is just for the rental side of things. It could be that they are better with sales or if you're an owner, but in general they treat tenants pretty poorly. If you're looking for a unit in Marina Towers, try renting a unit that isn't managed by Alto Realty. read more

We recently worked with Brian Muir of Alto Realty when looking for a condo in the Chicagoland area and could not have had a better experience. Our search began earlier this summer in the Lakeview / Lincoln Park part of town. We were very familiar with the area, but weren't exactly sure what we'd be able to afford ---or what we really wanted for that matter. Brian took us to various buildings and neighborhoods within that area, and once he knew what we were looking for he was able to really focus on condos that fit our requirements. He has a M.Arch so he provided some great insight into the construction and history of different buildings, and he would point out the potential issues that may arise in a given building knowing that history. While we'd be oogling over hardwood floors and closet space, he'd be asking the sellers agent about past special assessments or asking when the windows were last replaced. He wanted to make sure that we had all the information that we could get so that we would be comfortable making our decision. He was very patient throughout the whole process; we never felt that he was rushing us into making a purchase. The first time we met with Brian he warned us what a rollercoaster ride purchasing a home could be. Quickly, we learned how right he was. It is pretty hard not to get emotionally attached when bidding on what could be your future home, but it was very helpful to have someone to talk you through every step, and put things into perspective when things aren't going the way you'd like. Our third offer was accepted, and now we own a beautiful condo just north of Lakeview in Buena Park. I must say that it is much nicer than what we thought we'd be able to afford- and it really met all of our requirements. We really had a fun time during our search too! read more

Not much for calling people back, but I did get a follow up message from the owner after the post. I always appreciate someone following up :) read more

Remember the recent fallout in the Real Estate market in Chicago. I suggests visiting Alto Realty and swim with the Sharks. Untruthful, devious, nervous, phony, and I suspect capable of given the chance much much worse. Very 'cavalier" with other peoples monies. Facts change from moment to moment very little eye contact absolutely handshakes of a lump of deteriorating cartilage was my first clue. Said they would not process anything unless I gave them a check for the first month's rent. Did so with promise of follow up the next day which turned into a "no Show". Gave second chance and after reissuing them another check also had to stop check "no Show" yet again. The stratified air and attitude that this group live in is from another era and is definitely snobbish and elitist. The person I dropped my check to left town for and extended week starting with Valentines Day. His partner in his stead carried on the Charade and was not the least bit conciliatory or apologetic in any fashion but was predictably inconsistent. read more

Brian's Alto Realty team is fantastic. My wife and I rented one of their units in Marina City for six years and had nothing but great service and lightning-quick responses to any questions we had. They really care about the people that are renting their apartments. When we decided to buy a unit in Marina City we worked with Dustin who has the expertise of Marina City and the real estate market. He found us the perfect condo and walked us through the first-time home-buying experience- smooth as could be! In every way imaginable, Alto Realty has been a delight to work with and have as neighbors. Alto Realty is part of the urban fabric of the development-across from the dry cleaner and food market-and always available for a quick hello. read more

Recently I was in the market to buy a condo. Of course my first (and last) stop was Alto Realty. Dustin Harvey and Brian Muir walked me through the process. Dustin understood my unique situation and showed me only units that would work for me. He is very knowledgeable about the Chicago real estate market and the neighborhoods. He did his homework before ever booking a viewing apt. I feel he was very honest, steering me away from some properties (he always gave me a good reason) even though they might have netted him a larger fee. He also recommended a mortgage broker who was fabulous (see review re: Perl Mortgage) and he was available for any questions or concerns I had throughout the process. I can't thank Dustin and Brian enough!! read more

Can't say enough good things about the team at Alto Realty! They made the entire process of seeing the apartment I wanted and signing a lease at Marina City quick and easy. They are very accommodating and helpful. If you're considering living at Marina, I definitely suggest going to see them! read more

Marina City/Alto Realty has been my home for a very long time. I love living here. I have live in 3 different condos. Marina City is so convenient to everything I do. I live for my Balcony and my views. Listening to music in the summer is a jewel. We have a grocery story & Cleaners, workout room, laundry and friendly neighbors, who wouldn't love this place. All my friends at Alto Realty are so very helpful, they are like Family to me, Brian, Dustin Harvey & Michael are the best! Who wouldn't want to live here. Love this place. read more

Can't say enough positive things about Dustin Harvey at Alto Realty. There is a difference between a realtor and a great one and Dustin was great. Prior to working with Dustin, I was part of the group of people that thought who your realtor is didn't matter...they're all the same, they drive you around and just list your place on the MLS. Boy was i wrong! My wife and I were looking to sell our 1 bedroom condo in Marina City as we started a family and left for the suburbs. We went with a friends recommendation for a realtor and gave her the listing at the beginning of July 2015 (prime season) as well as had her representing us on the buy side. During prime season in a location like Marina City, brand new riverwalk, and an updated unit, we thought it would be sold by October (worst case!)...after 90 days the condo wasnt sold and we only had 20 showings. We came to our senses and called Dustin, he told me that he ran a building wide open house and had 60+ people seeing his units in 1 day!!!! 3x what we had in 90 days. We had decided to switch to Dustin effective on a Monday in mid-October and processed the official paperwork. On Tuesday, our old realtor reached out and said she had 2 people wanting to see the place on that Thursday. I was ready to move on and not let the old realtor show the house (she had her chance) even though 1 of those 2 could have been the actual buyer. I consulted Dustin and his true colors showed by saying that we should let the old realtor show the condo since those leads came from her 'marketing' despite us officially terminating that listing agreement and opening one with Dustin. In addition, we told Dustin we were looking for a place in the western suburbs and wanted him to represent us on the buy side too since we trusted him. He advised us to find a realtor that knows the area. It would have been easy for him to represent us on the buy side and take the easy commission. Two examples of the type of INTEGRITY that you'll get with Dustin. Back to the sale of our house, the short story is Dustin worked his magic to sell our place by Jan 1 despite getting the listing during the time of year when the market was slow. He drove more traffic in 45 days in the slow season as the prior 90 in prime season. It's the Dustin Difference - Experience, Integrity and Professionalism! read more

Dustin Harvey's knowledge of Marina City and expertise of the market is second to none. Throughout my entire purchasing process he was a trusted adviser and not just another agent. Dustin helped me successfully negotiate my purchase price and gave great guidance on my condo's gut rehab by directing me where to invest for the greatest ROI. I will be using Alto Realty and Dustin for my next purchase and listing in Marina City. read more

To start, all we can say is thank you Dustin. After several of Dustin Harvey's past clients recommended him, we decided to try him. What a positive experience it turned out to be. Dustin had defined marketing plan and process that worked. He went to work that included pricing advice, advice that included some effort on our part to stage the condo, and along his negotiation skills, well the results speak for themselves. We were amazed how quick our condo sold. Our condo sold in 9 days at the asking price. We received his personal attention throughout and sometime on a daily basis. He is gifted, talented and knows his market. We were totally impressed and would recommend Dustin to anyone who wants to sell their condo or home and not leave money on the table. read more

We recently engaged Dustin Harvey and Alto Realty to sell our unit at Marina City, which we had owned for the last 11 eleven years. Dustin gave us his assessment of an offering price range and he was absolutely correct as we were very pleased with the cash closing price. Dustin walked us through the easiest closing we have ever experienced handling all matters with the buyer and seller attorneys. Contract to close was less than 30 days. Between Alto Realty and Marina City Management, it was the best professional real estate experience we could have ever imagined. read more