Jr and Kathleen were simply amazing. My husband and I were moving from Vancouver, Canada to NYC which was proving to be no small feat from pretty much every perspective both expected and unexpected. My office put me in touch with Jr and from day one he was on the ball. We gave him just a few days notice to let him know we needed help in finding an apartment with lots of questions and variables. He quickly distilled and filtered all our inputs and helped us focus on the areas and the types of places that made sense against the key criteria. He lined up appointments quickly and with careful consideration. Jr and Kathleen were both flexible with our specific demands and one-off requests, taking us through the process and guiding us all the way. With so much stress moving internationally while trying to do work and having very tight timelines to figure things out, AND navigate NYC real estate AND the rental requirements and rules... I could not have asked for a better broker or better assistance. Not only did they do a great job at helping us find our first home, they gave us tips and insights we would probably spend hours trying to figure out on our own. They treated us like VIPs. We plan on using Bona Tierra and Jr again when we are ready to buy... for now, we are over the moon at the building Jr found for us. THANKS A MILLION!!! read more

TRUST is the biggest factor why we decided to use Bona Tierra Realty. Our family have known Cora Rivera for a very long time. Our condominium is in Manhattan but we reside in a different state. When the last tenant of our condominium left we contacted BT. Cora and JR who are very familiar with the building where our condo is visited to inspect the place which we haven't seen in the last 10 years. They recommended to start marketing the place for rent while we undertake minor interior renovations which the contractor estimated to complete in 3 weeks. In our absence, Cora and JR inspected the renovation work and reported the progress back to us. As soon as the renovation is completed, we decided to just put the condominium in the market for sale. They promptly produced professional looking flyers to promote the condominium first as a rental and then as a sale. We have no qualms recommending this mother & son team to handle anyone's sensitive real estate business. They have extensive NYC real estate marketing experience and we guarantee you would be part of their impressive list of satisfied clientele! read more

If you are looking for a broker, consider working with JR Rivera. JR facilitated our (successful) rental application process with an easygoing, yet serious and detail-oriented disposition. His commission rate was very competitive for NYC, considering the quality and timeliness of the work he did on our behalf. JR is who you want in your corner when hunting for an apartment in NYC. He communicated promptly -- writing and responding to emails and texts over the weekend when necessary. His emails were clear and concise and gave us the information we needed to make an informed decision about moving forward with a lease. He was detail-oriented, sending feedback on our application materials -- noting where we might clarify certain details to better position the application with the various reviewers. I could tell that JR has built and maintains positive relationships with the various parties in the leasing process (the owner, the coop board, building management, his own team at Bona Tierra). Work with JR! read more

I contacted JR through StreetEasy, and he helped me find my first apartment in NYC in a prime location, with excellent amenities, and for a great value. Below are a few highlights: 1. Everything is clear and straightforward from the beginning to the end. There's no hidden fee or any "surprise" element. JR's team will not induce you to sign a deal by showing you an artificially low net rent and then surprise you with a higher number on the actual lease agreement. 2. JR is always ready and available to answer your questions. If your application is subject to any third party's review (e.g., the board of a condo), JR will review all your documents before submission so that you don't need to worry about not getting the approval. 3. If you are looking at multiple apartments and trying to decide which one is the best, JR will give you his honest and professional opinions based on your needs and many other factors. I strongly recommend anyone moving to Manhattan to work with JR and his Bona Tierra team. read more

I worked with JR on finding my first home in Manhattan - during a pandemic - and I could not have had a better/more positive experience. I knew next to nothing about home buying and right from the start JR took the time to answer every question I had. He was extremely organized and worked with my budget/location/must-have's/schedule to view apartments. Even after we saw the "One" early on in the process, he still showed me the remaining listings so I could be as confident as possible in my purchase. His negotiating expertise led to an accepted offer pretty quickly at a price I was more than comfortable and happy where I felt I got a good deal. JR also helped me through the mortgage, condo application, and closing process. Even after close, his customer service didn't stop there as he then had recommendations for contractors etc for work I wanted done on the apartment. Overall I would highly recommend JR and Bona Tierra's services, b/c I really had a wonderful experience from start to finish! read more

I had the best experience in successfully elling our NYC family-owned condo through Cora and JR Rivera and their very efficient BT team. Everything went very smoothly. Cora and JR made sure you get the best price for your real estate and they go out of their way to provide an A+ service. They were very detail-oriented in the entire sale process from marketing your apartment from the photo shoots, openhouses, advertising, advice on how to get the best value of your property. Really very impressed and delighted with the entire BT team for representing us. As a side note, I originally had an agent from Corcoran representing us before I was introduced to Cora and JR. My experience with Corcoran agent was horrible. He took very lousy pictures of the condo and did not do a good job marketing the property. I eventually had to pull it out of the market. Fortunately, I met Cora and JR and that made ALL the difference!!! Thanks so much again to Cora, JR and the entire BT team. You are the BEST! read more

I've been both an owner of and an investor in Manhattan real estate and have worked with and across many brokers over the past 15 years. I have seen all types of brokers, but no one comes close to JR Rivera at Bona Tierra Realty in terms of personalized service, access to the best residences, and ability to negotiate the best deal. JR worked with me over the past several years to find my current home. He knows and understands the types of residence and neighborhood that a client wants, and is on point in giving clients access to the best ones that fit their needs. He is incredibly patient and doesn't force things. In deal negotiations, he makes every effort to negotiate every deal point to ensure that it is not only within or even better than market standards, but also makes sure that the client comes away very happy with the purchase. Buying Manhattan real estate is quite a task, and JR made it really easy for me. I would recommend him to anyone, anytime. read more

I have known Cora for years for her extensive experience in Realty Business. I am glad that JR is part of the team. Through Dr. Joy Balagot, I got introduced with this Realty and they guided us which bank would handle our loans and which of the seasoned New York lawyers would help us process our papers. Joy updated us periodically as to the construction progress of One Manhattan Square until our closing day. Of course our anxiety at the closing day was almost insurmountable but Cora and JR were present to give us moral support and made us feel at ease until the last piece of documents were signed. We are now a proud owner of a unit at this luxury condominium in the lower East side of Manhattan and we are really very grateful for the help of Bona Tierra Realty. If we are given the chance to buy another property in Manhattan in the future, we would not hesitate to call this Realty again. Diana & Amor L read more

I recently purchased my first apartment in the Central Park South area of Manhattan. JR went above and beyond expectations starting from the search all the way to closing day prep work. With my extremely busy schedule, he only gave me strong apartment recommendations. No time was wasted and he also introduced me to a great mortgage loan officer who gave me a good mortgage rate and a very sharp attorney. JR ensured that I went through a seamless process. He also did a lot of due diligence on my behalf such as checking the neighborhood and the condo's finances. He also was quick in responding to my many questions. I'm very pleased with my first ever home as it's literally right smack in the middle of Manhattan. I would not have found such a great deal - an amazing location at an excellent price without JR. I consider myself quite lucky. read more

Looking for an apartment in New York is the worst. Buying an apartment in New York is absolutely terrifying. JR and Julieta were so great and helped me get through both! They held my hand through the whole process and helped me get a team together, from my attorney to lenders to insurance agents. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, and did more than a bit of panicking, but JR was so patient and so enthusiastic about helping me understand all of the moving parts. His recommendations and advice also panned out beautifully every time. He and Miguel were also extremely gracious, letting me use the office for meetings and letting me use their space to print, fax, and scan. That's an extra touch that they for sure didn't have to do. Really made me feel like I was well-supported and in great hands. Thanks so much to everyone!! read more

After living in the US for 6 years, renting apartments in NY, I have decided to make the biggest purchase I have ever made - my own place in Manhattan. Armed with a list of must haves and a strict budget, JR worked with me in finding that dream condo unit I can call home. We started looking for options in October 2010 and after a couple of showings, JR was able to nail down a place perfect for my needs. Being a first time buyer, JR helped me navigate through the requirements and things that needed to be done. He helped me find anything from a mortgage broker to painters to do the paint job for me before moving in. He even helped me find a short term tenant to lease the new place to avoid me breaking my current lease at the time. Working with JR and Bona Tierra made the process seamless and stress free. read more

I have recently rented a 1BR apartment in Manhattan through Bona Tierra Realty. In particular, I have dealt with two of their brokers, JR and Anthony. My experience with them has been fantastic. Anthony and JR are very nice and professional: they have promptly answered all my questions about the unit, and have assisted me in every phase of the lease application. Everything has been quick and easy thanks to them. Most importantly, they have been very honest and transparent with all the information about the apartment, and I have always felt safe dealing with them. I strongly recommend getting in touch with Bona Tierra to anyone who has to deal with the tough housing market of New York City. They know this market extremely well and will put your best interest on top of their list. read more

I had a fantastic experience working with JR and the team at Bona Tierra Realty. They made my search for a rental apartment incredibly easy. JR not only found me a great place but also managed all the paperwork efficiently, which was a huge help given my busy schedule. From start to finish, JR and the team were professional, responsive, and supportive. Their personal touch truly stood out-- from sorting rental insurance to suggesting movers, they really understood my needs and made me feel valued throughout the process. In the challenging NYC rental market, their expertise and dedication were invaluable. I love my new place and I'm very grateful for their help! I highly recommend them to anyone looking for an excellent broker. Well done, JR and team! read more

JR delivers. We were trying to rent out our apartment as we were relocating. As soon as we gave the go ahead, JR immediately did all the legwork of taking photos to post them on the Bona Tierra website and others, advising us on timing considerations given existing repair work ongoing at our building, giving us the no-nonsense assessment of market conditions, plus setting up showings -- all with zero hassle as we were focused on the relocation. Speaking of showings, JR was even able to find a tenant who was willing to rent our place, sight unseen (photos sufficed as the tenant was not in NY) and this all happened within 2 weeks before we were even scheduled to show! We will definitely be continuing to work with JR in the future! read more

I worked with JR of Bona Tierra on finding a rental in NYC. It was the first time I will be living in NYC and was very nervous about the entire move. JR showed me a good mix of apartments within my budget and all had my one non-negotiable, a washer dryer in the unit. When I finally picked the apartment, he walked me through the process in detail, helping me review the details of the lease agreement, referring me to amazing movers and very efficient insurance agents. JR was always available when I had questions....and I had a lot since I was very nervous about my move. I am not settled in my new apartment and I am extremely happy! Highly recommended to anyone who would want to rent or buy in the city. read more

Moved to NYC just two months ago and JR was key to getting me the place I'm renting and really like. He is the ultimate professional, his market expertise is tops, and his vast experience as a broker is evident. He makes the time to understand what you are looking for and to predict what you need and comes well prepared for viewings and ready to answer questions. And he makes himself available and is easily reached via email or text -- important when things move very quickly. His company is also very professional and they really go above and beyond in customer service. JR and his team really take care of your housing needs you're definitely in good hands when you work with them. Highly highly recommend!l read more

apartment searching is the worst. i have had my fair share of living arrangements in new york and all were stressful except my most recent experience. thanks to jr for helping me out and making my life so much easier. jr also opened up a lot of options for me, and little extra added perks like doorman building and my own shoe closet were things that i never thought i could get. i have fallen in love with my apartment and my neighborhood, all with the team's knowledge and expertise. finding an apartment is never easy in the city, so thanks to bona tierra, they helped take a lot of the edge and misery off of a not-usually-fun experience. thanks guys! read more

In my last apartment search I didn't have a choice but to use a broker, and I am so glad that by chance it was Jr Rivera from Bona Tierra. He made the experience absolutely painless, always made sure that my interests were served, helped put together my application and explain my tricky financial situation to the condominium board. Thanks to him I now live in the amazing apartment that I wanted. The level of service he provided before AND after the application approval, as he also helped me sort out a few issues after I moved in, was truly above and beyond what I ever expected! I only have high praise for Jr and Bona Tierra and highly recommend them. read more

After having several conversations with multiple brokers, I decided to hire JR and his team at Bona Tierra to rent my apartment out. JR demonstrated that he was highly knowledgeable about my building and provided a marketing strategy that suited my timeline and needs. Within two weeks during the low season of November 2020 and in the midst of the pandemic and oversupply of units in my building, JR was able to find an excellent tenant for an extended lease at a great rental rate. JR and his team were extremely proactive, responsive, and professional throughout the entire process, which they made as simple and easy for me as possible. read more