I have always dreamed of living in New York City. Several months ago, I decided to finally take the plunge! I came into this not having a clue as to how the whole process worked! By the luck of the draw, I ended up teaming with both Thomas Rainey and Matthew Bizzarro of The Bizzarro Agency. I quickly realized that I had hit the jackpot! These guys are absolutely awesome!! Since I primarily worked with Thomas Rainey, I have reviewed him separately. This review is directed to Matthew Bizzarro and the Bizzarro Agency! I had the pleasure of working with Matthew at several important junctures during my apartment search. Matthew is an incredible guy! He is knowledgeable, honest, patient and friendly. He put me at ease immediately! His primary contribution was to put together my co-op board package and make it shine! His advice and tips were indispensable while I was composing the package, and they helped me secure the apartment! Matthew runs the Bizzarro Agency with the same honesty and integrity that he lives by. Matthew is a longtime resident and aficionado of Washington Heights and Inwood. His knowledge and passion for these amazing and diverse neighborhoods are abundant! This has been an amazing life event for me! This past Tuesday I experienced the ultimate thrill of closing on and receiving the keys to the apartment of my dreams! Thanks Matthew, Thomas, and everyone at the Bizzarro Agency for making this transition so easy, exciting and fun!! If you are looking for an apartment in Northern Manhattan, please call the Bizzarro Agency. They truly are the DREAM TEAM! read more

We have been working with Matthew on the purchase of our first co-op and can 100% attest to him being a 5-star agent! Unable to find a place and unhappy with our broker my husband and I were ready to give up. In a last ditch effort, we searched and came across one of Matts listings on Zillow. We reached out and he was able to get us a viewing scheduled for the next day. We were so impressed by diligence, professionalism and charisma that we asked he represent us. We couldn't have made a better decision; he has been extraordinarily helpful in every phase of the process. Matt is the kind of guy you want to work with, especially if you are a new and inexperienced buyer such as myself. He will walk you through the entire process and will make it as painless as possible. For financing he put us in touch with one of his broker contacts who was able to get us approved for a grant program that covered our closing costs. Nobody could have prepared us for how tedious and exhausting the process of purchasing a co-op was but Matt has surely make it tolerable and sometime a little fun. He always greeted us with a bright smile or a contagiously upbeat e-mail. Right now we are in the process of having our board package reviewed and will hopefully close soon, it's great to know we will continue to see Matt in the neighborhood. read more

2014 was an eventful year for our family. We bought our first COOP apartment!! As a young couple in search of a new home, my husband and I couldn't have been happier with the excellent services provided by the Bizzarro Agency. The Bizzarro Agency helped us find a great place that not only fit our criteria, but is somewhere we feel happy and comfortable living. As first-time home buyers, we knew very little about the home-buying process. We knew we were ready to buy an apartment, but had no idea where to look or how to get started. Lucky for us, the Bizzarro agency helped us navigate the home buying process, and helped us understand the steps and paperwork involved. It is a stressful process when purchasing a new home but our realtors Matthew and Yodalis were extremely patient and were always available to us at a moment's notice, to listen to our worries, concerns, and questions. They always put a lot of work into finding the answers we needed. The Bizzarro Agency made the entire process really enjoyable. Most importantly, I trusted Mathew and Yodalis to work on our behalf; they made decisions that were in our best interest. I'm so glad we had the Bizzarro Agency helping us making our first real estate purchase! We recommend the Bizzarro Agency to anyone who is looking to buy. You will not be disappointed. Johalis & Ben read more

I highly recommend Matthew Bizzarro to be your agent in helping you find a place to live in New York. I lived in New York for thirty one year's then moved out because of the intimidating problem of finding somewhere to live that would be affordable on a modest salary. Since then, my daughter moved to New York. We decided instead of doing the rental juggling act to buy a co-op or condo. Still an intimidating process, but now that we are done I can confidently say that the process of buying a co-op was not as bad as I thought it would be if you have the help of a qualified, knowledgeable real estate agent like Matthew Bizzarro. His guidance through the process was invaluable and I was amazed at how he was able to make the transaction seamless and absolutely smooth. In addition, his personality helped take the stress out of buying a co-op and his "can do" attitude put us at ease when we were not sure what to do next in the process. He always was there to answer questions and worked closely with my daughter to find an affordable place for her to live, affordability was something I thought was impossible in the great city of New York. He was genuinely just as excited as we were over the purchase. So, contact The Bizzarro Agency for help finding your next home and see for yourself. read more

We had the distinct pleasure of working with Matthew throughout our process of seeking and purchasing an apartment in the Inwood/Hudson Heights area. From the very first day we met, Matthew was extraordinarily attentive, informative, kind, and supportive throughout the entire process. He gave us wonderful insight into the neighborhoods and buildings that we were interested in, and was always available to talk when we had questions or ideas--no matter the time of day. Navigating the home purchasing process is arguably just as complex, if not more, than finding the place you want to live, but Matthew made it easy, seamless-and fun! From helping us assemble our board application to prepping us for our interview, Matthew guided us along every step of the way and made it feel cheerful and manageable. I especially loved how he broke the process down step-by-step so that we wouldn't get overwhelmed. (There is a lot we could easily have become overwhelmed about, were it not for Matthew.) I would wholeheartedly recommend Matthew to anybody beginning their apartment search--he is easily the most knowledgeable, approachable, and dedicated broker one could ever hope for. read more

I was immediately impressed with Wendy during our first phone call. She took the time to really listen to our needs and desires for a property. She asked appropriate questions and often repeated things I had told her. To me, this sealed the deal with Wendy. Any agent who takes the time to really understand her client is an agent who has your best interests in mind. As we started working with her, she demonstrated her integrity as a professional, responding to calls, texts, and email immediately. She offered us invaluable guidance into the NYC real estate market which was a huge unknown for us. She invited us to consider properties that were a slight difference from our search criteria, but because she understood us so well actually helped find the idea coop apartment. She held our hand through every turn and was a constant professional presence, offering guidance and reassurance when necessary. We closed on our apartment in record time thanks to the diligent efforts of Wendy and her support team. When we are back in the market, Wendy will be my first call; it should be yours too! read more

I met Matt while going to see another apartment in the building he was working in; he let me into the building when I couldn't get in touch with the other agent and convinced me to check out his apt. I'm so glad we met because I eventually wound up purchasing in that same building and on the same line of apts I was shown even!! Matt is confident and knowledgeable about Washington Heights and the home buying process in general. Matt does a lot of work in the industry and has many connections, which may work to your advantage as it did for me. Matt was able to get me in to see apts. before others, which gave me first dibs. You can ask Matt for recommendations regarding other professionals you may need to work with during your home buying process, which for me, was key because I was a first time home buyer and was nervous about making good decisions. Matt recommended excellent lenders, lawyers, and even home inspectors to work with, which made my part a little easier. Overall, my experience was great and I will definitely consider using Matt to help sell my home when the time comes. read more

I really love the neighborhood of Inwood and I knew that's where I wanted to settle down, but I'd only dealt with shady management companies and flaky roommates in my 10 years of living in Manhattan/Brooklyn so I was feeling really cynical about the whole business of finding and getting an apartment for real. Bizzarro Agency kept popping up as I researched apartments in my budget in the area, so I contacted them and I am SO glad I did. Matthew and his whole team were super responsive and enthusiastic. I didn't have a huge budget for finding a place and I knew I needed something pet friendly and as close as possible to one of the many parks in the area, and they never made me feel like I was expecting too much or bothering them with all of my questions and concerns. I really love my apartment, and I wouldn't have found it (or survived the applying process) with Matthew. Apartment searching is always stressful in this city, but I felt so much more comfortable working with the Bizzarro Agency and knowing they had my back through the whole process. read more

I'm at pleasure to recommend Wendy Lo as real estate agent for an individual or family searching for a Co-Op in the NY Harlem / Bronx area. In my search for a new home closer to my Manhattan office and direct commute upstate, I needed a unit to fit my particular requirements quickly. My initial phone meeting with Wendy gave me the confidence, with her enthusiasm and attention to detail, she was the right agent. The search in finding a two bedroom / two bath within the two boroughs at the right price was fairly quick with Wendy's talent to find using the technology of search engines and databases. Wendy is highly attentive and made me feel I was her only client though the process. She is honest, engaging, and very personable and offered good advice to educate me as motivated buyer. I'm pleased to recommend Wendy to anyone looking to buy or sell their home in this highly competitive market. If I decide to sell or purchase another unit, Wendy would be my first choice. read more

A great, extremely smooth, and highly memorable experience in all the best ways possible. Sarah and Tom of the Bizzarro agency were beyond responsive, knowledgeable and courteous in helping us find and purchase our first home, a co-op in Manhattan. They internalized our needs and our wish list quickly; flexed when we flexed; get excited when we got excited; stood aside as we assessed a new space, but then always assisted us in weighing the pros and cons of living space versus neighborhood. Their professionalism and expertise kept us focused on what we really desired. They were very much like the definition of the perfect butler -- constantly present with whatever we needed, but never interfering; always respectful. They helped find us a wonderful home in a wonderful neighborhood -- in our price range! Thank you, Sarah and Tom and the Bizzarro Agency. read more

I thought I could do it on my own. That was the initial idea. But without Matthew's guidance, I would have made a terrible financial blunder and would have overpaid a large sum for my coop. Instead, he guided us through unsure waters, and we managed to have enough leverage to get the price we wanted. Matthew was an absolute dream to work with. I always felt that I was in the right hands in every moment. He was knowledgeable, experienced, detailed, and incredibly honest in helping us purchase our coop. Most importantly I always felt that he put our needs first, and was always at the ready to get the job done. His never say never attitude and his incredibly calm demeanor turned a stressful and often uncertain process into a smooth, easy and yes inevitable transaction. I strongly recommend Matthew if you want someone you can trust, and who can close the deal. read more

This is an agency / person who you SHOULD GO FOR when purchasing or renting anything in New York City. The Bizzarro Agency (with Matt Bizzarro) was professional, helpful, kind, AND above all... super trustworthy and genuinely interested in your well-being. As a first time Manhattan home-buyer (and a first time... ever), I was very meticulous with background-checking the properties, amenities, finances, as well as other aspects of the building and neighborhood. Matthew was VERY HONEST and transparent from the get go, that after doing all the due-diligence, I found out that every single thing checked out. SPEEDY PROCESS, TRANSPARENT, non-pushy, and providing everything with class and elegance. I have recommended lots of my Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Boston friends to Matthew / Bizzarro agency for rentals and apartments in NYC!! read more

Finding the perfect place is never easy, especially when you have a busy schedule! Hopefully, Todd from the Bizzarro Agency was there to squeeze in as many visits as possible every weekend! After a few months, we found what we were looking for and the entire process (visits, offer, negotiation, closing) went smoothly. Todd was always really organized and professional. He was on time, responsive to our emails, and did not hesitate to follow up with the seller's agent in a timely manner to get all the information we needed. Before each visit, Todd would do his "homeworks" to make sure that he would be able to answer our questions. If you are looking for an agent that you can trust and will remove most of the burden of the apartment search from your shoulders, look no further! You found the right person! read more

Buying a home--especially for the first time as we did--exposes every raw nerve. Be ready for your relationships to be tested and finances scrutinized. It's an uncomfortable and deeply emotional experience; David and I learned that if something could go wrong, it probably will. Enter Matthew Bizzarro: professional in demeanor, kind, generous with his time and toggles effortlessly between professor, therapist and advocate. He and, by extension, his firm go above and beyond to steward in a new generation of homeowner. We trust Matthew because he consistently displayed a high level of expertise, competency and good judgement throughout the entire home buying process. My husband and I actively recommend The Bizzarro Agency without any hesitation to our family, friends, and colleagues. read more

Our experience working with Matthew was easier and way more positive than we could have ever hoped. We had been hopelessly wandering through open-houses with some idea about what we wanted but no idea how to find it. As first time homebuyers, we were a little confused and anxious about the process until we found Matthew and the Bizzarro Agency. He guided us through making an offer, the subsequent contract signing and co-op board approval, and cheerfully answered our constant questions all the way through closing. We would recommend that anyone looking to purchase an apartment uptown (or really anywhere in the city) start with Matthew and look no further. We are so happy in our new home, but, when it's time to make another move, Matthew will be the first person we'll call. read more

Matthew has been great throughout the entire process, from the open house, to getting the mortgage, to applying to CoOp board, through the interview, through the closing and even through the renovation process and moving in. He is truly knowledgeable about Manhattan, especially Upper West, Heights and Inwood areas, being a resident of the neighborhood for multiple years. He has great connections in banking, legal and constructions as well as multiple managements companies which makes transitions seamless and communications easy and simple. He has been tenacious in fighting for fair deals, sensitive to personal situations and patient and diligent in dealing with obstacles. I am very happy and thankful that I was fortunate enough to run into him at an open house. read more

Tim Maggio of Bizzarro is that rare guy who can be the funniest person in the room and still be sincere and humble at the same time. He is passionately devoted to high ideals---he is even bold enough to defend them, which is so rare today. But somehow he is able to defend his most cherished beliefs with nothing more aggressive than an honest question here and there. So he winds up making friends in situations where most people make enemies. It's frankly amazing to behold. This is one of the few people on the planet I would send as my ambassador, if I were an ambassador-sending kind of guy. I would trust Tim in any situation because he will always be the same man in any situation. And that happens to be a great man. read more

Simonne Hill is absolute perfection. I feel so lucky to have found Simonne. This whole process can be incredibly overwhelming at times. Having her with me through the journey of buying a property gave me unbelievable security. She was honest, and attentive, incredibly warm, but also gave me space when I needed it. And did I mention attentive!! We looked at property after property until Simonne found me my absolute dream apartment. It's just so refreshing to work w/ a real estate agent that actually cares. I feel absolutely lucky to have found her and now feel even luckier to call her a friend. Thank you so much for all your help Simonne! You are SIMPLY THE BEST! read more

Things I have said about Matthew: "You are my hero." "Matthew is one of the nicest people on the planet and he's in real estate; how did that happen?" "When we were leaving the apartment after checking it out, someone who lived in the building recognized him and stopped to chat, and I was like, 'Wow, this guy is for real.'" Matthew is awesome. He was incredibly accommodating, SUPER helpful, and has been a continuous resource for me in getting to know my new neighborhood. He facilitated me securing my apartment in the truest sense of the word--he made it EASY. No offense to New York/New Yorkers, but I kept thinking, "Where am I? This just doesn't happen here." read more