George Halvatzis

Astoria Realtors Long Island City Realtors Queens NYC

George Halvatzis is the Founder of Halvatzis Real Estate Agency. George’s integrity, energy, dedication, hard work and creative personal service go into every detail of every real estate transaction he is involved in.

George brings to our team  over 35 years of industry knowledge in the field of residential and commercial real estate in the Astoria  Queens area and has worked hard to build a solid foundation of loyal clients over the years.

As the Founder of one of the most trusted real estate agencies in Astoria & Queens, George is focused on consistently providing unsurpassed personal service and his comprehensive market knowledge is a benefit to all of his clients.

George Halvatzis isn’t the old man of the agency, or so he likes to say. But after graduating from Queens College in Flushing over 35  years ago, George  established Halvatzis Realty on Ditmars Blvd in Astoria Queens. And ever since,  George has been selling real estate in neighborhoods ranging from Astoria / LIC to Bayside / Whitestone and everything in between.

George is a seasoned realtor who stays tuned to market demand, inventory and prices, as well as their
underlying factors. Some time ago George became a landlord himself, and has a 99% success rate from contract to close. George has been featured in the New York Times, The New York Daily News, The New York Post, NY1 and QueensBuzz.com.

George Halvatzis
Real Estate Broker
Tel +1 718 545 8300
Mob +1 917 923 0204
Email – halvatzisrealty@aol.com

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John Fucich

Astoria Realtors Long Island City Realtors Queens NYC

John Fucich was born and raised in Astoria. He graduated from Long Island City High School and went on to attend Queens Borough College. John began his career as a Data Communications Engineer for Instanet, rising through the ranks in the 1980’s and 1990’s.

During this time John bought Astoria real estate as an investment, where he became familiar with the challenge of managing a building filled with tenants. It was also at this time that John developed an interest in real estate and began becoming familiar with the varied rules and regulations associated with it.

John made a career move into banking in Queens in the early part of the 21st century. While working for a bank, managing the operations of numerous branches throughout Queens, John developed a better understanding of the legal and financial complexities involved in managing real estate investments.

John obtained his real estate license in 2010 and has been working at Halvatzis Realty in Astoria ever since. He enjoys helping using his knowledge and experience to help clients navigate their way through the complexities of renting and managing tenants, selling, or making what is likely to be one of the biggest investments of their lives which – for many of his clients – is the purchase of their home.

 

John Fucich
Realtor
Tel 718.545.8300
Mob 917 207 0591

Email – jgfucich@gmail.com

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Christina Sidoti

Astoria Realtors Long Island City Realtors Queens NYC

When you engage Christina to find you the right property whether for investment or for your own home you will find that Christina has an innate knack for matchmaking properties to clients. She is honest, direct and tough and knows how to make deals happen.

Christina’s customers enjoy working with her because she is engaging, smart and gets what they want. You will want her on your side. Christina combines an intuitive knack for her customers, her excellence in interior design, her knowledge of building, construction, development and investment to bring you the perfect consigliere in the New York real estate market. She brings calm confidence to buyers and sellers and renters through any situation. Astute and an excellent negotiator, she is affable and a delight to work with. The way she conducts her business will show you her commitment to  excellence.

Most marvel at how she gets it all done. Her get to it and motto in life is “if you want something done, give it to a busy woman.” Christina Sidoti is a New York City native having been raised by her grandparents over their candy store in Jackson Heights. Her parents were New York City school teachers. She is a passionate lover of all things New York City! She understands the New York market better than most people because she has lived and worked in most neighborhoods from Manhattan to Brooklyn and Queens. She understands the nuances from block to block with a breadth and depth that only a native can understand.

Christina raised her children in Manhattan’s Upper West Side where they attended the finest public schools. She is back like a homing pigeon to Astoria, Queens where she gut renovated a beautiful row home near the magnificent Astoria Park. Her extended family lives in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Proud to be representing properties in New York City, and thrilled that the next generation, her grandchildren are in Astoria as well.

Christina is an accomplished Chef and Restaurateur having spent years in Maine at her award winning Farm to Table restaurant named for her grandmother Paolina. Christina has developed many properties for herself from New York to Maine and is an accomplished interior designer. Her restaurant and her homes have been published in many magazines.

Christina’s passion is helping families find their perfect match home and working with them to actualize their vision for their home no matter what the budget. Christina’s enjoys the challenges that come with working with local and international investors find development properties and locations. Christina has a keen eye for “diamonds in the rough” that can be maximized to bring great value to investors.

Christina has a great many passions including cooking, the environment, aiding vulnerable children, women and animals, she is a board member of Astoria Park Alliance and works with many local and global organizations, all attempting to make the world a better place for all.

 

Christina Sidoti
Real Estate Agent

Tel 212 362 0482

Email – mschristinasidoti@gmail.com

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Paul Milonakis

Astoria Realtors Long Island City Realtors Queens NYC

Paul Milonakis specializes in taking the stress out of transactions for buyers and sellers. “I handle
everything from A to Z,” he says. “I treat my clients like family. I don’t just cash the check and walk away after the closing.”

Born in Athens, Greece, Paul came to America when he was 2. He bought his first house, a two-family in Astoria, when he was 26. “I became a landlord, and it taught me about investment properties,” he says. “I want to help others do the same thing.”

Paul, who speaks Greek fluently and is a member of the Omonia Cretan’s Association of New York City, spends his free time with his wife, Sotria, and their three young daughters. “I feel a real commitment to this community,” he says. “I want my clients to love it as much as I do.”

Paul Milonakis
Realtor
Office 917.364.1220
Email pmilonakis@yahoo.com

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Kim Parshley

Astoria Realtors Long Island City Realtors Queens NYC

When it comes to renting or selling property nobody comes close to the dedication and care taken by Kim Parshley. With over 15 years in residential sales and marketing, numerous awards and an unbelievable number of happy clients, only Kim can deliver an extraordinary home sale experience.  “Despite the many changes I have seen in the residential home market one thing remains true, my clients receive the utmost care and consideration when achieving their property goals.”

As a lifelong resident of Astoria, Kim knows the ins and outs of Astoria and Queens. She knows the neighborhood schools, parks and people personally. Kim is as familiar with the undiscovered neighborhood dining and shopping gems, as she is the restaurants and stores that have been around for decades.

Kim attended college at Queensborough in Bayside, and began her career in real estate a decade ago. Since then she’s established an enviable reputation in the Astoria Queens real estate market by helping tenants and buyers find great new homes. And by helping landlords and owners find good tenants and qualified buyers. Kim is known as the Matchmaker and has been featured on NY1, MTV’s Made in Astoria, The Queens Gazette and QueensBuzz.com.

 

Kim Parshley
Real Estate Broker
Tel +1 718 545 8300
Mob +1 917 620 5344
Email – kimparshleyrealty@gmail.com

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Steven Shane

Astoria Realtors Long Island City Realtors Queens NYC

Whether you are looking to rent, buy or sell your home, Halvatzis Realty local real estate agents and brokers connect you with the kind of properties that will meet your needs. Because the real estate market is unique, it’s important to choose a real estate agent or broker with local expertise to guide you through the process of renting, buying or selling your next home.

No matter what type of real estate needs you have, finding the local real estate professional you want to work with is the first step. The real estate directory lets you view and compare real estate agents, read reviews, see an agent’s current listings and past sales, and contact agents directly from their profile pages here at Halvatzis Realty.

Steven officially began his real estate career in Astoria, Jackson Heights & Queens about five years ago. But unofficially Steven’s real estate career began years before, when he started making his living by buying, renovating and selling three different properties in the Queens real estate market.

Steven graduated from the University of Delaware with a Business degree, before moving north to Queens NYC. These early efforts turning properties, as well as Steven’s experience since, provide Steven with unique insights with regard to the business side of investing in real estate, as well as purchasing one to be
your home.

Tel +1 718 545 8300
Mob +1 917 701 5013
Email – stevenrealty@aol.com


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Arthur Francesco

Astoria Realtors Long Island City Realtors Queens NYC

Arthur is so excited to be the newest addition to the Halvatzis Realty team. Born in Elmhurst, Queens, Arthur attended school locally, at Queens College, and has lived in three of the five boroughs. He spent most of his professional life in the hospitality and entertainment industries. As a singer, Arthur traveled to 49 states in touring productions of big band and swing musicals that honored our Armed Forces. After years of touring, Arthur was told by a friend about “L’ecole” the restaurant of the French Culinary Institute, where culinary scholarships were offered to exceptional employees. Arthur applied, started as a server, and within three years was promoted to General Manager. The scholarship opportunities allowed Arthur to fulfill another dream: attending culinary school. He received extensive instruction in Classic Pastry Arts, Cake Techniques and Design, and achieved the status of Wine Sommelier, certified by the Court of Master Sommeliers. He received the accolade of “Top of Class” in every course.


A born go-getter, Arthur was hungry for another challenge. He decided to follow in his mother’s footsteps and begin a career in real estate. He knew it would be tough, but also knew he had real estate in his blood. He proved he could accomplish anything he set his mind to by passing the NYS Licensing Exam on his first try, and immersing his life in the real estate world. Over the course of his burgeoning career, Arthur has discovered something he didn’t expect: joy. Joy is the look on a clients face when you find them that undiscovered gem; the excitement a client experiences after the papers are signed – this new beautiful place is theirs to live, love, and grow; it’s the magic of that handshake, fist bump, or even a hug between client and agent that says, “job well done.”

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Anatomy of a Real Estate Sale

Astoria Real Estate, Uncategorized

Please note that the photo above isn’t directly related to the story below, but is only meant to show some of the Astoria & Queens housing stock.

A house sale can be more than meets the eye.

Two Family Brick House
 
Strong Points. Located just blocks from Astoria Park and in the highly desirable P.S. 122 school district, this 2 family home features a  2 bedroom apartment over a large 2 room studio.  The property had no basement.  There was a garage and driveway and a spacious backyard.
 
The Challenges. In recent years, the property had fallen in to disrepair.  There were no kitchens on either floor (to obtain conventional bank financing, there must be 2 functional kitchens).

Working Through the Transaction. After multiple showings, we secured a qualified buyer and negotiated an agreeable price between the buyers and sellers.  An inspection was done and certain repairs had to be negotiated.
 
Once the buyer put in their formal loan application, the bank sends out an appraiser to assess the value of the house.  We provided current comparable sales to help the bank justify the price.  The appraiser hit the proper value and the buyers’ got their loan.  Or did they?
 
After issuing the commitment, we were informed that the bank wanted repairs done to the property before closing to make it habitable.
 
Obstacles to the Transaction
 
1.)The seller didn’t want to fix the house and fund completion of the work.
 
2.)The buyers’ end goal was to purchase the house and gut renovate it so they felt these repairs were unnecessary and personally didn’t care about the present condition.
 
3.)The bank being the majority shareholder in this transaction wanted theses repairs done or they weren’t lending.
 
The Solution – Making the Transaction Happen.
 
The challenges were explained to all parties : buyers, sellers and their respective attorneys.
 
We were able to get the attorneys to release a small portion of the escrow deposit before closing and have the work done.
 
The work was done, the bank re-inspected the house and a closing date was set.
 
And did I mention that this had to be done in a very timely manner so that the purchasers’ did not lose their rate lock.  Losing their rate lock could have forced  them to pay a higher monthly payment and possible have their file underwritten again to make sure that they still qualify.
 
The property closed for $990,000.00.  This was many years ago.

 

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