Screening a NYC Rentals Real Estate Agent: How to Ensure They're Legitimate

Unfortunately, real estate transactions occur in such rapid time it is hard to build trust before signing key documents.  As a result, people can make bad decisions.  Fortunately, there are resources in place to help protect the consumer... if only consumers fully knew them.  

Here are some of the key concepts you need to be aware of to make your home hunt safe and successful...
  • Be aware that if someone other than the landlord is collecting money from you on behalf of a real estate transaction, they likely need to be licensed by the State (DOL) and have to state their affiliated brokerage and license status on all literature (business cards, advertisement, website, etc.)   There should be no question who the person you're dealing with is, how to check their license status and who their sponsoring brokerage is.
  • Real Estate agents are supposed to provide you with a disclosure form that informs you who they represent (for example, you or the landlord.)   These should be given to you at "first substantial contact."  This is important, because it effects the way they are required to deal with you.   For example, which interest come first:  filling up the landlord's unoccupied apartment or matching you up with the best unoccupied apartment relative to your needs. 
  • Some real estate agents are affiliated with brokerages that are affiliated with local or national real estate boards, and some are members.   This adds an extra layer of dispute resolution.   In my case, I'm a member of a brokerage affiliated with REBNY (The Real Estate Board of New York) and am a dues paying member.   I must adhere to their code of ethics at the expense of fines or losing my membership.  (Note that Real Estate Agents in NYC are not "realtors".  A Realtor is a person who's a member of the National Association of Realtors.  Our real estate board, REBNY, withdrew from NAR, hence the NYC equivalent of a REALTOR would be a NYS licensed real estate professional who is a member of the Real Estate Board of NY.
  • Aside from the DOL and REBNY, there are multiple State and Federal Agents which field consumer fraud complaints.   (One is the Attorney General of the State of NYC.)  Be aware of alerts and advisories on their websites.   For example, NO REAL ESTATE AGENT should ask you to wire money directly.  Money always goes through the brokerage.   And be wary of broker's trying to scam you into writing checks in a variety of ways.  If you can't look up the agent's brokerage and license and the person is calling themselves a broker or "realator", it's likely a scam.
  • Not all brokerages are the same.  Try your best to get a "vibe" as to what you're dealing with and do your research.



​Eddie Landsberg, MA, Ed.M, B.Mus

An internationally respected music theorist and performer, Eddie was born and raised in Philadelphia and began classical piano training at the age of 5,  starting Jazz Studies at Philadelphia's famous Settlement Music School in his teens.  Switching to Hammond Organ in his mid 20's, he received his first organ lesson from the legendary Shirley Scott then studied Jazz composition and performance with Blue Note Recording artist Big John Patton.  He also received guidance from Austin Mitchell (a favorite accompanist of Ella Fitzgerald) and began performing alongside Byard Lancaster and other "old school" Philly and East Coast Jazz and R&B legends.  After recording several CDs which received national air play ( NPR, WBGO and hundreds of radio stations across in the U.S), Eddie became one of the original factory demonstrators for the original Nord Electro, touring Europe to promote their product.  Shortly after, he moved to Japan where he spent almost 20 years teaching, leading bandstands and running his own venue which was featured on NHK and in magazines throughout the country.  While there, he also did vocal and performance coaching for Victor Records, and was involved in promotions for Yamaha Motorcycles and the Mori Building (celebrating the opening of the famous Roppongi Hills Complex.)
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Eddie currently resides in Astoria, Queens and is creator of the "7 Secrets of Jazz and Soul" Jazz improv series.  

Education: BA in Music, Thomas Edison State University MA Liberal Studies (focus onEthnomusicology and Critical Jazz Studies), Rutgers University (Capstone with Honors) Ed.M, Rutgers University, specializing in Adult Education
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Recordings | Publications | Interviews 
エディ・ランズバーグ、MA、Ed.M、B.Mus
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エディ・ランズバーグは、国際的に尊敬される音楽理論家兼演奏家で、豊かで多様な音楽的背景を持っています。フィラデルフィアで生まれ育ち、彼はわずか5歳のときから音楽の道を歩み始め、クラシックピアノのトレーニングをスタートしました。ティーンエイジャーの頃、フィラデルフィアの名門セトルメント音楽学校でジャズスタディに没頭しました。そして20代半ばでハモンドオルガンに転身し、伝説的なシャーリー・スコットから初めての指導を受けました。その後、ブルーノート・レコーディング・アーティストであるビッグ・ジョン・パットンの指導のもと、ジャズの作曲と演奏の技術を磨きました。  エディの音楽的旅路は、エラ・フィッツジェラルドのお気に入りの伴奏者であるオースティン・ミッチェルなど、著名なアーティストからの貴重なアドバイスで彩られました。彼は「オールドスクール」のフィラデルフィアや東海岸のジャズとR&Bのレジェンド、バイヤード・ランカスターなどと共演し、音楽シーンに不朽の足跡を刻みました。 エディの創造的な旅は、全米で放送されるなど、高い評価を受けたCDの制作につながりました。彼はまた、革新的な楽器であるノードエレクトロのオリジナルファクトリーデモンストレーターの一人として、ヨーロッパツアーを行い、製品の宣伝に貢献しました。 その後、エディは日本への大きな転機を迎え、ほぼ20年にわたり教育者、バンドリーダー、独自の名門会場の経営者として活動しました。彼の仕事は、NHKでの出演や国内の多くの雑誌での取り上げられ、広く認知されました。この期間中、彼はビクターレコードのためにボーカルとパフォーマンスの指導を行い、ヤマハモーターサイクルと森ビルディング（有名な六本木ヒルズコンプレックスのオープニングを祝う）のプロモーションにも貢献しました。
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現在、エディ・ランズバーグはクイーンズのアストリアを拠点にし、「ジャズとソウルの7つの秘密」ジャズ即興シリーズのビジョナリーです。
学歴：
  • 音楽学士号（B.Mus）、トーマス・エジソン州立大学
  • 芸術修士号（MA）リベラルスタディ、ラトガーズ大学（エスノミュージコロジーとクリティカルジャズスタディに焦点、優等でキャップストーン）
  • 教育修士号（Ed.M）、ラトガーズ大学（大人の教育を専門とし、特別研究で優等）
エディの録音、出版物、インタビューを通じて、彼の驚異的な音楽の旅に深く没頭してください。
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