Local business · Allston, MALocal business · 139 Brighton Ave, Allston, MA 02134, USA
Verified record
Gateway Real Estate Group has been placing tenants around Allston, Brighton and Brookline since 2003, and after 112 Google ratings one thing is unusually clear: with this firm, which agent you get matters more than the sign on the door. The five-star half is a roll-call of names. David Finn recurs more than anyone — a July 2026 client wrote that he spent about three hours showing a dozen options across Allston, Brighton and Brookline and had a lease in hand by the following Tuesday; a December 2025 client described him giving up a Friday night to show seven places against a two-and-a-half-week deadline. Leo, Will Strong and Kevin Cardoso draw the same specific kind of praise: a March 2025 reviewer valued Leo asking property owners questions they hadn't thought to ask, and a 2021 client said Kevin sent a video tour while they were out of state and pushed back on a difficult landlady. Landlords are the quietly persuasive part — one wrote in October 2025 that Gateway has rented out his Brighton three-family for more than a decade, another in December 2023 that he has used them to place tenants for nearly twenty years. The other half is not vague. Complaints about one agent's manner repeat across years: curt and unresponsive after first contact in June 2026, rigid and defensive about routine questions in February 2025, extremely rude before cutting off email in March 2024. Money is the sharper theme. A July 2023 reviewer said they were asked to send an $80 application fee and a $1,000 deposit by Venmo to a personal account, on 30 June 2023, to take the listing down. A December 2024 reviewer described exorbitant non-refundable fees and pressure to forward money that was never returned. A December 2022 reviewer looking at a rental that had sat for months was told another family was applying that same day. A September 2022 reviewer said listings advertised virtual tours the agent then declined to give. Two smaller notes. A November 2025 client, otherwise positive, flagged that application information was collected by email rather than through a secure portal. And the firm's Massachusetts real estate broker licence, 6744-RE-C, is active; BBB grades it A+ and puts it at 22 years in business. If you go with Gateway, ask for a specific agent by name, get the full fee schedule in writing before you apply, and pay application fees and deposits only to the company — never into an individual's personal account.
Paul helped me view units several times and was patient, courteous and informative about the history and state of the unit, as well as what the property had to offer. I really appreciated his help and timeliness in response.
David Finn was professional, transparent, and easy to work with. He spent about 3 hours with me showing me about a dozen different options in the Allston/Brighton/Brookline area. He took the time to educate me about the market, and helped us make an informed decision on where we would be moving. David was and continues to be highly responsive, and the process was seamless. I toured apartments on a Friday and had a lease in hand on Tuesday. I would recommend him to a friend, and would be excited to work with him again in the future.
I contacted this realty group for an apartment listing and was contacted by Paul Mcallister. Initially he contacted me right away but after giving all the information requested via email there was no follow up. I had to keep reaching out to him to get a response. He was very curt and somewhat rude with his responses. He wasn’t willing to show the apartment in person unless an application was filled out and said it was a waste of his time since he doesn’t get paid to show listings but expected me to waste time filling out a 10 minute application giving out personal information, and running a credit check for an apartment that may not be suitable. He was very responsive to argue but not to show a listing. The bad reviews about him are very accurate.
David Finn was great to work with! He is very easy to reach. He was totally transparent with us, super communicative, and really persistent in advocating for us throughout the process. He found properties that were a good fit for us and took our preferences into account in a way that most other realtors did not. I would strongly recommend him to anyone looking for an apartment in Boston.
Great experience, I was able to find a great place quickly. Paul listened carefully to what I was looking for and automatically sent me great choices. He was very responsive and gave honest opinions about the properties.
Specializes in
Also offers
Service area
Languages
Added 67 new comments, added 14 new photos, verified active license, established rating 3.4
4.4140 reviews
4.4132 reviews
4.4106 reviews
4.472 reviews