# The Charles Realty **Trade:** Real Estate · **Address:** 257 Newbury St #2, Boston, MA 02116, USA · **Phone:** (617) 236-0353 · **Website:** https://www.thecharlesrealty.com/ · **Languages:** English **Rating: 3.9/5** (high confidence) — from 39 reviews across 4 sources. 97% of sentiment-scored reviews read net-positive. Last 6 months: 0 reviews, 0 negative. ## The honest read The Charles Realty is a Newbury Street brokerage that's been in Back Bay since 1984, and the repeat business in its review history reflects that longevity — one review comes from a client who's known the staff more than twenty years, and several describe using the same agent for two or three transactions spread across years. The team is large enough that most reviews name a specific agent rather than the firm as a whole. Sarah Glovsky and her frequent partner Nathalie Grenet show up repeatedly for both buying and selling — one couple used Sarah across three separate deals over four years, another over two years for three more. On the rental side, Natasha Morales, Jessica Grabow, Olta Joxhe, and Jessica Laufer each get their own praise for finding apartments quickly, including for out-of-state relocations. A 2025 review describes Annette Given, who runs the firm, guiding a difficult long-distance sale of a relative's home to a fast close. There's one serious complaint worth knowing about: a 2022 review, later updated, describes months of unresolved repairs on a rental property, missing work-order documentation, and what the reviewer calls a pattern of neglect toward tenant safety — the same review also accuses the company of posting fake reviews and running a second Google listing to obscure its rating. That's a single account, but a specific and pointed one, and it stands apart from the sales-side reviews, which describe a different part of the business. Worth asking upfront which agent will be handling a given deal, and — if renting through their landlord side rather than buying or selling — what the maintenance and repair process actually looks like. **Strengths:** - Long client relationships — repeat clients return years apart for more deals - Handles long-distance sales — sold a relative's home smoothly from afar - Deep rental bench — several named agents specialize in apartment searches - Multi-decade team — some client relationships span more than 20 years - Large agent roster — buyers, sellers, and renters get a dedicated named agent **Concerns:** - Rental-property complaint — one detailed review alleges months of unresolved repairs and neglect ## Claims & citations Every claim below is backed by real evidence rows — uncited claims are dropped in code before publication. - The firm's own site says it was established in 1984 and states 42 years in business _(confidence: medium)_ - [Official Website](https://www.thecharlesrealty.com) — “Company history (self-reported): The site states the firm was established in 1984 and describes over 30 years of experience working out of i…” - [Official Website](https://www.thecharlesrealty.com) — “Self-reported 42 years in business” - The firm's own site says its agents represent buyers, sellers, renters, and landlords across Boston's downtown neighborhoods _(confidence: medium)_ - [Official Website](https://www.thecharlesrealty.com) — “The Charles Realty is a Newbury Street (Back Bay) Boston real estate brokerage whose agents represent buyers, sellers, renters, and landlord…” - Helped sell a relative's home in a difficult, emotional long-distance process, in record time _(confidence: high)_ - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sCi9DQUlRQUNvZENodHljRjlvT2xVM2VYQlNjM05VY0dkQlVrODBWamM1VldkbmNIYxAB!2m1!1s0x0:0x9138949c24c014b2!3m1!1s2@1:CAIQACodChtycF9oOlU3eXBSc3NUcGdBUk80Vjc5VWdncHc%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ Annette Given and the team at The Charles Realty made a very difficult and emotional long distance selling process simple and clear. I wi…” - A repeat client used the same agent, Betsy Herald, for a condo purchase and its sale four years later _(confidence: medium)_ - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSURXX3ZpZGhnRRAB!2m1!1s0x0:0x9138949c24c014b2!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgIDW_vidhgE%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ My husband and I have worked with Betsy Herald twice, once as buyers when we purchased our condo and again when we sold it four years lat…” - A client worked with agent Sarah Glovsky on three separate transactions over four years _(confidence: medium)_ - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSURldG9yNTZnRRAB!2m1!1s0x0:0x9138949c24c014b2!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgIDetor56gE%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ Over the last four years, my wife and I have worked with the inestimable Sarah Glovsky on three separate occasions (purchase, sale, purch…” - A client acquainted with the staff for more than 20 years describes the team as experienced and loyal _(confidence: medium)_ - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChZDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUQtMV91SUZBEAE!2m1!1s0x0:0x9138949c24c014b2!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgID-1_uIFA%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ I have been acquainted with the staff from the Charles Realty for more then 20 yrs . Annette Given and her team are beyond experienced ,…” - Several named rental agents (Natasha Morales, Jessica Grabow, Olta Joxhe, Jessica Laufer) are praised individually for fast apartment searches, including for relocations _(confidence: high)_ - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnTUNncVlHWmxnRRAB!2m1!1s0x0:0x9138949c24c014b2!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgMCgqYGZlgE%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ I couldn't recommend Jessica Laufer enough! When I first found out I'd be moving to Boston, everyone told me what a pain it was navigatin…” - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUMtaDQzS3lRRRAB!2m1!1s0x0:0x9138949c24c014b2!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgIC-h43KyQE%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ I can’t thank Natasha Morales enough for all of her help to find me my current place. She was attentive to all of my needs and extremely …” - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChZDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSURtbC1MbFZREAE!2m1!1s0x0:0x9138949c24c014b2!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgIDml-LlVQ%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ The Charles Realty, and more specifically Jessica Grabow, were beyond instrumental in helping my fiancé and I find our new home in Boston…” - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUQ2a0pmdnJRRRAB!2m1!1s0x0:0x9138949c24c014b2!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgID6kJfvrQE%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ I was lucky to work with the broker Olta Joxhe. She is very proffessional helping me to rent a unit that I really like in a very short t…” - A 2022 review, later updated, describes months of unresolved repairs, missing work-order documentation, and a pattern of neglect toward tenant safety on a rental property, and accuses the company of posting fake reviews and running a second Google listing to obscure its rating _(confidence: medium)_ - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChZDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUNlbzU2ZlVBEAE!2m1!1s0x0:0x9138949c24c014b2!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgICeo56fUA%7C%7C?hl=en) — “1★ UPDATED: Still garbage company that continues to take months for repairs (leading to financial loss), not provide proper work order docum…” - A Reddit post records a $1.36M Jamaica Plain multifamily sale with an agent from the firm as the buyer's representative _(confidence: low)_ - [reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/tradedboston/comments/1agkx7k/multifamily_property_in_jamaica_plain_ma_sells/) — “r/tradedboston — Elizabeth Gibby-Homnick from [The Charles Realty](https://traded.co/agency/the-charles-realty) represented the buyer, while…” - Specializes in Real Estate _(confidence: high)_ - [Official Website](https://www.thecharlesrealty.com) — “Stated service area (self-reported): Boston, Back Bay, Beacon Hill, South End, Fenway-Kenmore, Midtown, North End, Seaport District, South B…” - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sCi9DQUlRQUNvZENodHljRjlvT2xVM2VYQlNjM05VY0dkQlVrODBWamM1VldkbmNIYxAB!2m1!1s0x0:0x9138949c24c014b2!3m1!1s2@1:CAIQACodChtycF9oOlU3eXBSc3NUcGdBUk80Vjc5VWdncHc%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ Annette Given and the team at The Charles Realty made a very difficult and emotional long distance selling process simple and clear. I wi…” - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSURleHFiZnBnRRAB!2m1!1s0x0:0x9138949c24c014b2!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgIDexqbfpgE%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ In the span of two years Sarah Glovsky helped us buy our condo, buy our house, and then sell our condo. She is a tenacious advocate, a ma…” ## License No license record has been checked yet for this contractor. ## Sources - [Google](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=The%20Charles%20Realty&query_place_id=ChIJN2I1Bg9644kRshTAJJyUOJE): 4.7★ from 60 ratings - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=The%20Charles%20Realty&query_place_id=ChIJN2I1Bg9644kRshTAJJyUOJE): Listed on this source - [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/tradedboston/comments/1agkx7k/multifamily_property_in_jamaica_plain_ma_sells/): 1 community mention discussing this business - [Official Website](https://www.thecharlesrealty.com): 42 yrs in business · Self-reported profile and service details ## Mentions Unverified third-party mentions found on the open web — relay with attribution ("a Reddit commenter said…"), never as Tavlee's own finding. - “Elizabeth Gibby-Homnick from [The Charles Realty](https://traded.co/agency/the-charles-realty) represented the buyer, while The Residential Group from William Raveis Real Estate handled the seller's r…” — u/TradedMedia in r/tradedboston (2024-02-01) — https://www.reddit.com/r/tradedboston/comments/1agkx7k/multifamily_property_in_jamaica_plain_ma_sells/ ## Recent reviews - **5/5 · Google Reviews · Ami Lanning · 2025-12-09**: Annette Given and the team at The Charles Realty made a very difficult and emotional long distance selling process simple and clear. I will be forever grateful to the team for everything they did to help sell my uncle’s home in record time. Annette was amazing, clear in her communication, and has a … - **5/5 · Google Reviews · Zoe Moore · 2025-02-18**: I couldn't recommend Jessica Laufer enough! When I first found out I'd be moving to Boston, everyone told me what a pain it was navigating the rental market. Jessica made this process easy and stress-free. She was incredibly responsive with all of my questions and helped me every step of the way. Tr… - **5/5 · Google Reviews · Andrew Bachman · 2024-04-12**: Andy was fantastic from the start, when we sat down for lunch to talk through what I and my fiancé were looking for. We had a general idea, but quickly changed our focus after the first few showings. Andy attended every open house with us, so I felt a touch guilty when we pivoted our search. Andy re… - **5/5 · Google Reviews · Sarah Johnson · 2023-12-07**: Annette and her team provide superior customer service and have the most extensive knowledge of Boston and surrounding areas. They are the best! - **5/5 · Google Reviews · James Rizzitano · 2023-11-22**: Annette Given runs The Charles Realty and is very good to the people who work for her. In addition she is a spectacular agent and diligent with her buyers and her sellers. I would recommend Annette Given at The Charles Realty any time! - **5/5 · Google Reviews · Ravi Pahuja · 2023-11-21**: Great team! Amazing results. Very hands on approach to guiding their clients from start to finish! - **5/5 · Google Reviews · Dawn Poss · 2023-08-04**: We highly recommend using The Charles Realty. They are very professional and experienced. Our agent Jessica Laufer was top notch! She didn’t miss a beat, kept in contact with us daily and saved us money on the price negotiations. If you want to have an easy breezy sale or purchase of your home, give… - **5/5 · Google Reviews · janice zacher · 2022-12-12**: I have been acquainted with the staff from the Charles Realty for more then 20 yrs . Annette Given and her team are beyond experienced , loyal and genuine . Annette goes beyond what is the norm in any situation to make sure she’s done all that’s possible . She does not lag on anything . Her commitm… - **5/5 · Google Reviews · albi sanchez · 2022-11-15**: I can’t thank Natasha Morales enough for all of her help to find me my current place. She was attentive to all of my needs and extremely responsive. I’ve worked with many realtors that don’t come close to Natasha’s professionalism! - **5/5 · Google Reviews · Leah Weintraub · 2022-11-13**: Sarah Glovsky helped us buy our wonderful house in Roslindale in Spring 2020. Given the craziness of the market at that time, and the additional challenge that we were not in Boston yet, Sarah went over and above to make sure we ended up with the perfect home. Sarah not only knows the Real Estate ma… --- Data freshness: last scanned 2026-07-29T02:36:22.343Z. Cite as: The Charles Realty — Tavlee (https://tavlee.com/contractor/the-charles-realty-boston) Source: https://tavlee.com/contractor/the-charles-realty-boston