Sandra
Balan
Brown Harris Stevens Real Estate Agent Sandra Balan

Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker
[email protected]
o: 212-588-5644
m: 917-273-0763

East Side
445 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10022

About Sandra

Languages Spoken:      ROMANIAN, ENGLISH

2023 AMERICA’S BEST Ranked Top 1.5% of All Agents in the U.S.(Real Trends/Wall Street Journal)
2021-2022 Listing Agent of the Year (445 Park Avenue Office)
2021-2022 BHS NYC Million Dollar Club
#12 Top Agent Companywide, January 2024
#16 Top Agent Companywide, December 2023

With over four decades of combined experience and over $1 billion of residential real estate sold, Sandra Balan and her longtime business partner Samantha Pinkowitz don’t see problems; they only see solutions. For many years running they have ranked in the top 1.5% of all real estate professionals nationwide by sales volume, as recognized by RealTrends and the Wall Street Journal, and...

2023 AMERICA’S BEST Ranked Top 1.5% of All Agents in the U.S.(Real Trends/Wall Street Journal)
2021-2022 Listing Agent of the Year (445 Park Avenue Office)
2021-2022 BHS NYC Million Dollar Club
#12 Top Agent Companywide, January 2024
#16 Top Agent Companywide, December 2023

With over four decades of combined experience and over $1 billion of residential real estate sold, Sandra Balan and her longtime business partner Samantha Pinkowitz don’t see problems; they only see solutions. For many years running they have ranked in the top 1.5% of all real estate professionals nationwide by sales volume, as recognized by RealTrends and the Wall Street Journal, and their high proportion of repeat and referral business is testament to their client satisfaction. In addition to multiple appearances on HGTV, Sandra has been featured in numerous publications such as The New York Times, New York Post, New York Magazine, and New York Family.

Hard-won experience has taught Sandra and Samantha how to surmount every conceivable transactional speedbump, equipping them to take even the most challenging deals over the finish line. In the instances where their team was the second or third broker to receive a listing, they have sold homes other brokers could not, proving their ability to engineer a successful deal under any circumstances.

As lifelong New Yorkers, Sandra and Samantha are intimately acquainted with all of the city’s constituent neighborhoods as well as deeply familiar with all of the city’s finest buildings. Their transactions in buildings of this caliber have led them to amass a client base that values efficiency, discretion, and profit maximization, all of which they consistently deliver. They maintain contact with the hundreds of satisfied clients they have assisted over the years, connections that provide them with access to networks beyond the reach of most real estate professionals.

Client testimonials:

“As senior counsel with Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP, I have dealt with a wide range of respected professionals from many different fields. Through these interactions, it has become abundantly clear to me which qualities differentiate the average businessperson from the exceptional businessperson. I have had occasion to work with many real estate brokers associated with many high-profile firms, and I can say without hesitation that Sandra Balan and Samantha Pinkowitz are professionals without parallel. It is exceedingly rare that I can place a client in another’s professional’s hands with full certainty that the client will receive the highest caliber of service with or without my oversight. With Sandra and Samantha, I enjoy that certainty. I have yet to meet a real estate team that is better versed about every aspect, intricacy, and nuance of the field, more in touch with the vagaries and movements of the real estate market, more driven, more dedicated, more committed to their clients, and more willing to go above and beyond the call of duty in order to ensure that all of their clients’ expectations are either met or exceeded. While any highly experienced broker can do a competent job marketing and selling a property, Sandra and Samantha are not content to perform in a “standard” fashion. They always go the extra mile. In sum, there is no team of real estate brokers I could trust more or recommend more highly. Should you enlist the services of their team, backed by the resources of Manhattan’s oldest, most prestigious, and most respected firm, I can guarantee you will be thrilled with that decision and with the results they achieve for you.” –William D.,Esq.

“Throughout the entire sales process, both Sandra and Samantha brought significant value through their broad and deep knowledge of the New York City real estate market, their honest opinions and professional recommendations, and their ability to handle all tasks, large and small. Their knowledge of co-op board packages and requirements was invaluable. The aforementioned tasks included but were not limited to considerable work in staging the home, advertising the property across various online and offline media, conducting highly attended open houses, negotiating with prospective purchasers, and meticulously preparing all of the purchase application paperwork to facilitate the board’s review and approval of the sale—all at no cost beyond the standard broker’s commission. From start to finish, they provided us with regular updates and kept us fully informed. When offers were submitted, they knew what information to elicit from prospective purchasers to assess their chances of obtaining board approval. This step saved us from accepting the wrong offer. We were also impressed by how easygoing Sandra and Samantha are, how polite they were to everyone involved in the sale, including attorneys and family members, and how flexible they were in accommodating our needs and schedules. At the same time, they were resolute in representing our interests during negotiations. In short, we heartily recommend Sandra and Samantha to anyone considering buying or selling a home in New York City.” –Cynthia & Susan S.

“My experience working with Sandra Balan and Samantha Pinkowitz has been miles above the bar and far exceeded my expectations. Their energy, sincerity, brains, skilled negotiations, patience, and ability to cut through the various bureaucracies and hurdles to get the job done have all been stellar! My friends say I'm picky and can find fault with anything. My experience with Sandra and Samantha finally proves otherwise. I've sold homes with 4 different realtors over the past 30 years and Sandra and Samantha are in a league of their own.” –Jay F.

"I am an attorney with a career spanning close to four decades, much of which I have spent working for members of the United Nations and various consulates, missions, and embassies. Thus far, I have had the pleasure of working with Sandra Balan and Samantha Pinkowitz of the firm Brown Harris Stevens on multiple occasions. When the Swedish Consulate alerted me that they needed a brokerage team to sell their ambassador’s longtime residence, a striking 5-story townhouse, it was without hesitation that I placed them into contact with Ms. Balan and Ms. Pinkowitz. In this sale, as in every other transaction in which I have worked with them, Sandra and Samantha performed extraordinary work. The Swedish consulate was thrilled with the outcome of the sale, and throughout the transaction, they were extremely pleased with Sandra and Samantha’s dogged work ethic, meticulous attention to detail, and ability to think both wisely and creatively in order to ensure that any obstacles were overcome with ease. In the aforementioned sale, there were a number of issues that presented themselves, including an incident of significant flooding that occurred after a particularly bad rainstorm. Rather than throw their hands up and let the consulate handle the problem, Sandra and Samantha immediately took control of the situation and made sure that the problem was remedied to the satisfaction of all parties involved, both in the shortest period of time and at the least expense. Beyond being gifted real estate brokers working for the most prestigious firm in New York City, Sandra and Samantha have a broader skill set that makes them expertly suited to work with governmental bodies in the transaction of property. They are both highly intelligent, endlessly patient, very diplomatic, keen negotiators, and consummate salespeople with a gift for putting people at ease. Every party to whom I have recommended their team has been exceptionally pleased with the service they provided, which is why they continue to be the only brokerage team I recommend to my large and varied list of clients."–Roy A. S., Esq.

“I am an attorney specializing in estates and trusts, and I have been in practice for over forty-five years. I have handled literally hundreds of estates, and many have had real property of all kinds to sell, whether townhomes, condominiums, or cooperatives. About twelve years ago, I had the opportunity to work with Sandra Balan and Samantha Pinkowitz for the first time, and they immediately became my first choice for future referrals. I trust both of them and their judgment, admire their work ethic, which is indefatigable, and have confidence that they will accomplish my client’s objective to great satisfaction, whether the purchase or sale of a home. When it comes to sale strategies, they are realistic in assessing what can reasonably be accomplished, and they achieve excellent results, very often succeeding in creating bidding wars to drive up the price of the property. From the time of contract to the time of closing, they understand what has to be done and get it done. On a personal level, they are a pleasure to work with, which makes a difficult process much easier.” –Robert W. F.,Esq.

“When we elected to sell our apartment, we enlisted the services of Sandra Balan and Samantha Pinkowitz. We could not recommend two professionals more highly, and we can’t think of real estate brokers with whom we have been more impressed. From beginning to end, Sandra and Samantha ran a tight ship, thinking and planning strategically and personally conducting all private showings of the home to brokers and buyers. They provided us with regular updates on our progress so that we were always kept fully informed. They personally vetted prospective buyers, ensuring that we didn’t head down any fruitless paths or waste any valuable time. They charmed everyone with whom they came into contact, but they also knew when and how to be firm.  Sandra and Samantha have an extensive collection of talents, the full combination of which is rare to find. They proved to us to be forthright, responsive, articulate, tireless workers, well-organized, highly knowledgeable about the marketplace, service-oriented, and astute in all of the guidance they provided. In addition, Sandra and Samantha are women of great character and integrity, which only enhances their value as professionals. Real estate transactions have the potential to be stressful, which is why it is a great boon to be able to entrust the process to brokers you know possesses the experience, skill set, and work ethic necessary to help you meet your goals. Sandra and Samantha earned every dime of their commission and then some, and we have no doubt that we will use their services for all our future real estate dealings in New York.” –James M. & Jacqueline L.

Awards & Recognition

2024 RealTrends Verified NY Individual Agent by Sales Volume

2023 BHS Companywide #31 Top Agent

2023 BHS NYC Producer's Council

2023 BHS NYC 445 Park Listing Agent of the Year

2023 Real Trends/WSJ AMERICA’S BEST Ranked Top 1.5% of All Agents in the U.S.

2022 BHS NYC East Side 445 Park Avenue Listing Agent of the Year

2021 BHS NYC East Side 445 Park Avenue Listing Agent of the Year

2022 BHS NYC Million Dollar Club

2021 BHS NYC Million Dollar Club

#12 Top Agent Companywide, January 2024

#16 Top Agent Companywide, December 2023

Current Listings

580 Park Avenue 2A, Upper East Side, Upper East Side, NYC - 4 Bedrooms  
3 Bathrooms  
9 Rooms - Previous PhotoNext Photo1 of 16
580 Park Avenue, 2A
$5,999,000
Upper East Side
4 BR  |  3 BA  |  9 RM
Sandra Balan  (212) 588-5644
Samantha Pinkowitz  (212) 588-5641
Contract Signed
5 Tudor City Place Ph4, Kips Bay, Downtown, NYC - 2 Bedrooms  
2 Bathrooms  
6 Rooms - Previous PhotoNext Photo1 of 16
5 Tudor City Place, PH4
$3,200,000
Kips Bay
2 BR  |  2 BA  |  6 RM
Sandra Balan  (212) 588-5644
Samantha Pinkowitz  (212) 588-5641
630 Park Avenue 9B, Upper East Side, Upper East Side, NYC - 2 Bedrooms  
2 Bathrooms  
5 Rooms - Previous PhotoNext Photo1 of 12
630 Park Avenue, 9B
$2,999,000
Upper East Side
2 BR  |  2 BA  |  5 RM
Sandra Balan  (212) 588-5644
Samantha Pinkowitz  (212) 588-5641
Contract Signed
81 White Street, Tribeca, Downtown, NYC - 2 Bedrooms  
1.5 Bathrooms  
5 Rooms - Previous PhotoNext Photo1 of 8
81 White Street
$2,598,000
Tribeca
2 BR  |  1.5 BA  |  5 RM
Sandra Balan  (212) 588-5644
Samantha Pinkowitz  (212) 588-5641
530 East 72nd Street 12C, Upper East Side, Upper East Side, NYC - 3 Bedrooms  
3 Bathrooms  
6 Rooms - Previous PhotoNext Photo1 of 18
530 East 72nd Street, 12C
$1,850,000
Upper East Side
3 BR  |  3 BA  |  6 RM
Sandra Balan  (212) 588-5644
Samantha Pinkowitz  (212) 588-5641
2 Beekman Place 5Ag, Midtown East, Midtown East, NYC - 3 Bedrooms  
2 Bathrooms  
5 Rooms - Previous PhotoNext Photo1 of 17
2 Beekman Place, 5AG
$1,800,000
Midtown East
3 BR  |  2 BA  |  5 RM
Sandra Balan  (212) 588-5644
Samantha Pinkowitz  (212) 588-5641
807 Riverside Drive 3B/4B, Upper West Side, Upper West Side, NYC - 6 Bedrooms  
4 Bathrooms  
9 Rooms - Previous PhotoNext Photo1 of 13
807 Riverside Drive, 3B/4B
$1,644,000
Upper West Side
6 BR  |  4 BA  |  9 RM
Sandra Balan  (212) 588-5644
Samantha Pinkowitz  (212) 588-5641
Contract Signed
530 East 72nd Street 19E, Upper East Side, Upper East Side, NYC - 2 Bedrooms  
2 Bathrooms  
5 Rooms - Previous PhotoNext Photo1 of 16
530 East 72nd Street, 19E
$1,200,000
Upper East Side
2 BR  |  2 BA  |  5 RM
Sandra Balan  (212) 588-5644
Samantha Pinkowitz  (212) 588-5641
420 East 55th Street 11R, Midtown East, Midtown East, NYC - 2 Bedrooms  
2 Bathrooms  
4.5 Rooms - Previous PhotoNext Photo1 of 11
420 East 55th Street, 11R
$999,000
Midtown East
2 BR  |  2 BA  |  4.5 RM
Sandra Balan  (212) 588-5644
Samantha Pinkowitz  (212) 588-5641
2 Beekman Place 1B, Midtown East, Midtown East, NYC - 2 Bedrooms  
2 Bathrooms  
5 Rooms - Previous PhotoNext Photo1 of 12
2 Beekman Place, 1B
$995,000
Midtown East
2 BR  |  2 BA  |  5 RM
Sandra Balan  (212) 588-5644
Samantha Pinkowitz  (212) 588-5641
59 West 87th Street 4, Upper West Side, Upper West Side, NYC - 5 Bedrooms  
1.5 Bathrooms  
7 Rooms - Previous PhotoNext Photo1 of 10
59 West 87th Street, 4
$950,000
Upper West Side
5 BR  |  1.5 BA  |  7 RM
Sandra Balan  (212) 588-5644
Contract Signed
310 West 106th Street 9A, Upper West Side, Upper West Side, NYC - 2 Bedrooms  
1 Bathrooms  
4.5 Rooms - Previous PhotoNext Photo1 of 36
310 West 106th Street, 9A
$899,000
Upper West Side
2 BR  |  1 BA  |  4.5 RM
Sandra Balan  (212) 588-5644
Samantha Pinkowitz  (212) 588-5641
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Past Closings

The following is a list of selected sold properties in which the agent has represented the seller, the buyer, or both:

Cooperatives and Condominiums
Townhouses
Rentals

Current Market Reports

Manhattan Market Report
Manhattan Market Report
Manhattan Market Report
Manhattan Market Report
Manhattan Market Report
Manhattan Market Report
Manhattan Market Report
Manhattan Market Report
Manhattan Market Report
Manhattan Market Report
Manhattan Market Report
Manhattan Market Report
Manhattan Market Report

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