Argo Real Estate
Managing agent — unlicensed in New York State
167 buildings. 803 Class C violations. No state license.
PORTFOLIO GEOGRAPHY
167 buildings.
THE PATTERN
Mid-range violation rate.
At 4.8 Class C violations per building, Argo Real Estate falls near the industry average. The firm manages 167 buildings with 803 total Class C violations. Not the worst — but in an unregulated industry, average is not a defense.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR BUYERS
Considering a building managed by Argo?
Argo Real Estate's 4.8 Class C violations per building sits right at the industry average of roughly 5.0 — but averages obscure the real story. Look at their top buildings: 137-01 83 Avenue in Queens carries 59 Class C violations alone. That single building accounts for more hazardous conditions than most firms' entire portfolios. When a managing agent lets one building accumulate that many life-safety violations, the question is not whether they have bad buildings — it is whether they have a system for catching problems before they become crises.
Argo's geographic spread is unusual. Unlike Manhattan-dominant firms, Argo operates heavily across Queens (48 buildings) and Brooklyn (50 buildings), with 67 in Manhattan. Their worst-performing buildings cluster in Queens — seven of the top ten violators are in that borough. Outer-borough building stock tends to be older, more diverse in construction type, and less likely to attract the premium-service attention that Manhattan co-ops demand. If you are buying in an Argo-managed Queens building, you are statistically more likely to encounter deferred maintenance.
Before purchasing in any Argo-managed building, demand the most recent reserve fund study, the last three years of audited financials, and a complete HPD violation history. Ask specifically about Local Law 11 facade inspection status and whether any open DOB violations exist. These are basic due-diligence steps — but in an unregulated industry, nobody requires the managing agent to provide them.
Look up your specific building in our Building Reports database.
See our guide on offering plan red flags.
Use our 10 questions checklist.
THE REGULATORY VOID
No license. No exam. No oversight.
Argo Real Estate manages 167 buildings containing an estimated 8,000 units worth of residential real estate — and needs no state license to do so. In Florida, a Community Association Manager must pass a state exam, carry a bond, and complete continuing education. In New York, there is no equivalent requirement.
This means there is no government body you can complain to about Argo's management. No disciplinary board. No public complaint registry. No performance standards. The 803 Class C violations across their portfolio — conditions HPD classifies as immediately hazardous to life and health — trigger no regulatory consequence for the managing agent. HPD can fine the building. The AG can investigate fraud. But the entity actually running the building day-to-day operates in a regulatory vacuum.
TOP 25 BUILDINGS
Ranked by Class C violations.
| # | Address | Borough | Class C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 137-01 83 Avenue | Queens | 59 |
| 2 | 135-30 82 Drive | Queens | 46 |
| 3 | 65-15 Yellowstone Boulevard | Queens | 39 |
| 4 | 135-01 82 Drive | Queens | 29 |
| 5 | 360 Central Park West | Manhattan | 29 |
| 6 | 35-38 75 Street | Queens | 28 |
| 7 | 163 Ocean Avenue | Brooklyn | 28 |
| 8 | 82-01 134 Street | Queens | 26 |
| 9 | 140-18 Burden Crescent | Queens | 26 |
| 10 | 3060 Ocean Avenue | Brooklyn | 23 |
| 11 | 26 Gramercy Park | Manhattan | 21 |
| 12 | 95-01 66 Avenue | Queens | 19 |
| 13 | 133 Prospect Park West | Brooklyn | 18 |
| 14 | 2644 Broadway | Manhattan | 17 |
| 15 | 82-46 135 Street | Queens | 16 |
| 16 | 697 West End Avenue | Manhattan | 13 |
| 17 | 134 West 93 Street | Manhattan | 12 |
| 18 | 163 Carlton Avenue | Brooklyn | 12 |
| 19 | 139-01 84 Drive | Queens | 12 |
| 20 | 84-02 35 Avenue | Queens | 12 |
| 21 | 626 Amsterdam Avenue | Manhattan | 12 |
| 22 | 232 East 6 Street | Manhattan | 12 |
| 23 | 67-07 Yellowstone Boulevard | Queens | 12 |
| 24 | 128 Willow Street | Brooklyn | 11 |
| 25 | 82-08 135 Street | Queens | 11 |
Source: HPD Violations (NYC Open Data). Class C = immediately hazardous.
RIGHT OF REPLY