Pushback of the Week, March 23, 2025

At a time of rising consumer fraud, we found the story of how down-to-earth Brooklyn real estate agent Theo Eastwind tries to ensure a good fit between landlord and tenant to be a breath of fresh air.

In a “viral” social media video of Eastwind giving prospective renters a tour of a rent-stabilized apartment in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bushwick, Eastwind provided a frank and balanced overview of what the apartment and landlord did—and did not—have to offer. Pulling no punches, Eastwind told the would-be tenants that the apartment was best suited for DIY types who “know how to take care of themselves” and are comfortable being “left to [their] own devices,” characterizing the building’s owner as a largely hands-off, “s–ty-ass landlord.”

In the owner’s defense, Eastwind clarified that the landlord would respond if something major were to happen and also provided some real-world education on what rent stabilization means for landlords, who are not allowed to pass on the cost of inflation or increased property taxes to their tenants:

“Rent-stabilized…means you win, and the landlord loses. Because when you rent a rent-stabilized apartment, it is almost as though you own the place…. It’s a losing proposition for every landlord. That is why most of them don’t do shit. But it’s great for you!”

Eastwind transitioned into a career in real estate after many years of being a New York City subway musician and told the New York Post that he tries to entertain prospective tenants because he is “a performer at heart.”

Clearly, telling the truth and interjecting some humor can be good for business.