Brown Harris Stevens

Gastiaburo & Stella
Top Team Upper Manhattan 2022
Dedicating a Percent of Commissions to Art & Community

Leanne Stella’s passion for art and architecture helped inspire her real estate career. Her extensive entrepreneurial background and industry expertise make her uniquely qualified to support her clients in the process of buying or selling a home or investment property, as well as assisting fellow entrepreneurs with their real estate needs. A common thread throughout Leanne’s career has been her innate ability to bring distinct groups together for a common goal—an asset she employs when overseeing negotiations and closings for client transactions of all types.

Leanne’s interest in real estate was piqued at age 19 when she bought, renovated, and flipped a series of restaurants and mixed-use buildings. Since then, she has personally bought and sold a number of properties throughout Manhattan, expanding her already impressive network of investors, as well as architects, designers, and quality contractors. In the 1990s and early 2000s, Leanne managed some of the largest art and antiques fairs on the East Coast as President of Stella Show Management. This experience made her adept at leading large projects and communicating with people from all walks of life.

From 2011 through 2017 Leanne was instrumental in increasing access to uptown arts by reclaiming underutilized spaces for public arts installations, exhibitions, and programs through her organization, Art In FLUX.

Leanne is guided by the philosophy that by merging artistic, commercial, and community interests, communities can thrive. This thread carries through in her partnership with Karen Gastiaburo. The Gastiaburo & Stella team commits a percent of their commissions back to art & community.

Though she has lived in several New York City neighborhoods, including Greenwich Village and the Upper West Side, Leanne has called Harlem home for over a decade. When she’s not working, Leanne is often found on her bicycle, enjoying time with her neighbors, taking time out for NYC arts & cultural events, or cooking for friends and family.

Leanne is a partner in the Gastiaburo & Stella Team.

“I recently had the pleasure of working with Leanne, a remarkable real estate agent, and I cannot sing her praises enough! From start to finish, my experience was nothing short of exceptional. First and foremost, Leanne possessed an impressive knowledge of the local real estate market. She was able to provide me with valuable insights and guidance that helped me make informed decisions throughout the entire process. Furthermore, her professionalism and responsiveness were truly remarkable, promptly addressing all my questions and concerns, ensuring that I felt supported and well-informed at every step. What truly set Leanne apart was her commitment to finding me the perfect home and we did. Thank you to Leanne and her team." – Kasia

"I’ve bought and sold properties six times and I’ve never had an agent as professional, knowledgeable, detail-oriented, and helpful as Leanne Stella. Thank you!" – Grahama

"Leanne was very thoughtful and always professional. Through her guidance and experience, I was able find the right place for my needs. I cannot speak highly enough about Gastiaburo + Stella. They actually listened. I was treated with respect and as a priority. They put in the ground work that was needed for me to make solid well rounded decisions. I would definitely work with them again!" – Jimmy

"We are first-time homebuyers and just closed on the perfect place thanks to Leanne. It was a long journey, but Leanne was with us each step of the way, always responsive to our questions and advocating for us. She is truly passionate about community and it shows in how she approaches her work. We were grateful to have her on our side and are happy to highly recommend Gastiaburo + Stella!" – Sam

“Leanne, I just wanted to thank you for all your help in selling my apt at 17 West 64th St. Your follow-up on details and overall diligence were of great significance in getting this done!” - Diane S.

“Coming from out of town and unfamiliar with the city, I needed to find the right apartment in just a short, three-day trip. I was lucky to connect with Leanne Stella, who couldn't have given me better or more thorough help. She was quick to understand what I was looking for. She had a range of places (both in terms of price and location) lined up for me to see and was good at putting each place we saw into a bigger picture, giving me a handle on what I was looking at. As a result, I felt that even in a short time I got a comprehensive look at possible places and was able to narrow my search confidently to a few really good choices. When it came to actually renting one of them (not a simple matter), Leanne was knowledgeable about the process and attentive to details on my behalf. She anticipated and prevented problems. From start to finish, she was looking out for me and was both tireless and effective.” – Kevin W.

“After relocating from NJ to NY and subletting in Harlem for about a year I fell in love with the neighborhood. When my sublet term was over the last thing I wanted to do was move away from the area. I was desperate to find a nice apartment there that I could afford. To that end I worked with the wonderful Leanne Stella. She tirelessly looked and showed me several apartments throughout Harlem until we found the right fit for me. She was patient, always on time for our appointments, and gave me the full scoop about the places I was interested in. She was proactive and encouraging even when I felt less enthusiastic about the prospect of finding something. She knows the neighborhood like the back of her hand and was able to give me pointers about things like shopping, restaurants, and overall quality of the areas I was looking at. I'm happy to say that I now live in a place that's just right for me and which I plan to stay in for the foreseeable future, all thanks to Leanne!” – Henone G.

“Leanne is truly great, we spent a couple of days chatting via email, one day checking apartments and on the third we closed the lease and signed! We love our place. Apartment hunting in NYC can be a stressful experience and working with a good broker always pays out. Leanne is simply the best in Harlem.” – Ricardo O.

"My experience with Leanne Stella was phenomenal! I moved to NY from Chicago and all I knew about the process was that it would be complicated. Leanne almost instantly put my mind at ease. She is extremely knowledgeable, understanding, and flexible. I love my place and would recommend her in a heartbeat! Thanks, Leanne!" – Arlener T.

2169 Frederick Douglass Boulevard
New York, NY 10026