John M. Crane

Nicole's review in April 2018 says it better than I ever could. If you are thinking of shopping for an attorney, don't! There are cheaper, but John ends up saving you money! I called John in 2017 for a purchase in 2017 and his fee was $3,250. I was selling a property in Staten Island, so I used s...omeone the broker recommended. By the time I got done, it was almost $5,000 because I was charged extra for doing a 1031 exchange, charged extra because the closing took 2.5 hours and the attorney had in his agreement an extra fee if it goes over 90 minutes. So, I went back to John with an apology when I purchased the replacement property and he performed flawlessly. His assistants were cheerful and helpful, and most of the time he picked up the phone, but if not, it seemed like he called back in 2 minutes. I just finished another transaction with him and he is the real deal. It isn't the fee. He handles everything, makes jokes that take away your stress, and is just a gentleman. John is the perfect example of you get what you pay for. When you work with him, you work with him. I did not get legal advice from a receptionist, or have to talk to a paralegal because he was "busy". Very impressive and worth every penny.

John helped me through the process of purchasing my first home in New York City, which can be a very confusing and overwhelming process. I was anxious, but he was there with me every step of the way to be sure it went smoothly and to be sure that I understood. He is extremely thorough and responsive,... and he helped me get the best outcome. It was a pleasure to work with him and his entire team. I am SO grateful that I found him, and I would definitely work with him again. Thanks John!

All I can say is working with John is like going to the spa. You end up so relaxed! I called John's office, asked to speak with him, and his assistant put me on hold for about 10 seconds. A male picks up the phone and with a raspy type voice says "this is John Crane, how can I help you?" I t...hen got to explain to him that I was selling a condo on the upper west side that I had not been living in for the last couple of years and was going to buy something else. Without hesitating, John asked if I had ever heard of a 1031 exchange, explained it to me, and had me motivated to purchase not only one, but two additional units so that I could have a primary and rental income. John then explained his process and how he was different, mentioning how he frequently closes for people overseas by Power of Attorney so that I did not have to worry about coming back for the closing. He even made a joke about how I would save more on airfare than he would charge in fees...which turned out to be true! Simply put, John kept me informed at every step of the way. He has an instinct (or maybe it is 20 years experience) in that every email he sent was either important or perfectly timed just to say "the only reason you haven't heard from me is because nothing is going on". My girlfriend (who is a real estate agent) wanted me to use some fancy firm. I called to speak to the attorney and was told that he would call me back. The following day his "associate" called me back and said he would be handling the account. After John explained the 1031, I asked this attorney about the 1031, and he said "you don't qualify because it was your primary residence and you never rented it out." John spent about 20 minutes on the phone with me that first time and I could not even get the fancy "partner" to pick up my call or call me back. I think this is what differentiates John from other law firms. It isn't just business, it is personal and caring. The associate at the other firm made it clear I was a "customer", "his partner was busy" and that they would make time for me when I had a contract that they could make money from. In making my decision, I called John back and he again got on the phone. He also called a 1031 company and had a conference call so that we could explain my situation and the owner of the company could verify that because I didn't live in the condo for the prior couple of years, that it would qualify for a 1031 because it was now viewed as an investment property as John had said. Needless to say, I selected John and his service was far superior to anything I have ever experienced. I knew what my expenses were well before each closing. He gave me his cell number and instructed me to text him. When I explained I would be out of the country a lot of the time, and asked if he would use What's App, he immediately agreed and I had an almost instant line of communication with him. The fancy firm quoted me a price of $3,750 and John's price, including the 1031 was $3,250 per transaction. He delivered more than I could ever have expected, was always professional and did everything ahead of schedule. John is as trustworthy as I could ever expect. His staff is very well trained and personable, but I had John's cell and never really spoke to the staff. They would send me emails and wiring instructions and make sure everything was on track at all times, but when you work with John, you get John and honestly, I just finished an estate proceeding with another firm and I can really see the level of service John delivers when comparing it to another firm. All 3 transactions were unbelievably successfully done and I cannot thank John enough.

John provided an outstanding service on the closure of our property in Manhattan. Based in the UK we were looking for a lawyer that responded quickly and made the whole process easy and efficient. The whole process was made so easy by Johns outstanding level of service, attention to detail and workin...g with multiple parties to ensure a fast and easy process. A true advocate of putting clients first and understanding their unique situation. John is a delight to work with.

John Crane was the first lawyer I contacted regarding bankruptcy and 5 minutes into the conversation, I knew he'd be my last. Living on a disability budget in NY during today's economic times is tough. My medical and living expenses spiraled out of control and I ended up 40K in debt having to use m...y credit cards for basic necessities just to live. I soon found myself unable to even make the minimum payments regardless of my attempts at transferring balances to other cards with low interest rates. John Crane was thorough in explaining the process of bankruptcy and patient through my anxieties. He speaks to you without a superior attitude and keeps himself educated on the current bankruptcy laws. He was very compassionate and understanding of my problems and assured me that there was hope. My monies are still limited but I am able to budget better without the stress of credit card debt. Having to file for bankruptcy is stressful in itself but having John Crane as my lawyer made it an easier process to deal with.