960,000 pages of proof. $1.7B closed. $3.8B teed up. Let's go!

Last year, we sold 43 buildings totaling just under $1.8 billion in volume. A solid finish to a year that was about planting seeds, building systems, and staying relentlessly consistent.

This year? We're kicking it off with 73 exclusives representing $3.8 billion in potential deals.

The machine is running. Everyone at BKREA has their KPIs and objectives mapped out. Call sheets are prepped. Meetings scheduled.

And yes, we're even sending out 960,000 pages of actionable insight through our new book, "The Ultimate Guide to Selling a Development Site for the Highest Possible Price."

But here's what I'm most excited about:

Not the volume. Not the pipeline.
The systems.
Because it's one thing to do deals.

It's another to build something that makes doing great work inevitable.

To everyone out there: Make those Sunday calls. Send the follow-ups. Stick to the plan.

And let's make 2026 the harvest year we've been working toward.

If you, or someone you know, is thinking of selling development property in NYC this year, let's talk.

#NYCRealEstate #KnakalKnuggets #BKREA

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People think real estate is all cutthroat competition. I've learned it's really about collaboration, success comes from working together, not tearing each other down.

Watch the full video on YouTube.


#CommercialRealEstate #CRE #RealEstateCareer

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Think you're selling an apartment building? Think again.

Walk past any multifamily property and you'll see bricks, mortar, windows, and maybe even a freshly painted lobby.

But none of that is what you're actually selling.

What matters today isn't what you see. It's what you can prove.

Thanks to the HSTPA (Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act), if you're an apartment building owner in New York, your paperwork is more valuable than your penthouse views. You're not selling a structure; you're selling boxes of substantiation. Leases. Rent histories. Legal deregulation docs.

If you can't validate your rent roll? That building's not worth what you think it is.

And the most surprising? Even some of the most seasoned, sophisticated owners, RSA/CHIP members included, often don't have airtight records.

Every multifamily owner who even thinks they may sell in the next few years should conduct a full audit of their rent histories…now, not when a deal's on the table and buyers start doing their own due diligence.

Because in this market, the legal rent is the asset.

Not the building.

#AWalkDownTheStreet #BKREA #NYCRealEstate

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Your listing doesn't have a shelf life; it has a strategy problem.

Big thanks to Kyle Eden for this WWBKD question:
"What do you do to keep a listing top of mind when it doesn't sell right away?"

If a building's been on the market for a while, time isn't the problem. Cadence is. You don't need to be flashy. You need to be relentless.

My long-term marketing playbook hasn't changed much in 40 years, but it works:
· Email drip campaigns – not one blast and hope. A sequence with logic.
· Direct phone calls – still the most effective tool. Everyone's inbox is overloaded. The phone is a sword.
· Text messages – higher open rate than email. Use them strategically.
· Hard mail – yes, print still works. Especially because no one else does it.
· Regular broker outreach – not just announcements, but targeted follow-up.

And here's the secret ingredient: cadence. Weekly? Bi-weekly? Monthly? You need to map it out. Then stick to it.

Track it. Report it. See what's missing and plug the gaps.

If you want a property to sell in month six, you have to be executing in weeks one through twenty-four like the momentum hasn't dropped for a second.

That's how you win.

Thanks, Kyle, for the great question. If you have a question for "What Would BK Do?" DM me, or Mo Regalado, or email me at bk@bkrea.com. Keep the great questions coming!

#WhatWouldBKDo #InvestmentSales #BKREA

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When someone needs help, do they look for a generalist or the person who does one thing better than anyone else?

I have used this example for years because it makes the point instantly. Imagine you tear your ACL. You go to one doctor who says he has done knees, elbows, shoulders, hips, and ankles. He can do everything.

Then you meet the next doctor who tells you he has performed more than nine thousand knee surgeries. That is all he does. Every single day.

You already know who you would choose.

That is exactly how our business works. The market always gravitates to the person who owns their lane. The person who decides to be the go-to. The person who is so deep in their specialty that trust becomes automatic.

What this story reinforces for me:
• Why specialization builds credibility faster than anything else
• How the market rewards the professional who commits to one lane
• Why expertise creates trust long before the first conversation
• How becoming "the person for that" changes your entire business trajectory

You cannot be everything to everyone. But you can be the best at one thing. And when you do that, the market chooses you.

#CommercialRealEstate #IndustryExpertise #BusinessGrowth

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Real estate isn't really a real estate business, it's an information and relationship business.

Proprietary data is essential. If anyone can pull the same report from a third-party aggregator, there's no competitive edge. A true professional creates value by adding insights, context, and firsthand intelligence that no one else has.

Principals aren't incentivized to give their best information to data aggregators whose job is to "fill in boxes." Accuracy becomes questionable and this is exactly why your own curated, enriched data matters. It's what separates a high-value advisor from someone simply downloading reports.

#BobKnakal
#RealEstateInsights
#InformationIsPower
#BrokerLife
#ProprietaryData

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Truly honored to be featured on the cover of Forbes Romania, alongside an impressive group of global real estate and business leaders.

This special edition was created, as Raluca Michailov so perfectly put it, “out of the desire to create business bridges, but especially human ones, between Romania and America.” That sentiment resonates deeply with me.

Real estate has always been about more than buildings. It is about people, trust, and long-term relationships across cities, countries, and generations.

To be included on this cover with such a distinguished group is a privilege:

· Kent Swig, President, Swig Equities
· Oana Ijdelea, Managing Partner, Ijdelea & Associates
· Beatrice Dumitrascu, CEO, Residential Division, One United Properties
· Craig Nassi, CEO, BCN Development
· Aaron Block, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, MetaProp
· Anca Damour, CEO & Partner, DCraig Real Estate, Executive Board Member, ELI Parks

Creating connections and building relationships is how enduring success is built. Thanks, Forbes Romania, for asking me to be a part of this project!

#ForbesRomania #NYCRealEstate #BKREA

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I’ve always believed Manhattan holds enduring value, but the outer boroughs offer real opportunity too. If you’re near strong transportation hubs, growth follows. That’s the New York equation.

Watch the full video on YouTube.


#CommercialRealEstate #CRE #RealEstateCareer

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As we close out the year and prepare to attack 2026 with clarity and focus, I want to share a fundamental truth about this business. It’s a truth that separates the successful from the stagnant:

This is the purest form of meritocracy.

In this business, you get out what you put in. Period.

If you’re willing to put in the time, if you’re willing to plan, if you’re willing to pick up the phone, to learn the craft, to listen more than you speak, and to sharpen your edge day after day, you will win. The math is simple. More effort, more action, more intention… increases the probability of success.

This is a probability-based business. Every call, every meeting, every tour increases your odds. Want to win more? Increase the probability. Want to be top of your game? Stack the deck by planning better and working harder.

There’s no luck here. There’s no “chosen few.” Only people who chose to prepare. Who chose to be accountable. Who chose to dominate their market, street by street, block by block.

And yes, training on a Sunday morning in an empty office might seem extreme to some. But to me, that’s just standard operating procedure. That’s what it takes. That’s what I love.

Let this be your reminder: You don’t need to wait for January 1 to reset. The moment you decide to take your effort up a notch, you’ve already separated yourself from 95% of the crowd.

So what’s your plan for 2026?

Are you increasing your odds? Are you maximizing the probability of success? Are you taking control of the one business where your results are directly tied to your effort?

If not, today’s the day to start. Onward and upward!

#MondayMotivation #KnakalKnuggerts #BobKnakal

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I’m always looking to connect with NYC property owners ready to sell, and I pay referral fees to brokers who make the introduction.

After decades running MK, I’m happy to share the books and lessons that shaped my career.

Let’s keep adding value to this industry.

Watch the full video on YouTube.

#CommercialRealEstate #CRE #RealEstateCareer

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What really separates the top performers in our business?

I’ve watched the top performers in our industry for years, and the ones who rise to the very top share the same traits over and over. These aren’t theories. They’re habits that shape how they operate every day.

Brokerage isn’t glamorous. It’s long hours, consistent action, and knowing your market better than anyone. If you don’t love the business, it’s hard to stay committed when the cycle shifts, and it always shifts.

Much of this comes down to daily choices. Choosing discipline. Choosing repetition. Choosing depth instead of breadth.

What fuels the people who consistently outperform:
↳ Loving the business enough to stay committed through every cycle
↳ Choosing discipline even when the work isn’t exciting
↳ Becoming the true expert on a narrowly defined market or specialty

When you combine passion, discipline, and expertise, you create a real competitive advantage. You become the person others rely on, not because you claim expertise, but because your insight and consistency prove it.

#BKREA #LeadershipJourney #BusinessGrowth

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Yes, we’ve sold properties on East 59th Street!

A few weeks back, my good buddy Don Tepman aka “StripMallGuy” took a walk down East 59th Street and made a great video about prospecting. He even mentioned he had shown up early for a meeting at The Knakal Map Room and caught me doing what I do every day… making cold calls.

In that video, he said, “I’ll bet Bob Knakal has sold a property on this block.”

He was right.

In fact, not just one, but nine deals across eight buildings (one of them we sold twice). So, I decided to take a walk of my own…from First Avenue to Fifth Avenue…to revisit those buildings and the stories behind them.

From 223 to 410 East 59th Street, from $485K in 1994 to $26 million in 2024, this street has been a big part of my 42-year journey through the NYC investment sales world.

Some highlights from the walk:

· 410 East 59th Street – sold in 1994 for $485K
· 308 East 59th Street – sold twice, first to Christie’s, then again for nearly 2x
· 225 and 223 East 59th Street – sold for Otic Enterprise and the Kaplow family
· Corner of 59th & 3rd – land sale for $100 million to Harry Macklowe, who built something extraordinary
· 5 East 59th Street – the old Playboy Club, sold in 2024 for $26M, now becoming Avi Hiaeve the Jeweler’s new NYC HQ

At 316 East 59th Street, I mentioned in the video that the seller was someone named Marsha but upon digging into my records, I realized her name was actually Ileana Ross, a wonderful woman who had inherited the building from her mother. She lived in Florida, and we closed that deal back in 1992.

The video tour was inspired by Don’s great content and curiosity. It's a reminder that every block in NYC has stories (and often deals) waiting to be told.

Thanks for the nudge, Don. And yes, my friend, I’ve sold a building or two on that block.

Hope you enjoy this walk down 59th Street and memory lane, as much as I did.

#East59thStreet #NYCRealEstate #BobKnakal

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I remember 333–339 East 62nd Street, a small rectory with rare zoning quirks. Despite the challenges, we turned it into a successful residential development.

Real estate is about seeing opportunity where others see obstacles.

Watch the full video on YouTube.


#CommercialRealEstate #CRE #RealEstateCareer

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It's that time again…time to turn over the BKREA Big Board and Ryan Candel has the honor.

We’re proud to announce the sale of 1800 Park Avenue, a 36,000 square foot parcel directly across from the Harlem-125th Street Metro-North Station. On behalf of the Dursts, we sold the site for $50 million to Clipper Equity. This site allows for 488,000 buildable square feet as-of-right and up to 680,000 square feet with bonuses.

This transaction brings our career total to 2,381 properties sold. It’s a big milestone, but as always, the work continues. Ryan and I are already on the phones working on deal #2,382.

If you want insights into today’s NYC land market or are thinking about buying or selling, we’re always happy to share what we know.

Onward and upward!

#BKREA #NYCRealEstate #InvestmentSales #CapitalMarkets #BobKnakal

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How do you get known by more people than you could ever call in a lifetime?

When I look at how the industry has evolved, one shift stands out clearly. Social media has become one of the most powerful market-presence tools we have.

I spent decades relying on outbound calls, relationship building, and consistency. Those fundamentals still matter. But even with all of that, there is a limit to how many people you can reach one phone call at a time.

Social media changed that. When you use it with the right cadence, it creates incoming opportunities that support your outbound efforts. It also expands your visibility far beyond your immediate circle.

In a market with more than 176,000 investment properties and over 250,000 investors, you cannot speak to everyone individually. But you can build a presence that allows the right people to find you.

What stood out in this conversation:
• Why market presence now requires both outgoing and incoming visibility
• How social platforms extend your reach in ways traditional outreach never could
• The importance of cadence so the medium works for you, not the other way around
• Why being known by the market is often more powerful than who you personally know
Social media is not about chasing attention. It is about creating meaningful reach in a market that is bigger than any one person can cover alone. And when you use it intentionally, it becomes an engine that amplifies the work you are already doing.

#CommercialRealEstate #MarketPresence #BusinessStrategy

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As we wrap up the year at BKREA, I’m filled with pride reflecting on what we’ve accomplished.

Our first full year in business has been a huge success, and we’re on track to close out the year with $1.7 to $1.8 billion in sales. In fact, we're just waiting on another transaction to close and once that's done, we can finalize the 2026 Bob Knakal Business Baseball card.

What started as a personal idea has now become something much bigger, and I can’t wait to get it into your hands in January.

The baseball card idea came about after a chance encounter with a long-time client who didn’t realize I had moved from one company to the next, even though I had been with them for a few years already. The business baseball card was born and the 2026 edition, modeled after the 1956 Topps Baseball card in landscape orientation, is the first of its kind for me.

We’ve had a fantastic year, but we’re only getting started. With our year-end stats in place, I’m thrilled to see where the next phase of growth takes us. As we head into the holidays, I’m thankful for the hard work and dedication of my team, and I look forward to seeing what we can accomplish together in the year ahead.

Here's to finishing the year strong and starting 2026 with a solid foundation. Looking forward to sharing more with you soon!

#AWalkDownTheStreet #YearinReview #BKREA

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It’s not who you know, it’s who knows you.

With more than 250,000 people owning investment properties in New York, calling everyone is impossible. That’s why visibility, credibility, and word of mouth are everything.

In this video, I break down the importance of “proof stacking”: consistently showing the market that you’ve closed deals, helped clients, and delivered results. Prospecting calls matter, but so do email blasts, text campaigns, and the often-underrated power of hard mail.

The strategy is simple: stay visible, stay valuable, and stay known.

#BobKnakal #RealEstateProspecting #DealMakerMindset
#VisibilityWins

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I came to Wharton aiming for investment banking, but a summer job at Coldwell Banker changed everything.

Market research, a vibrant office, and hardworking colleagues showed me I’d found my true path: commercial real estate.

Watch the full video on YouTube.


#CommercialRealEstate #CRE #RealEstateCareer

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It's finally here!

BKREA's newest capabilities book, "The Ultimate Guide to Selling a Development Site for the Highest Possible Price", is proof stacking in its purest form. In it you will find:

• A 42-year historical analysis of Manhattan land values "The Knakal Land Index"
• Hundreds of before-and-after success stories
• Dozens of client testimonials and closed transaction breakdowns
• Visual documentation of the value we’ve created

If you’re not tracking your data, compiling your wins, and presenting them in a structured, strategic, and shareable way, you’re leaving money on the table.

Each 340-page, nearly 8-pound book will provide tangible proof to owners, developers, and decision makers of our credibility and I can't wait to get it in their hands.

If you're an owner or developer in NYC and want a copy, please reach out. We'd be happy to get one sent your way.

#BKREA #NYCRealEstate #InvestmentSales

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The quality of your data dictates the quality of your business.

Over the weekend, the BKREA team was in the office scrubbing our 2025 comp data. Calling buyers. Calling sellers. Confirming details. Creating new one-pagers. This kind of deep, focused work doesn’t get done when you're in the weekday whirlwind of pitching listings, negotiating deals, or running from meeting to meeting.

End-of-year weekends are a gift. A window of quiet focus when the phones slow down and the distractions fade. It’s when you can step out of the whirlwind and work on your business. Clean your data. Update your prospecting lists. Audit your marketing. Create your comp package system for next year. Set your personal KPI goals. Think strategy, not just tactics.

So here's your challenge:
Block 3 hours this weekend. No calls. No texts. Just deep work. Do the thing you “never have time for.” Make your database tighter. Your targets clearer. Your value proposition sharper.

Your success in 2026 will be built on the quiet work you do this month. And that work doesn't care what day it is.

#KnakalKnuggets #NYCRealEstate #BKREA

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Today's "A Walk Down the Street" is not me walking the streets of NYC; rather, this time I am in Clifton, New Jersey, at Kay Printing with my good friend Scott Shushansky. And why did I make the trip here?

To witness something that’s never been done before in New York City investment sales.

BKREA is printing a 340-page book that is the "Ultimate Guide to Selling Development Sites for the Highest Possible Price." Yes, that's the name of the book and what it's all about.

Proof matters. And this book gives us decades of actual sales, hundreds of them in fact, providing:

↳ Before & after photos
↳ Client testimonials
↳ Detailed transaction breakdowns
↳ A 41-year dataset of Manhattan land sales a.k.a our proprietary Knakal Land Index

I wanted to be there when the first pages came off the press. Why? Because if you're a developer, a broker, or a property owner looking to create value, this book shows you how we've done it time and again.

I've never been more excited to share the behind-the-scenes of having something like this made. I'll be sharing the finished product later this week!

This guide might just change the way development sites are sold in NYC. Stay tuned!

#UltimateGuidetoSellingDevelopmentSites #BobKnakal #BKREA

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