If I could give my younger self advice, it would be simple: stay patient, stay disciplined, and trust the process.

To me, success isn't just professional achievement, it's finding peace through integrity and living a good, honest life.

Watch the full video on YouTube.


#CommercialRealEstate #CRE #RealEstateCareer

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In this episode of What Would BK Do, Tyler Adams asks:

"How do you manage egos?"

Bob Knakal shares practical leadership advice on how to build high-performing teams by developing healthy egos, not eliminating them.

If you lead brokers, salespeople, or any performance-driven team, this is essential.

Key Takeaways:
Why ego is necessary for success
How to build confidence through training and support
The danger of unearned ego
Why likability drives trust and business

Strong teams are built by leaders who invest in people, reinforce competence, and maintain a culture of respect and accountability.

📈 Whether you are in commercial real estate, sales, or leadership, this approach applies directly to your business.

#Leadership #Sales #CommercialRealEstate #TeamBuilding #BobKnakal #WhatWouldBKDo

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How Francis Greenburger Built His Portfolio During NYC's 1970s Fiscal Crisis

What do you do when banks stop lending and the city is on the verge of bankruptcy?

You get creative.

On The Bob Knakal Show, Francis Greenburger described how, in the mid-1970s, bank financing was virtually nonexistent. Deals were structured with seller financing and purchase-money mortgages .

At the same time, a condemnation award owed by New York City was paid out slowly in installments. Instead of waiting, he used each partial payment — $50,000 here, $100,000 there — to acquire additional buildings .

In a market defined by crisis, disciplined reinvestment became the foundation of a growing portfolio.

#BobKnakalShow #FrancisGreenburger #NYCRealEstate #CrisisInvesting

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During the pandemic, when the world slowed down, I saw an opportunity. I used that time to create a comprehensive map of New York City's development landscape.

Challenges often create space for growth. If you're willing to seize the moment, you can turn disruption into something lasting and valuable.

Watch the full video on YouTube.


#CommercialRealEstate #CRE #RealEstateCareer

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How do top commercial real estate brokers win consistently?

In this video, Bob Knakal breaks down how success in commercial real estate is built through daily execution, not occasional big deals.

Winning in brokerage happens in small moments:

• Getting a client on the phone
• Booking a meeting
• Securing a listing
• Advancing a deal
• Closing a transaction

These daily wins compound over time and create long-term success in real estate brokerage.

Bob Knakal, one of the most accomplished commercial real estate brokers in New York City history, shares how consistency, discipline, and a competitive mindset separate top performers from the rest.

If you are a real estate broker, investor, or sales professional, this video explains how to build momentum and dominate your market through daily habits.

What you will learn:

How to succeed in commercial real estate brokerage
The importance of daily wins in sales
Why consistency drives long-term results
The mindset of top real estate brokers
How to build momentum in a competitive market

About Bob Knakal:

Bob Knakal has sold over 2,300 properties totaling more than $20 billion in transaction volume. He is widely recognized for his expertise in investment sales, market knowledge, and disciplined approach to brokerage.

Subscribe for more insights on commercial real estate, brokerage, and investment strategy.

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I've learned that mistakes are part of the process. What matters most is being willing to seek feedback, own the failure, and extract the lesson.

Growth doesn't come from getting everything right, it comes from learning, adjusting, and coming back stronger each time.

Watch the full video on YouTube.


#CommercialRealEstate #CRE #RealEstateCareer

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Spent a few days down at The Real Deal's Future City in Kiawah Island and came away really energized.

Events like this are a great reminder of why I enjoy this business so much. You get out of your day-to-day, sit down with smart people, and have real conversations about what's actually happening in the market and where things are headed.

Had the opportunity to speak as well, which is always something I enjoy. Early in my career, public speaking was something I worked hard to get comfortable with, so I never take those opportunities for granted.

But honestly, the best part was the in-between moments. The side conversations, catching up with old friends, meeting new people, and hearing different perspectives from across the country.

And Kiawah Island didn't hurt either. Not a bad place to spend a few days thinking about the future of real estate.

Looking forward to the next one!

#KnakalKnetworking #TheRealDeal #NYCRealEstate

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What I love most about real estate is that it's a true meritocracy.

The correlation between effort and financial reward is direct, and you meet an incredible range of personalities along the way. If you're willing to put in the work, the opportunity is there.

Watch the full video on YouTube.


#CommercialRealEstate #CRE #RealEstateCareer

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On this episode of What Would BK Do, Harry Brown asks a question that every broker working at a high level needs to answer:

How do you win and develop relationships with senior executives at major real estate firms?

If you are operating in a competitive market like New York City and targeting decision makers, your approach has to be thoughtful, consistent, and relationship driven.

Start with preparation.
Before every meeting, understand who you are speaking with. Know their portfolio, their recent activity, and what matters to their business. Preparation shows respect, and respect earns attention.

Find a real connection.
If you spend enough time asking good questions and listening, you will find something in common. That shared interest becomes the foundation of a stronger relationship.

Take a long term view.
These relationships are not built in one meeting. Stay in touch, be consistent, and position yourself so that when the timing is right, you are the first call.

Bring value every time.
Share market insight, trends, and opportunities they may not be seeing. If every interaction is useful, you become someone they want to hear from.

Listen carefully.
Understanding what someone needs is more important than telling them what you do. The best brokers listen first and speak second.

Be patient and persistent.
The strongest relationships in this business are built over time. Stay consistent, stay thoughtful, and keep showing up.

Do this well, and you will not just stand out, you will become trusted.

Go get 'em.

#BobKnakal #WhatWouldBKDo #InvestmentSales

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What happens when a 16-year-old rents more space than he can afford?

He creates arbitrage.

On The Bob Knakal Show, Francis Greenburger shared how he rented two small offices on East 59th Street, even though he only needed one. The landlord encouraged him to sublet the second room, and within days, he found a tenant whose rent covered the full cost of both spaces.

Result: a free office.

That moment sparked a realization — real estate could be more scalable and predictable than his book distribution business.

Sometimes the first real estate deal isn't about development or capital markets.

It's about understanding leverage.

#BobKnakalShow #FrancisGreenburger #RealEstateInvesting #Entrepreneurship #ThrowbackThursday

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Want to be the investor who gets the first call?

Deal flow runs through brokers. If you are a principal and you want access to opportunity, you need to be top of mind.

And top of mind is not about blasting offers. It is about building real relationships.

Over the years, I have never forgotten the investors who treated me differently. One paid my commission two days before a closing. Another paid me part of a fee on a deal that fell apart and said, "Bob, you did your job. It's my fault this didn't close." Decades later, I still remember both of them. If they call, I respond.

That is the power of reputation and relationship.

How to Become the Investor Brokers Call First:

• Build friendships, not just transactions
• Treat brokers with respect and professionalism
• Do what you say you are going to do
• Close when you commit to close
• Play the long game

Most sellers believe their property is worth more than it is. Brokers spend weeks educating the client, marketing the asset, and narrowing the field. When multiple buyers land at the same price, the question becomes: who is most likely to close?

Often, the seller asks the broker.

In that moment, reputation decides.

#CommercialRealEstate #InvestmentStrategy #CapitalMarkets

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My approach to leadership has always gone beyond real estate. I study psychology, persuasion, and human behavior because business is fundamentally about people.

When you truly understand and support your team, you create a productive, cohesive environment where everyone can perform at their best.

Watch the full video on YouTube.


#CommercialRealEstate #CRE #RealEstateCareer

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How do you actually grow a real estate business over time?

You need to spend time working on the business, not just in it.

During the week, most of the time is spent on execution. Calls, meetings, negotiations, and getting deals done. That work is essential, but it is not what builds long-term growth.

That happens when you step back and focus on strategy.

In this video, I walk through how I use weekends to work on the business. That includes meeting with the team, planning strategic initiatives, improving client-facing materials, and strengthening the platform overall.

These are not urgent tasks, but they are the ones that compound.

If you are in commercial real estate, brokerage, or any sales-driven business, this approach can help you create consistency, improve performance, and build something that grows over time.

Make the time to work on your business. That is where the real leverage is created.

#realestate #commercialrealestate #businessgrowth #entrepreneurship #sales #brokerage #investing #productivity #leadership

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As we talk about solutions to policy challenges in real estate valuation, one thing is clear: this is an inherently subjective business.

Regulating it is complex. While greater consistency is important, I'm skeptical that we'll ever achieve full standardization in a market driven by nuance, judgment, and constantly changing dynamics.

Watch the full video on YouTube.


#CommercialRealEstate #CRE #RealEstateCareer

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I was walking down East 55th Street the other day on a cold New York afternoon when something caught my eye.

Across the street was a beautiful building: the historic Friars Club at 57 East 55th Street.

And then it hit me.

We had just put that building under contract.

I stopped for a second and looked up at it.

Moments like that never get old.

In our business, most of the work happens long before that moment. Months of conversations. Dozens of calls. Meetings. Negotiations. Sometimes a few obstacles thrown in for good measure.

A lot of people only see the announcement at the end.

But the real work happens quietly along the way.

Then one day you are just walking down the street and there it is. A building you helped bring to market. A building you helped sell. A building that is about to start a whole new chapter.

And you realize that all those calls, all those meetings, and all that persistence actually turned into something real.

A deal.

That is one of the coolest parts of the building sales business.

You walk the same streets as everyone else, but every once in a while you pass a building and think:

"I helped make that happen."

As you start this week, remember that the calls you make today and the relationships you build today may lead to that exact moment someday.

And when it does, take a second, look up at the building, and enjoy it.

Because those moments never get old.

#mondaymotivational #nycrealestate #buildingsales

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Are you living by design or by default?

When Tori asked how I protect family time while operating in a business that never sleeps, the answer was simple but not easy: you have to live intentionally.

Too many people drift. They let the current of emails, meetings, and obligations dictate their days. Before they know it, years have passed and they never consciously chose their priorities.

Work life balance is not about counting hours. It is about alignment with what matters most to you.

One exercise I shared is this: imagine five people are speaking at your funeral. Your spouse. Your child. Your best friend. A client. Someone from your faith community or personal life. Now write what you would want each of them to say.

In that exercise lies your roadmap.

Designing your life on purpose:
→ Clarify what you want to be remembered for
→ Decide what balance looks like for you, not for others
→Protect time for faith, family, and health
→ Work hard because you choose to, not because you drift into it
→ Measure success by legacy, not by busyness

For me, faith anchors everything. Health fuels everything. My wife and daughter come first. Business matters deeply to me, but it does not define me.

When you know what story you want to tell about your life, your calendar starts to look very different.

#IntentionalLiving #WorkLifeBalance #LegacyDriven

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As I listened to the market and to respected peers in the industry, it became clear that expanding into real estate finance was the right strategic move.

Diversification isn't just growth for growth's sake. Done thoughtfully, it strengthens your platform, builds resilience, and positions you to better serve the market long term.

Watch the full video on YouTube.


#CommercialRealEstate #CRE #RealEstateCareer

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Ezra Rosen asked a great question about New York City zoning.

He noticed a building and thought it might have been specifically designed to comply with "sky laws" or air rights restrictions.

But here's the reality.

In New York City, every building must comply with zoning before it can be built.

You simply cannot get a building permit otherwise.

New York operates under what's called as-of-right zoning.

That means zoning tells you three things about every parcel of land:

How big the building can be.
What type of building can be built.
And the shape that building can take.

Once you know those parameters, the architect designs the building within that envelope.

So the building Ezra Rosen referenced isn't unusual.

It's simply a building maximizing what zoning allows.

And understanding zoning is one of the most important skills in New York real estate.

#WWBKD #BobKnakal #NYCRealEstate

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From "100 Reasons No" to Closing the Deal: Dov Hertz's First Co-Op Unwind

What do you do when a buyer shoots down every opportunity with a hundred reasons why it won't work?

If you're Dov Hertz, you stop chasing — and set boundaries.

In this clip from The Bob Knakal Show, Dov shares how one investor repeatedly dismissed his deals. So he stopped calling him. When the buyer finally agreed to listen without interrupting, Dov presented his first co-op unwind opportunity — and the buyer ultimately purchased the building .

The turning point wasn't the numbers.

It was the willingness to listen.

This is a reminder that conviction, clarity, and discipline often matter more than persuasion. Sometimes the deal closes the moment the arguing stops.

Thank you to Dov for sharing this lesson in focus and execution.

#BobKnakalShow #DovHertz #RealEstateDeals #InvestmentMindset #ThrowbackThursday

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If you're looking to level up in business and in life, start with Good to Great by Jim Collins.

I also highly recommend Dr. Benjamin Hardy and Dan Sullivan's work, 10X Is Easier Than 2X and The Gap and The Gain.

Each of these books offers powerful insights into excellence, growth, and how to think bigger about what's possible.

Watch the full video on YouTube.


#CommercialRealEstate #CRE #RealEstateCareer

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What if the most valuable part of your building… isn't the building at all? What if it's the air above it?

That's what we call air rights.

In New York City, every parcel of land has a maximum amount of square footage that can be built on it. That number is determined by zoning and is typically expressed as a multiple of the lot size.

If the building on that site is smaller than what zoning allows, the difference represents unused development rights, commonly referred to as air rights.

Think of it like a stack of invisible cubes sitting on top of every building.

If your building only fills part of the stack, the rest of those cubes represent additional buildable square footage that could exist on the site.

And here's where it gets interesting.

Those development rights can often be transferred to neighboring properties, allowing another building to grow larger than it otherwise could. In certain cases, especially when landmarks are involved, those rights can be transferred even more broadly.

What does that mean in practice?

It means that a property owner may be sitting on millions of dollars of hidden value without even realizing it. And when rezonings occur, they can suddenly create large amounts of new air rights overnight, which often sparks a wave of development activity across entire neighborhoods.

If you work in commercial real estate, you have to understand what's happening in every asset class that touches your business.

Maybe you sell apartment buildings.
Maybe you specialize in retail.
Maybe you focus on development sites.

But if air rights are trading in your market and you're not paying attention, you may be missing opportunities that are right in front of you.

In this business, knowledge creates opportunity.

And the people who understand zoning, development rights, and the nuances of the market are the ones who consistently find value where others don't.

Sometimes the most valuable part of a property…
…isn't the building.

It's the air above it.

If you have questions about air rights, send me a DM.

#AWalkDownTheStreet #BobKnakal #NYCRealEstate

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