2,341 buildings sold in New York City. That's an average of one building and $10 million in transactions every week throughout my career.

I'm proud of those numbers, but I don't spend much time looking backward.

In commercial real estate, your track record establishes credibility, but it's what you do next that matters.

Every transaction is another opportunity to deliver results, strengthen relationships, and demonstrate expertise.

The goal isn't to celebrate yesterday's success. It's to keep building on it.

The next deal is always the most important one.


#BobKnakal #CommercialRealEstate #NYCRealEstate

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Why is building a strong personal brand so important in commercial real estate?

Because the more people I connect with, the more opportunities I have to create value for my clients.

I recently discussed on a podcast how networking, speaking engagements, and social media help me expand my reach and gain access to valuable market intelligence, potential buyers, new technologies, and innovative strategies that can improve deal execution.

Every connection has the potential to lead to information that helps me achieve a better outcome for a client.

It's also why, after more than four decades in this business, I continue to work with a broker coach. I firmly believe that there is always something new to learn, regardless of how much experience you have. Someone, somewhere, may have developed a better approach, and I want to learn about it as quickly as possible.

The more informed, connected, and adaptable we are as brokers, the better equipped we are to serve our clients.

At the end of the day, our responsibility is to leverage every resource, relationship, and opportunity available to produce the best possible results for the people who put their trust in us.

That's what this business is all about!

#BobKnakal #CommercialRealEstate #PersonalBranding

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Bigger doesn't always mean better.

When it comes to building my team, I've never believed that success should be measured by headcount.

My vision is to maintain a focused team of 15 to 20 exceptional professionals who bring expertise, discipline, and accountability to the table.

I'd rather have a smaller team of outstanding people than a large team that sacrifices quality for growth.

In commercial real estate, it's not about how many people you have. It's about having the right people.

Watch the full video on YouTube.


#CommercialRealEstate #CRE #RealEstateCareer

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What are air rights in New York City, and how can property owners sell unused development rights to unlock significant real estate value?

In this episode of A Walk Down the Street, Bob Knakal, Chairman and CEO of BKREA, explains how NYC air rights work, why demand for transferable development rights continues to grow, and how property owners can potentially monetize unused building square footage.

Air rights transactions are becoming an increasingly important part of New York City's commercial real estate market.

BKREA recently closed two additional air rights transactions in a single week and is currently working on approximately two dozen more opportunities.

With activity continuing to expand, BKREA has established a dedicated Air Rights Division, led by Managing Director Genessy Jaramillo.

WHAT ARE AIR RIGHTS IN NYC?

Air rights, commonly referred to as development rights, represent the amount of building square footage permitted under applicable zoning regulations.

For example:

A property is permitted to have 100,000 square feet of development.

The existing building contains 40,000 square feet.

The property has 60,000 square feet of unused development rights.

Under applicable NYC zoning regulations, these unused rights may be transferred to an adjacent property or, in certain circumstances involving landmarked properties, to other eligible receiving sites.

For owners, this can represent a significant opportunity to generate revenue from an underutilized real estate asset.

IN THIS VIDEO, BOB DISCUSSES:

How NYC air rights and development rights work

How property owners can potentially sell unused air rights

Why air rights transactions are increasing at BKREA

How landmarked buildings may benefit from additional transfer flexibility

Why BKREA established a dedicated Air Rights Division

How owners can explore monetizing unused development rights

ABOUT BOB KNAKAL

Bob Knakal is the Chairman and CEO of BKREA, a New York City commercial real estate brokerage firm specializing in investment sales, development sites, land, and capital markets advisory services.

With more than four decades of experience in NYC investment sales, Bob brings extensive knowledge of property valuation, zoning, development potential, and real estate transactions.

HAVE AIR RIGHTS TO SELL IN NEW YORK CITY?

Contact Bob Knakal and the BKREA team to discuss your property's unused development rights.

Bob Knakal
Chairman and CEO, BKREA
Phone: 917-509-9501
Email: BK@BKREA.com
Website: https://bkrea.com

Subscribe for more insights into NYC commercial real estate, development sites, property valuations, air rights transactions, investment sales, and New York City zoning.

#NYCAirRights #DevelopmentRights #NYCRealEstate #CommercialRealEstate #BobKnakal #BKREA

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How well do you really know your market?

I recently spoke on the "Commercial Real Estate Blueprint Podcast" and talked about how my fascination with statistics started long before my career in real estate. As a kid collecting baseball cards, I spent more time studying the numbers on the back of the cards than looking at the pictures on the front.

That same obsession with data became part of how Paul Massey and I approached the business when we started working together at CB.

Our original plan was to catalog the entire Upper East Side. We walked the avenues taking photographs of buildings, carrying backpacks filled with rolls of 36-exposure film. We quickly realized the territory was too large to know at the level of detail we wanted.

So we narrowed our focus.

We divided a much smaller section of Manhattan between us and went deep. We studied every building we could, researched three years of comparable sales, tracked average prices, and understood what different property types were trading for.

Then we turned that knowledge into a market report and brought it directly to property owners.

That research helped us win some of our first listings because owners could see that we understood their market at an extremely detailed level.

That experience shaped the way I have approached investment sales ever since. Know your territory, know the numbers, and develop the market knowledge that makes you a valuable resource to owners.

#CommercialRealEstate #NYCRealEstate #InvestmentSales

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In commercial real estate, relationships are everything.

I've always believed that some of the most valuable opportunities come from showing up, shaking hands, and having meaningful conversations.

Networking events aren't just about meeting new people. They're about learning, exchanging ideas, strengthening relationships, and building trust.

Technology makes communication easier, but nothing replaces face-to-face interaction.

The more you put yourself in the right rooms, the more opportunities you create.


#CommercialRealEstate #CRE #RealEstateCareer

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Is work-life balance possible when you're building a successful career in commercial real estate?

Bob Knakal, Chairman and CEO of BKREA and one of New York City's most accomplished commercial real estate investment sales brokers, shares his perspective on the discipline, sacrifice, and work ethic required to reach the top of a highly competitive industry.

In this clip from the Matthews Mentality Podcast with Kyle Matthews, Bob explains why he believes the first 10 to 15 years of a brokerage career require an extraordinary level of commitment if your goal is to become one of the best.

With more than 40 years of experience selling investment properties in New York City, Bob discusses what separates top-producing commercial real estate brokers from the competition and why sustained success requires more than talent alone.

For aspiring real estate brokers, entrepreneurs, sales professionals, and anyone building a career in a competitive industry, the message is simple: Great results require great sacrifices.

Success doesn't happen overnight. It takes passion, discipline, consistency, and a willingness to do what others won't.

Watch the full conversation with Kyle Matthews on the Matthews Mentality Podcast:
https://youtu.be/4uqbDB7nOu0

Learn more about Bob Knakal and BKREA:
https://bkrea.com

#BobKnakal #CommercialRealEstate #WorkLifeBalance #RealEstateBroker #Entrepreneurship

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After more than 40 years in commercial real estate, I've learned that success goes far beyond closing deals.

Three lessons have stayed with me throughout my career:

→ Seek advice: There's always something to learn from people who have been where you want to go.
→ Think long-term: The relationships you build today can create opportunities decades from now.
→ Treat people like family: Clients and colleagues deserve respect, loyalty, and genuine care.

Real estate is a relationship business. The transactions matter, but the people behind them matter more.

Watch the full video on YouTube.


#CommercialRealEstate #CRE #RealEstateCareer

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How is artificial intelligence transforming commercial real estate brokerage? After 42 years of selling buildings in New York City, I've seen our industry go from payphones and paper records to AI-powered prospecting, deal execution, and real estate data analysis.

When I started my career in 1984, I didn't have a computer on my desk, a cell phone, or a fax machine. We carried rolls of quarters around in our pockets to make calls from payphones. Today, at BKREA, we are using artificial intelligence to make our brokerage processes more efficient and to interpret proprietary New York City commercial real estate data sets dating back to 1984.

Because we have used the same methodology to collect these data over 42 years, AI allows us to extract valuable information that can help us better understand market conditions and provide more informed advice to our clients.

I believe artificial intelligence will transform the commercial real estate industry even more dramatically over the next several years.

As I have always said, we are not really in the real estate business. We are in the information and relationship business. Technology simply gives us new ways to create value through both.

In this clip from my conversation with Jack Hoss on The Real Deal Crew podcast, "He Says No To Most Listings and Has Closed $25 Billion," we discuss how technology has evolved throughout my career and how we are putting AI to work at BKREA.

Watch the full episode on The Real Deal Crew here: https://youtu.be/s-OT9wlQ36U?si=xlU1sCcNJWNKQjbL

Learn more about BKREA: https://bkrea.com

#Shorts #BobKnakal #CommercialRealEstate #AIinRealEstate #RealEstateTechnology

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How do you expand a successful real estate platform?

I recently spoke on the "Commercial Real Estate Blueprint Podcast" and talked about how we grew Massey Knakal beyond our core investment sales business.

At one point, we had 72 investment sales brokers, with one broker responsible for each territory. That structure gave us tremendous coverage and allowed our brokers to develop deep expertise in their individual markets.

As the company grew, we saw opportunities to provide additional services to the owners and investors we were already working with. By 2012, we had expanded into retail leasing and mortgage brokerage.

The mortgage business became a particularly strong extension of what we were doing. We were already selling approximately $4 billion to $5 billion of properties annually, which created a natural opportunity to help arrange financing around those transactions.

The growth came quickly.

Our debt business originated approximately $300 million in its first year, grew to about $800 million in the second, and reached roughly $1.5 billion to $1.6 billion in the third.

By the time we sold the company in 2014, we had built a much broader real estate services platform around the investment sales business we started with.

Growth becomes powerful when you understand your core business, know your clients, and recognize opportunities to provide them with additional services they genuinely need.

#CommercialRealEstate #InvestmentSales #RealEstate

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How do successful commercial real estate brokers build lasting relationships and win more deals? Bob Knakal shares why persistence, consistent follow-up, and building trust are essential to long-term success in commercial real estate brokerage.

In this conversation with Chris Powers on The Fort podcast, Bob Knakal, Chairman and CEO of BKREA and a veteran of the New York City investment sales market, discusses one of the most important lessons from his decades in the business: relationships are the foundation of success.

Bob explains why successful brokers don't simply make a few phone calls and move on. They identify the key decision-makers in their market, learn about their backgrounds, establish common ground, and consistently invest time in developing relationships based on mutual respect and trust.

Using an unforgettable analogy about starting a rock-selling business in Iceland, Bob illustrates why identifying the right people and cultivating relationships with them can make all the difference in any industry.

What You'll Learn:

Why relationship building is essential to commercial real estate brokerage success.

How persistence and respectful follow-up can lead to valuable business opportunities.

Why understanding a potential client's background helps establish trust.

How to identify key decision-makers in your commercial real estate market.

Why consistent prospecting and long-term relationship management are important.

Why successful real estate brokers approach business development as a marathon, not a sprint.

What is the secret to successful commercial real estate prospecting?

According to Bob Knakal, the foundation is consistently identifying, contacting, and building trust with the people who matter in your market. The objective is not simply to close the next transaction, but to establish relationships that can generate opportunities for years to come.

How important is follow-up in real estate brokerage?

Follow-up is an essential part of developing long-term business relationships. Consistent, professional communication allows brokers to stay connected with potential clients, demonstrate persistence, and create future opportunities.

About Bob Knakal

Bob Knakal is the Chairman and CEO of BKREA, a New York City-based commercial real estate capital markets brokerage firm specializing in investment sales, debt brokerage, and equity capital raising. With more than four decades of experience in New York City commercial real estate, Bob has built his career around market expertise, disciplined prospecting, and long-term client relationships.

Watch the full episode of The Fort with Chris Powers:
https://youtu.be/mfZQsl9nLEc

Join the Conversation

How many times do you follow up with a potential client before moving on? Share your approach in the comments.

Subscribe for more insights from Bob Knakal on commercial real estate brokerage, NYC investment sales, prospecting strategies, building sales, and business development.

#BobKnakal #CommercialRealEstate #RealEstateBrokerage #RealEstateProspecting #BKREA

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Why would a commercial real estate broker turn down more opportunities than they accept?

I've learned that specialization is one of the most effective ways to maximize your time and market expertise.

Today, I focus on selling vacant properties in New York City. When property owners need help with leasing, financing, or transactions outside my specialty, I refer them to trusted professionals in my extensive referral network.

In this video, I explain why commercial real estate brokers should focus on their two greatest assets: market knowledge and time.

Market knowledge should constantly improve. And while most people believe time is finite, I believe you can make time by being intentional about the opportunities you pursue.

Do you think specialization or diversification is the better strategy for commercial real estate brokers?

Subscribe for more insights on commercial real estate brokerage, investment sales, prospecting, and the NYC real estate market.

Bob Knakal | Chairman & CEO, BKREA

#BobKnakal #CommercialRealEstate #BKREA #RealEstateBrokerage #InvestmentSales

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The most valuable skills in sales aren't always taught in a classroom.

I've always preferred reading books that sharpen my understanding of persuasion, negotiation, and human behavior.
In commercial real estate, understanding how people think, make decisions, and respond to different situations is just as important as knowing the market.

I've long believed colleges should place greater emphasis on teaching practical skills that prepare students for success.
Because in sales, your ability to understand people can make all the difference.


#BobKnakal #CommercialRealEstate #SalesSuccess

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What does it take to become successful in commercial real estate? According to Bob Knakal, Chairman & CEO of BKREA and one of New York City's most experienced investment sales brokers, the answer starts with mastering the fundamentals, developing discipline, and maintaining consistency over time.

In this conversation with Raphael Collazo, Bob shares some of the most important lessons from his 40+ year career in New York City commercial real estate, including why desire, discipline, and repetitive daily actions are the foundation of long-term success.

What You'll Learn in This Video:

The Power of Desire: Why understanding your personal motivation is the first step toward achieving professional success.

Finding Your WHY: How asking "Who do you want to be a hero to?" can help clarify your goals and fuel your ambition.

Why Discipline Matters: How successful commercial real estate brokers build careers through consistent prospecting, follow-up, and daily execution.

The Importance of Repetition: Why making calls, sending mailings, developing relationships, and consistently executing the fundamentals can produce extraordinary long-term results.

Long-Term Thinking: Why sustainable success requires prioritizing what you want most over what you want right now.

What is the key to success in commercial real estate brokerage?

Bob's philosophy is straightforward: Know what motivates you, master the fundamentals, and develop the discipline to consistently execute the activities that drive your business forward.

In commercial real estate investment sales, success is rarely the result of a single transaction. It comes from years of prospecting, building relationships with property owners, studying the market, and establishing yourself as a trusted advisor.

Whether you're a new commercial real estate agent, an experienced investment sales broker, or an entrepreneur looking to build a successful business, these lessons on discipline, consistency, and long-term thinking apply to every stage of your career.

About Bob Knakal

Bob Knakal is the Chairman & CEO of BKREA, a New York City-based commercial real estate capital markets brokerage firm. With more than four decades of experience selling investment properties and development sites throughout NYC, Bob is known for his market expertise, disciplined approach to prospecting, and commitment to mentoring the next generation of commercial real estate professionals.

Watch the full podcast conversation with Raphael Collazo:
https://youtu.be/UGfzlNkSn-o

Join the Conversation

What's more important for achieving long-term success: motivation or discipline? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Subscribe for more insights from Bob Knakal on commercial real estate brokerage, NYC investment sales, prospecting strategies, professional development, and building a successful career in real estate.

#BobKnakal #CommercialRealEstate #RealEstateSuccess

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I've always believed that goals give you something meaningful to chase.

For me, one of those goals is selling 3,000 buildings, the real estate equivalent of 3,000 hits in baseball.

But the future of BKREA is about more than a number. It's about delivering exceptional service to our clients and creating an environment where our young professionals can learn, grow, and build great careers.

The milestone matters. The people and the impact matter more.

Watch the full video on YouTube.


#CommercialRealEstate #CRE #RealEstateCareer

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How do you create a competitive advantage in real estate?

I recently spoke on the "Commercial Real Estate Blueprint Podcast" and shared one of the principles I've believed in throughout my career, specialization.

Whether you're a broker, investor, or entrepreneur, I believe you should choose a niche that is focused enough for you to develop a deep understanding of every aspect of that market.

Know the properties, the owners, the transactions, the history, the numbers, and the factors that drive value.

Your niche also needs enough depth and transaction activity to support a successful business and provide room to grow.

When you develop that level of expertise, you become a valuable resource to the people you serve. Your knowledge becomes a meaningful point of differentiation.

Specialization builds expertise. Expertise creates differentiation. Differentiation creates a competitive advantage.

Pick your niche carefully, study it relentlessly, and work toward becoming the person people think of when they need answers in that market.

#CommercialRealEstate #RealEstate #InvestmentSales

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Can artificial intelligence really help us understand commercial real estate cycles? Absolutely. But there's one major problem: most real estate data isn't good enough to produce reliable insights.

I've spent 42 years in New York City commercial real estate, and one thing I've learned is that absolute numbers rarely tell the whole story.

What matters is how those numbers relate to each other over time.

Are prices rising or falling? How quickly are transaction volumes changing? And what can historical trends tell us about where the real estate market may be heading?

In this clip from my conversation with Logan on the Kansas City Commercial Real Estate Market Pulse, I explain why data interpretation may be the most powerful application of AI in commercial real estate, and why it's also one of the hardest to implement.

At BKREA, we're fortunate to have proprietary real estate data sets spanning 42 years, calculated consistently using the same methodology.

That consistency is critical.

Even the most sophisticated AI models cannot produce meaningful conclusions when the underlying information is unreliable.

For commercial real estate investors, property owners, developers, and brokers, understanding the relationship between historical market data and current conditions can lead to more informed decisions.

AI can help us interpret the numbers, but the integrity of those numbers must come first.

The question isn't simply how powerful AI can become. It's whether we're giving it information worth analyzing.

What do you believe will have the greatest impact on the future of commercial real estate: better technology or better data?

Subscribe for more insights on New York City commercial real estate, investment sales, market cycles, artificial intelligence, and the trends shaping our industry.

Bob Knakal | Chairman & CEO, BKREA

#CommercialRealEstate #RealEstateAI #BobKnakal #NYCRealEstate #RealEstateMarket

2 1

How did Bob Knakal turn 220 hours of walking Manhattan into 104 exclusive commercial real estate listings?

In this clip from The RealDealCrew podcast with Jack Hoss, Bob Knakal, Chairman and CEO of BKREA, shares the fascinating story behind The Map Room, a 24-foot-long, 10-foot-wide map documenting Manhattan's real estate development and construction activity.

During the pandemic, Bob found himself driving through nearly deserted Manhattan streets. Recognizing an opportunity to study the city's real estate development pipeline, he spent 220 hours over four months walking neighborhoods, analyzing properties, and documenting development opportunities.

His research included:

Demolished properties

Buildings under construction

Properties developed to less than 25% of their maximum allowable density

Potential land assemblage opportunities

Construction and development activity across Manhattan

Using color-coded tax lot maps, Bob organized his research into an enormous visual representation of Manhattan's development landscape.

The project became known as The Map Room, a powerful resource for understanding New York City commercial real estate and identifying development opportunities.

THE RESULTS

Throughout his career, Bob historically secured approximately 26% of his exclusive listing pitches.

With The Map Room, Bob and his team have conducted 106 pitches and secured 104 exclusive listings, representing an approximately 98% success rate.

This remarkable achievement highlights the value of detailed market research, local expertise, and innovative approaches to commercial real estate brokerage.

WHAT IS BOB KNAKAL'S MAP ROOM?

The Map Room is a proprietary Manhattan real estate research resource created by Bob Knakal. It features a massive color-coded map identifying construction projects, demolished buildings, underbuilt properties, and potential development assemblages.

The Map Room helps property owners, investors, developers, and commercial real estate professionals better understand development activity and opportunities throughout Manhattan.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS VIDEO

How Bob Knakal created The Map Room

Why he spent 220 hours walking Manhattan

How to identify underbuilt properties and development opportunities

How detailed market intelligence can improve commercial real estate brokerage performance

How The Map Room helped secure 104 exclusive listings from 106 pitches

Why understanding your territory creates a competitive advantage

ABOUT BOB KNAKAL

Bob Knakal is Chairman and CEO of BKREA, a New York City commercial real estate capital markets brokerage specializing in investment sales, debt brokerage, and equity raising.

With more than four decades of experience in NYC commercial real estate, Bob has built his career around detailed market knowledge, innovative brokerage strategies, and helping property owners maximize the value of their assets.

WATCH THE FULL PODCAST

Catch Bob Knakal's full conversation with Jake Hoss on The REalDealCrew:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-OT9wlQ36U

Subscribe for more insights into Manhattan real estate, NYC development sites, commercial real estate investing, investment sales, and successful brokerage strategies.

#BobKnakal #CommercialRealEstate #NYCRealEstate #TheMapRoom #InvestmentSales

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How much room is there really in the New York City investment sales business?

I recently spoke on the "Commercial Real Estate Blueprint Podcast" and was asked about the 36 companies started by people who came through our organization over the years. With that many firms operating in the same market, you might think we would constantly be competing for the same assignments.

The numbers tell the story.

In Manhattan south of 96th Street alone, there are 27,649 investment properties. Across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx, there are more than 176,000 investment properties.

In an average year, approximately 3,800 of those properties sell.

That is an enormous universe of owners, properties and potential transactions.

Yes, many of us learned similar approaches to prospecting, market coverage and pitching business. Many of those professionals have gone on to build their own companies and compete in New York City investment sales.

With a market this large, there is plenty of opportunity for talented brokers who know their territories, understand their owners, work hard and consistently stay in front of the market.

Thirty-six companies may sound like a lot.

In New York City real estate, there is plenty of ground to cover.

#NYCRealEstate #CommercialRealEstate #InvestmentSales

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New York City real estate is one of the most complex markets in the world.

Understanding the numbers is only part of the equation. You also have to understand market dynamics, regulations, and how those regulations impact what can actually be developed.

The deeper your market knowledge, the better equipped you are to recognize opportunities and navigate challenges.

In NYC real estate, expertise matters.


#CommercialRealEstate #CRE #RealEstateCareer

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Bob Knakal explains how narrowing his focus helped him build BKREA into a $1.8 billion commercial real estate investment sales business in its first full calendar year.

After more than four decades in New York City real estate, Bob's strategy is simple: specialize, know your market deeply, and build a clear value proposition.

BKREA focuses on selling vacant or easily vacated buildings in New York City, including development sites, conversion opportunities, and properties for user buyers.

In this short, Bob shares why specialization can create better market knowledge, stronger client relationships, and better results in commercial real estate brokerage.

Watch the entire podast episode this comes from here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-OT9wlQ36U

#CommercialRealEstate #InvestmentSales #RealEstateBroker #NYCRealEstate #CRE #RealEstateInvesting #Brokerage #BobKnakal #BKREA #Entrepreneurship

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