Misc. Video

How do you stay top of mind with commercial real estate clients and property owners?

For me, the answer is consistency.

In this behind-the-scenes Day in the Life of Bob Knakal, I explain one of the simplest principles behind my commercial real estate marketing strategy: you want to become the person a property owner thinks of when it is finally time to transact.

One example is my Bob Knakal baseball card.

We send it through direct mail on heavy stock so that when an owner picks it up, even if they only look at it for a few seconds before throwing it away, they have seen my name again.

That exposure matters.

Most property owners are not ready to sell their building when you contact them. The opportunity may not arise until months or years later, when a life event, partnership dispute, estate situation, tax issue, change in investment strategy, or other circumstance creates a reason to sell.

The objective is to build enough top-of-mind awareness that when that moment arrives, the owner remembers your name.

That principle applies well beyond commercial real estate.

Whether you are a real estate broker, salesperson, entrepreneur, business owner, or professional trying to build a personal brand, consistent prospecting and consistent marketing compound over time.

In this video, I discuss:

• How to create top-of-mind awareness with clients
• Why direct mail still works in commercial real estate
• The strategy behind my Bob Knakal baseball card
• Why repetition is critical in sales and prospecting
• Why marketing does not need an immediate response to be successful
• How commercial real estate brokers can build long-term relationships with property owners
• The importance of staying visible before a client actually needs your services

A very special thank you to Sofia Melo, The Science of Scaling Podcast, and HubSpot for following me around and documenting a Day in the Life of Bob Knakal.

WATCH THE FULL DAY IN THE LIFE OF BOB KNAKAL HERE:
https://youtu.be/yybIRmF83ek?si=61MufGzSwM1avtie

ABOUT BOB KNAKAL

Bob Knakal is Chairman and CEO of BKREA and has spent more than four decades in New York City commercial real estate, specializing in building sales, investment sales, and capital markets.

If you are a commercial real estate broker, investor, property owner, or salesperson interested in prospecting, building relationships, creating top-of-mind awareness, personal branding, and commercial real estate sales strategy, subscribe for more.

Frequently Asked Question:

How do you stay top of mind with real estate clients?

Stay visible consistently before the client needs you. Regular prospecting, valuable market information, direct mail, content, and personal interaction create repeated exposure. Over time, that repetition helps your name become associated with the service you provide.

#CommercialRealEstate #BobKnakal #RealEstateSales How to Stay Top of Mind With Clients | Bob Knakal's Marketing Strategy

How to Stay Top of Mind With Clients | Bob Knakal's Marketing Strategy

Bob Knakal September 25, 2026 8:02 am

Why Saying No Can Make You More Successful in Commercial Real Estate

One of the most important lessons I've learned over four decades in commercial real estate is that you do not have to say yes to every opportunity.

In fact, saying no can make you more successful.

When an opportunity comes my way that is outside my area of specialization, I refer it to someone who is better suited to handle it. I've built a massive referral network over the years, and I am very comfortable sending business to people who are experts in their particular specialty or neighborhood.

Today, I am highly specialized in selling vacant properties in New York City. That means I say no to many more opportunities than I say yes to.

Why?

Because a commercial real estate broker has two incredibly valuable assets:

Market knowledge
Time

You should constantly be improving your market knowledge. And while most people believe time is finite, I look at it differently. You can create more productive time by being disciplined about where you focus your energy.

Specialization allows you to spend more of your day doing the work where you can create the most value.

I discussed this and much more with Jesse Durham and Graham Storey on the Commercial Real Estate Blueprint podcast.

A big thank you to Jesse and Graham for having me on. I really enjoyed the conversation.

Watch the full podcast here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Hhoh5rR3W4

If you are a commercial real estate broker, investor, owner, or someone looking to build a long-term career in CRE, I hope this discussion gives you something useful to think about.

What opportunities should you be saying no to?

#CommercialRealEstate #CRE #RealEstateBroker #InvestmentSales #CommercialRealEstateBroker #RealEstateInvesting #NYCRealEstate #Sales #BusinessDevelopment #Brokerage #RealEstateCareer #Productivity #Specialization #BobKnakal #BKREA Why Saying No Can Make You More Successful | Bob Knakal on the Art of Saying No

Why Saying No Can Make You More Successful | Bob Knakal on the Art of Saying No

Bob Knakal September 18, 2026 8:04 am

What am I most proud of after more than four decades in commercial real estate?

I love selling buildings. I always have. Brokerage has been my career, my business, and one of the things I genuinely enjoy doing most.

That passion has taken me through Massey Knakal, Cushman & Wakefield, JLL, and ultimately back to entrepreneurship, where I had the opportunity to build again and teach another generation of brokers.

We accomplished a lot at Massey Knakal. We built an extraordinary business, consistently competed with firms that had significantly greater resources, and ultimately sold the company.

One accomplishment means more to me than any of that.

Today, there are 35 companies or divisions within the New York City commercial real estate investment sales business that are owned or run by people we helped teach the business.

Seeing those professionals grow, lead teams, build companies, and create successful careers is incredibly rewarding.

I still love doing deals. My 2,400+ transactions represent approximately 94 million square feet and $24.4 billion in aggregate sales volume, and I have every intention of continuing to add to those numbers.

At this stage of my career, I also get tremendous satisfaction from mentoring young professionals and helping them build better businesses and better lives.

Deals may create a track record but developing people creates a legacy.

#CommercialRealEstate #RealEstateLeadership #CommercialBrokerage What I'm Most Proud of After 2,406+ Real Estate Deals | Bob Knakal on Legacy

What I'm Most Proud of After 2,406+ Real Estate Deals | Bob Knakal on Legacy

Bob Knakal September 16, 2026 11:01 am

What a night!!

The other night I took Cynthia and Sophie Knakal to the New York Rangers' annual golf outing. While Sophie spent much of her time talking to the current players and taking photos with them, I, of course, spent most of my time chatting with the "old timers."

I have been a lifelong, die-hard Rangers fan.

One of my most vivid Rangers memories happened on April 11, 1975. The Rangers were playing the upstart Islanders in the playoffs. I was listening to the game in bed on a transistor radio when J.P. Parise scored in overtime to eliminate the Rangers.

I cried myself to sleep!

So, for a lifelong fan, the night was pretty special.
There were so many alumni there that I couldn't get to everyone, but I was fortunate to spend time with many of my favorites.

Gilles Villemure, Pete Stemkowski and Steve Vickers connect me to those great Rangers teams of the early 1970s.

Villemure formed one of the NHL's best goaltending tandems with Ed Giacomin and shared the Vezina Trophy with him in 1970-71.

Stemkowski was an important part of the Rangers team that reached the 1972 Stanley Cup Final.

And Vickers won the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year in 1972-73 and went on to score 246 goals as a Ranger.

Dave Maloney and Ron Greschner take me back to the late 1970s and 1980s.

Maloney became the youngest captain in Rangers history at just 22 and helped lead the club to the 1979 Stanley Cup Final.

Greschner spent his entire 16-season NHL career with the Rangers, playing 981 games and recording 610 points from the blue line.

Then there is Adam Graves.

Graves was one of the heart-and-soul players of the 1994 Stanley Cup championship team and scored a then-franchise-record 52 goals during the 1993-94 regular season. For Rangers fans of my generation, 1994 will always be magical.

Henrik Lundqvist and Dan Girardi represent the more modern era.

King Henrik spent all 15 of his NHL seasons with the Rangers, won 459 games, captured the Vezina Trophy and carried the team to the 2014 Stanley Cup Final.

Girardi went from undrafted free agent to one of the most dependable defensemen in the league and was a huge part of those Rangers teams that made deep playoff runs.

Tom Laidlaw and Eddie Johnston were there as well, adding even more Rangers history to the room.

And then there is Sam Rosen.

Sam became the full-time television voice of the Rangers in 1984-85 and called the team for 40 seasons. His voice connects virtually every era I mentioned above, and his call when the Rangers finally won the Stanley Cup in 1994 is forever part of New York sports history.

For Sophie, the attraction was the current players.

For me, it was getting to spend time with the guys I watched, listened to and rooted for over the course of decades.

That is what made the night so special.

Once a Rangers fan, always a Rangers fan.

What a night!! New York Rangers Legends: An Unforgettable Night at the Annual Golf Outing

New York Rangers Legends: An Unforgettable Night at the Annual Golf Outing

Bob Knakal September 16, 2026 8:51 am

I’ve known Leslie Himmel for nearly 40 years, and she has built one of the most respected careers in New York commercial real estate.

Leslie is the co-founder and managing partner of Himmel + Meringoff Properties, and in this episode of The Bob Knakal Show, we talk about the decisions, relationships, market cycles, and investment principles that shaped more than four decades in the business.

Leslie’s path is a great example of how commercial real estate careers are actually built.

She went from Harvard Business School to corporate marketing, institutional real estate, capital raising, acquisitions, and eventually building a real estate company with Steve Meringoff that has owned many properties for decades.

We also get into how she created access to institutional investors early in her career, how she and Steve first met, why she used to walk New York City block by block looking for opportunities, and why she still places such a high value on relationships and continuous learning.

In this conversation, we cover:

How Leslie Himmel entered commercial real estate
Why investment banking ultimately wasn’t the right career path
How she raised major institutional capital early in her career
The creative ways she built relationships with senior industry leaders
How Leslie and Steve Meringoff became business partners
Why Himmel + Meringoff focused on long-term ownership
How they identified undervalued properties and emerging neighborhoods
The strategy behind 1601 Bronxdale Avenue
Why Leslie still prioritizes networking after four decades in CRE
Her advice for women building careers in commercial real estate
Why preparation and continuous learning remain competitive advantages

How did Leslie Himmel build a successful commercial real estate career?

Her career was built through preparation, persistence, creative problem-solving, strong relationships, and a willingness to create opportunities when the obvious path wasn’t available.

What is Himmel + Meringoff’s investment philosophy?

The firm has historically focused on finding undervalued properties, repositioning or improving them, and holding assets for long periods rather than relying on short-term transactions.

What can commercial real estate professionals learn from Leslie Himmel?

Do the work. Prepare thoroughly. Build genuine relationships. Stay curious. And understand that some of the biggest career opportunities can come from directions you never planned for.

The Bob Knakal Show is presented by CREXI.

#CommercialRealEstate #LeslieHimmel #RealEstateInvesting #CRE #NewYorkRealEstate #RealEstateCareers #CommercialProperty #BobKnakal

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Leslie Himmel
02:00 Growing up in White Plains and learning to compete
04:00 Penn, Wharton classes, and Harvard Business School
06:00 Life before commercial real estate
08:00 Why investment banking wasn’t the right career fit
10:00 Leaving corporate marketing and finding real estate
12:00 Joining Integrated Resources
14:00 Raising institutional capital from pension funds
17:00 Moving into acquisitions
19:00 Meeting Harry Helmsley at NYU
21:00 The first meeting with Steve Meringoff
23:00 Building the Himmel + Meringoff partnership
24:30 Walking New York City block by block for opportunities
27:00 The first acquisition
29:00 The strategy behind 1601 Bronxdale Avenue
32:00 Leslie’s leadership at REBNY
34:00 Tackling the early 1990s credit crisis
35:30 Creating access to mentors and industry leaders
38:00 Why networking still matters
41:00 Career advice for women in commercial real estate
45:00 Life outside the office
46:00 Board service and learning from the credit side
47:30 The person Leslie would most like to meet
48:30 Reflections on a four-decade relationship in CRE
49:30 Closing thoughts

Connect with Bob:

🔔 Subscribe to my Newsletter: https://linktr.ee/bobknakalnyc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobknakal/
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BobKnakalNYC
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BobKnakal

#nycrealestate #investmentsalesnyc #capitalmarkets #bobknakal How Leslie Himmel Built a 40-Year Career in Commercial Real Estate | The Bob Knakal Show Episode 10

How Leslie Himmel Built a 40-Year Career in Commercial Real Estate | The Bob Knakal Show Episode 10

Bob Knakal September 15, 2026 8:42 am

Step inside the Knakal Map Room with Bob Knakal for an inside look at how one of New York City's most experienced investment sales brokers tracks the Manhattan land and development market.

In this episode with Sofia Mello and the Science of Scaling Podcast, Bob gives a behind-the-scenes tour of the Knakal Map Room, a 24-foot-long, 10-foot-wide map that serves as mission control for understanding development activity across Manhattan.

The map tracks critical real estate data including:

• Demolition permits
• Foundation permits
• Construction permits
• Building permits
• Development sites
• Manhattan land activity
• New York City real estate trends

Bob spent approximately four months and 220 hours in the field walking every block of Manhattan south of 96th Street on the East Side and south of 110th Street on the West Side.

The goal was simple: know the market better.

That fieldwork ultimately became the foundation of the Knakal Map Room and a powerful example of why deep market knowledge remains one of the greatest competitive advantages in commercial real estate.

In this video, you'll learn:

• How Bob Knakal studies the Manhattan real estate market
• Why hyperlocal market knowledge matters in investment sales
• How building and development permits can reveal opportunity
• How brokers can create a competitive advantage through research
• Why knowing your territory is essential in commercial real estate
• How the Knakal Map Room became a real-time intelligence tool for NYC development

Whether you are a commercial real estate broker, investor, developer, property owner, or student of the New York City market, this conversation offers a unique look at how market intelligence is built from the ground up.

Special thanks to Sofia Mello and the Science of Scaling Podcast for spending the day with Bob and capturing an inside look at the Map Room, BKREA, and Bob's approach to the New York City investment sales business.

Watch the full episode here:
https://youtu.be/yybIRmF83ek?si=QACoIOjH2rvM_0hf

About Bob Knakal:

Bob Knakal is Chairman and CEO of BKREA and has spent decades focused on New York City investment sales, development sites, land sales, and commercial real estate.

Subscribe for more insights on:

NYC commercial real estate
Manhattan investment sales
Development sites
Land sales
Real estate brokerage
Capital markets
Commercial real estate strategy
Market intelligence

#BobKnakal #KnakalMapRoom #NYCRealEstate #CommercialRealEstate #InvestmentSales #ManhattanRealEstate #RealEstateDevelopment #CapitalMarkets #LandSales #BKREA Inside the Knakal Map Room: How Bob Knakal Tracks Manhattan Real Estate Development

Inside the Knakal Map Room: How Bob Knakal Tracks Manhattan Real Estate Development

Bob Knakal September 11, 2026 8:01 am

How do you grow a commercial real estate brokerage without creating internal competition and confusion?

Bob Knakal explains how the Massey Knakal Territory System helped scale the company to 250 people and 72 brokers while minimizing internal cannibalization.

The key was clarity.

At Massey Knakal, geographic territory boundaries made it clear which broker was responsible for each building, who they should prospect to, and how business should be shared when opportunities crossed territory lines.

Today at BKREA, that model has evolved.

Instead of relying solely on geography, BKREA uses product specialization with geographic parameters layered on top.

The structure is different, but the principle remains the same:

Clear roles create accountability.
Accountability creates specialization.
Specialization creates expertise.
Expertise creates better outcomes for clients.

In this video, Bob discusses brokerage scalability, territory systems, specialization, accountability, team structure, and how to grow a commercial real estate platform without creating unnecessary internal competition.

ABOUT BKREA

BKREA is a New York City real estate capital markets brokerage company focused on investment sales, debt brokerage and raising equity.

SEARCH TOPICS:

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real estate brokerage growth
broker territory system
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#BobKnakal #BKREA #CommercialRealEstate #Brokerage #InvestmentSales #Leadership #NYCRealEstate How to Scale a Real Estate Brokerage Without Cannibalizing Business | Bob Knakal

How to Scale a Real Estate Brokerage Without Cannibalizing Business | Bob Knakal

Bob Knakal September 4, 2026 8:01 am

Should commercial real estate brokers specialize in a niche?

Absolutely. Bob Knakal explains why specialization has been one of the most important principles of his commercial real estate career and why narrowing your focus can actually create more opportunities, not fewer.

For 40 years, Bob's value proposition was deliberately narrow: sell buildings, represent sellers, work exclusively on exclusive assignments, and focus on New York City.

Today, that specialization has become even more focused.

Bob and his team focus on selling vacant buildings in New York City.

When it comes to a vacant NYC building, there are generally three potential paths:

Demolish the existing building and develop something new.
Renovate the property and convert it to another use.
Sell the property to a user who intends to occupy it.

By concentrating on this specific segment of the New York City commercial real estate market, Bob and his team can develop deeper expertise and provide greater value to property owners.

The results demonstrate the power of that strategy. In the team's first full calendar year, they completed 43 transactions totaling approximately $1.8 billion.

The lesson for commercial real estate brokers is simple: Don't try to be everything to everybody.

Specialization helps you understand your market more deeply, sharpen your value proposition, differentiate yourself from competitors, and become the market expert clients think of when they need exactly what you do.

In this video, Bob discusses:

• Why specialization matters in commercial real estate
• How to find and dominate a real estate niche
• Why Bob narrowed his NYC investment sales practice
• The three primary strategies for vacant buildings in New York City
• How specialization can create deeper market expertise
• Why young commercial real estate brokers should develop a clearly defined specialty
• How becoming known for one thing can strengthen your value proposition

Bob Knakal is Chairman & CEO of BKREA and has spent more than four decades selling investment properties in New York City.

Subscribe for more insights on NYC commercial real estate, investment sales, brokerage, prospecting, property valuation, development sites, building sales, and strategies for commercial real estate brokers and investors.

#BobKnakal #CommercialRealEstate #NYCRealEstate #InvestmentSales #RealEstateBroker #CapitalMarkets #BKREA How Specialization Built a $4 Billion NYC Real Estate Pipeline | Bob Knakal

How Specialization Built a $4 Billion NYC Real Estate Pipeline | Bob Knakal

Bob Knakal September 2, 2026 8:02 am

Another one in the books!

Bob Knakal, Chairman & CEO of BKREA, is joined by Jake Hulsh in the Knakal Map Room to turn over the Big Board following the $28 million sale of 500 Columbus Avenue on Manhattan's Upper West Side.

And this transaction was particularly gratifying because Jake originated the business.

500 Columbus Avenue is a 35,200-gross-square-foot mixed-use building located on the northwest corner of West 84th Street and Columbus Avenue in New York City.

The property has a tenant in place at the base through 2033, while the residential portion of the building has been vacant for approximately 30 years. The likely plan for the property is a condominium conversion with a slight enlargement.

The $28 million transaction equates to pricing in the mid-$700s per square foot.

It was also a complicated transaction involving an existing building that will be renovated and redeveloped, making the successful closing particularly rewarding for the BKREA team.

After turning over the dollar volume and square footage on the Big Board, Jake gets the honor of turning over the most important number:

2,417.

This transaction marks Bob Knakal's 2,417th building sale in New York City.

For property owners, investors, developers and commercial real estate professionals following the New York City investment sales market, subscribe for more transactions, market intelligence and insights from the Knakal Map Room.

ABOUT BKREA

BKREA is a New York City real estate capital markets brokerage company focused on investment sales, debt brokerage and raising equity.

SEARCH TOPICS:

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#BobKnakal #BKREA #NYCRealEstate #CommercialRealEstate #InvestmentSales #UpperWestSide #KnakalMapRoom #SellingBuildings 500 Columbus Avenue Sells for $28M | Bob Knakal & Jake Hulsh on BKREA Turn Over the Big Board

500 Columbus Avenue Sells for $28M | Bob Knakal & Jake Hulsh on BKREA Turn Over the Big Board

Bob Knakal August 28, 2026 8:00 am