New York City residential brokerage leaders came together on May 11th at City Winery, located at 25 11th Avenue in Manhattan to honor winners of the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY)’s Residential Deal of the Year Awards. In its 34th year, the charity and awards gala was organized by members of the Deal of the Year Committee and supports the Member in Need Fund, which provides grants to residential brokers and agents who are in financial need due to unexpected illness or hardship.
The Deal of the Year Committee, along with members of the Residential Co-Chair Council and Residential Board of Directors served as judges for each award presented at the event.
- The First Place Residential Deal of the Year Award was given to Sofia Falleroni of Compass and David Mayer of The Corcoran Group. The winning transaction required expert management to overcome unique regulatory and negotiating challenges in working with a foreign governmental entity buyer, as well as a significant surprise post-occupancy agreement request. Thanks to the professional acumen, quick thinking, humility and global and public sector relationships of the brokers involved, the sale closed successfully.
- The Second Place Residential Deal of the Year Award went to Rodolfo Lucchese of The Corcoran Group and Andrew Gordon of Compass. Titled “The Lightbulb,” Lucchese’s exclusive to sell four condos within one property faced multiple unforeseen challenges, beginning with a fall while replacing a lightbulb before the staging of the assignment’s first open house that resulted in a broken shoulder. Four accepted offers still came following that open house, only to fall through with the sudden onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Subsequent agreements for all but one of the condos were nullified due to delays for Department of Buildings approvals. Nevertheless, Lucchese persisted in identifying and carrying out creative marketing strategies, working effectively with Gordon and other buyers’ agents and ultimately closing sales for the remaining units during a period of great market volatility.
- The Third Place Residential Deal of the Year Award was given to Boris Fabrikant, Collin Bond and Sangmi Park of Compass. This distinguished deal involved an exhaustive search to identify an expert locksmith to duplicate the unit’s unique keys, overcoming broken furnishings and elevators during showings, multiple legal impasses during contract and preparing buyers for an active lawsuit involving the penthouse that they would inherit. Through skillful outreach to building board members and management, as well as effective communication with the attorneys, the brokers were able to overcome every challenge and get the contract signed.
In addition to the Deal of the Year awards, the gala honored several individuals for performance and character.
- Tristan Harper of Douglas Elliman for Residential Agent of the Year. Nominated by agents and associate brokers, the winner of this award demonstrates leadership in both the real estate industry and community for at least five consecutive years.
- Joseph Conley of Brown Harris Stevens and Spencer Clouse of Bohemia Realty Group LLC for Residential Rookie of the Year. This award recognizes current and potential professional achievement as well as high moral character and professional ethical conduct of a salesperson licensed no earlier than August 30, 2020.
- Frederick Warburg Peters of Coldwell Banker Warburg for The Eileen Spinola Award for Distinguished Service. This award honors a member who has made significant contributions to the REBNY community by donating time, expertise, and knowledge in the areas of education, ethics, and professional services for the betterment of the real estate industry.
- Bonnie Chajet of Coldwell Banker Warburg for The Henry Forster Memorial Award. This award is presented to an agent, associate broker or broker whose outstanding record of achievement and conduct within both the industry and the community has brought recognition to them, their firm and the profession.
“Residential sales professionals serve a critical role for New York’s economy and real estate industry, as their hard work results in significant tax revenues for New York City and they represent our business during critical moments in the lives of many New Yorkers,” said James Whelan, President of the Real Estate Board of New York. “This event honors not only the most remarkable deals but the tremendous value these professionals bring to our city. Congratulations to the winners and all those who placed submissions.”