Closed! NYC's Real Estate Podcast

On this episode of Closed!, Lee sits down with Carlo Scissura, President and CEO of the New York Building Congress, for a conversation on New York City's efforts to cut construction red tape, streamline government approvals, and accelerate development across the five boroughs.

Drawing on his experience leading the New York Building Congress and chairing the city's 2024 Charter Revision Commission, Carlo breaks down the upcoming November 3 ballot proposals and what they could mean for New York's construction and real estate industries. From permitting backlogs and lengthy environmental reviews to overlapping agency requirements, he explains why projects can take years to get off the ground, how regulatory delays drive up costs, and what a more centralized approval process could look like.

Lee and Carlo also explore the broader challenges facing the building industry, including rising material costs, tariffs, interest rates, and the uncertainty surrounding major development projects. Despite these obstacles, Carlo remains optimistic about New York's future, pointing to the demand for modern Class A office space, new housing, major transit and infrastructure investments, and the economic opportunities created by continued construction.

The conversation also examines the proposed changes to outdoor dining approvals, the connection between construction and small businesses, and why building faster matters not only for developers and property owners, but for New Yorkers who need more housing, jobs, and accessible communities.

To learn more about Carlo Scissura and the New York Building Congress, visit buildingcongress.com.

To learn more about Lee and Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit the firm online at bflawoffice.com

To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at https://bfkplaw.com/.

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On this episode of Closed!, Brad sits down with Tom DeRose, co-founder and CEO of PandaGuarantee, for a conversation on lease guarantees, renter qualification, landlord risk, and the changing realities of the New York rental market.

Tom explains how PandaGuarantee helps renters qualify for apartments when they may not meet a landlord’s traditional financial criteria, while also giving landlords additional protection against missed rent, tenant default, and the costs that can come with eviction. He breaks down how guarantor insurance works, who typically pays for it, how coverage is structured, and why an institutional guarantee can often be more reliable than chasing a personal guarantor across state lines.

The conversation also explores how PandaGuarantee underwrites applicants, handles claims, and works with both tenants and landlords throughout the process. Tom and Brad also discuss the rise of rental application fraud, including fake pay stubs, fabricated bank statements, false identities, and how AI is making fraudulent documents harder to spot. The episode offers a look at how lease guarantee products are evolving as housing costs rise, underwriting becomes more complex, and both renters and landlords look for better ways to manage risk.

To learn more about Tom DeRose and PandaGuarantee, visit pandaguarantee.com.

To learn more about Brad and Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit the firm online at www.bflawoffice.com.

To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at https://bfkplaw.com/.

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On this episode of Closed!, Mike sits down with Scott Mendelsohn, Chief Operating Officer at Langdon Title, for a practical conversation on the title issues that can shape, delay, or even derail real estate transactions.

Scott brings a unique perspective to the title insurance world, having started his career as a New York City prosecutor before becoming a founding member of the Real Estate Enforcement Unit at the New York State Attorney General’s Office, later handling complex litigation and title claims before moving into title agency leadership. In this conversation, he explains why every property file is its own investigation, and why common sense, risk analysis, and service matter just as much as the paperwork.

Scott and Mike break down what attorneys, brokers, lenders, buyers, and sellers should be looking for before closing, including authority issues, entity documents, mechanics liens, surveys, covenants and restrictions, access problems, trusts and estates, probate complications, bankruptcy orders, escrows, affidavits, and the title report itself. The episode also explores why title insurance is often misunderstood, why surveys can be critical, and why the earlier title issues are flagged, the better chance a deal has of getting across the finish line.

To learn more about Scott Mendelsohn and Langdon Title, visit langdontitle.com.

To learn more about Mike and Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit the firm at www.bflawoffice.com.

To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at https://bfkplaw.com/.

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On this episode of Closed!, Lee sits down with Joanne Wilson, founder and CEO of Gotham, and Greg Tannor, Executive Managing Director and Principal at Lee & Associates NYC, for a candid conversation on New York’s legal cannabis retail market.

Together, Joanne and Greg break down the realities of building, leasing, and operating in one of the most complicated emerging industries in the state. Joanne discusses how Gotham has positioned itself as a cannabis concept store where culture, community, retail, and cannabis come together, while Greg explains the real estate side of the industry, from site selection and lease structure to landlord concerns, buffer zones, rent pressure, and the importance of right-sizing a dispensary space.

The conversation also explores the tension between legal operators and the illicit market, the challenges created by regulation, taxes, insurance, credit card restrictions, labor requirements, and lack of access to capital. Joanne and Greg also discuss why enforcement matters, what makes a legal cannabis store actually work, how experiential retail is shaping the future of the industry, and what could change if cannabis is eventually rescheduled or legalized federally.

To learn more about Joanne Wilson and Gotham, visit gotham.nyc.

To learn more about Greg Tannor and Lee & Associates NYC, visit lee-associates.com/new-york.

To learn more about Lee and Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit the firm online at bflawoffice.com

To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at https://bfkplaw.com/.

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On this episode of Closed!, Lee sits down with Frances Katzen, founder of The Katzen Team at Douglas Elliman, to discuss New York’s pied-à-terre tax and what it could mean for the city’s luxury real estate market.

Frances breaks down how the tax applies to certain secondary and investment residences, why the rollout has created confusion for owners and buyers, and how uncertainty around valuation, enforcement, litigation, and future market conditions is already shaping conversations in the high-end market.

The conversation also explores how the tax may affect condos, co-ops, legacy owners, foreign buyers, and ultra-high-net-worth purchasers weighing New York against other markets. Frances and Lee discuss whether the luxury market can absorb another layer of annual cost, how scarcity continues to support pricing, and why New York’s long-term appeal remains complicated, resilient, and deeply tied to confidence in the city’s future.

To learn more about Frances Katzen and The Katzen Team at Douglas Elliman, visit her website and follow her on Instagram at @franceskatzen.

To learn more about Lee and Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit the firm at www.bflawoffice.com.

To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at https://bfkplaw.com/.

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On this episode of Closed!, Mike sits down with Tom Wright, President and CEO of Regional Plan Association, for a timely conversation on the future of Penn Station, the Gateway Program, and what major infrastructure investment could mean for commuters, real estate, and the broader metropolitan region.

Tom breaks down where the Penn Station redesign stands today, why the station has become so strained, and how efforts to renovate the existing station connect to the larger need for new Hudson River tunnels, expanded rail capacity, and stronger connections between New York and New Jersey.

The conversation also explores why Moynihan Train Hall did not solve Penn Station’s capacity issues, how Gateway could reshape commuting across the region, the debate around through-running, and why Penn Station’s future is not just about aesthetics, but safety, reliability, economic growth, public space, and building infrastructure for the next hundred years.

To learn more about Tom Wright and Regional Plan Association, visit rpa.org.

To learn more about Mike and Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit bfkplaw.com.

To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at https://bfkplaw.com/.

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On this episode of Closed!, Brad sits down with Geoffrey Newman of Savills to unpack the story behind one of New York City’s most complicated development assemblages: a 13-year effort to piece together six parcels around Gramercy Park and create one of the city’s most valuable new residential development sites.

Geoffrey discusses his unique practice at the intersection of nonprofit real estate, land assemblages, air rights, and development strategy, explaining why many nonprofits, religious institutions, and co-ops are now reevaluating how their real estate can support or reshape their long-term mission.

The conversation then turns to the Gramercy Park assemblage itself: a deal involving Third Avenue parcels, a co-op, air rights, a cantilever, rent-regulated tenants, environmental contamination, litigation, DOB approvals, and a Sliver Law issue that could have stopped the project entirely. Geoffrey breaks down how each challenge had to be managed in service of the larger goal, why assemblages require both a battle plan and flexibility, and how persistence, sequencing, and compromise turned a nearly impossible transaction into an award-winning deal.

To learn more about Geoffrey Newman and Savills, visit savills.us.

To learn more about Brad and Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit bfkplaw.com.

To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at https://bfkplaw.com/.

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On this episode of Closed!, Lee sits down with New York State Senator Nathalia Fernandez, who represents the 34th Senate District covering parts of the Bronx and Westchester, to discuss the Fair and Transparent Real Estate Listings Act and the debate over pocket listings in New York real estate.

Senator Fernandez breaks down what pocket listings are, why private or limited-access listings can leave sellers without full information and buyers without a fair chance to compete, and how her bill seeks to bring more transparency into the home sale process. Rather than banning private listings outright, the legislation would require sellers to be informed about where their property is being marketed and to provide written consent before a listing is kept off broadly accessible platforms.

The conversation also explores the fair housing implications of hidden listings, how restricted access can shape who sees available homes, what brokers and agents should be preparing for if the bill becomes law, and why transparency is becoming a larger theme in real estate policy. Senator Fernandez also discusses the rise of AI-altered listing photos, “house fishing,” and the broader need to make sure buyers and sellers know what is real, what is available, and what choices they actually have.

To learn more about Senator Nathalia Fernandez and her work, visit nysenate.gov or follow her on Instagram at @senfernandez34 and @fernandez4ny

To learn more about Lee and Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit bfkplaw.com

To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at https://bfkplaw.com/.

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On this episode of Closed!, Mike sits down with Joel Berg, CEO of Hunger Free America, a nationwide anti-hunger advocacy and direct service organization headquartered in New York City.

The conversation centers on New York’s proposed city-owned, privately operated grocery stores, which are intended to offer essential foods at roughly 30 percent below retail prices. Joel breaks down what the proposal could accomplish, where it may fall short, and why five grocery stores alone cannot solve a hunger crisis affecting more than one million New Yorkers.

Joel also discusses the deeper causes of food insecurity, including low wages, rising rent, high childcare and healthcare costs, cuts to SNAP, and the limits of relying on food pantries and soup kitchens to fill gaps in the social safety net. The episode also explores how food access fits into New York’s broader affordability crisis, why food is often left out of urban planning, and what it would take to build a city where nutritious food is accessible to everyone.

To learn more about Joel Berg and Hunger Free America, visit hungerfreeamerica.org.

To learn more about Mike and Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit bfkplaw.com

To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at https://bfkplaw.com/.

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On this episode of Closed!, Lee sits down with David Helbraun, founding partner and chairman of Helbraun Levey, a New York hospitality law firm representing restaurants, bars, hotels, and nightlife operators across the city.

Before becoming a lawyer, David spent years in the restaurant industry himself, first behind the bar and later as the owner of Pyramid Coffee Company, a multi-unit Manhattan café chain. In this conversation, he brings both perspectives to the table, breaking down what restaurant operators actually look for when evaluating a New York City space.

David walks through the practical and legal considerations that can make or break a restaurant deal, from liquor license restrictions, outdoor dining, landmark issues, ventilation, electricity, basements, and second-generation spaces to the informal broker networks that often determine who gets access to the best locations before they ever hit the market.

The conversation also explores the pressures facing restaurants today, including labor shortages, rising costs, landlord leverage, delivery platforms, restaurant group consolidation, and why the future of New York dining may look very different from the fine-dining era that came before it.

To learn more about David Helbraun and Helbraun Levey, visit helbraunlevey.com.

To learn more about Lee and Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit bfkplaw.com.

To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at https://bfkplaw.com/.

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On this episode of Closed!, Lee sits down with Jonathan Miller, co-founder of Miller Samuel, a New York-based real estate appraisal and consulting firm, for a timely conversation on New York City’s rental market and the recent decision to freeze rents for rent-stabilized apartments.

Jonathan breaks down what the rent freeze does and does not mean, including why it applies to rent-stabilized units rather than the entire rental market. He explains how the decision could affect renters, landlords, lenders, open-market rents, and the long-term condition of New York City’s affordable housing stock.

The conversation also explores the broader pressures facing the city’s housing market, from rising operating costs and limited financial incentives to maintain older buildings, to constrained lending, historically high market rents, and the ongoing distortion created by low inventory and elevated mortgage rates. Jonathan discusses why maintaining existing affordable housing may be just as important as building new units, and why the city’s rental market remains one of the most complicated pieces of New York’s real estate economy.

To learn more about Jonathan Miller and his work, visit housingnotes.com and follow his market commentary through The Real Deal.

To learn more about Lee and Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit bfkplaw.com.

To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at https://bfkplaw.com/.

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On this episode of Closed!, Lee sits down with NY State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, who represents District 59 in Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan and serves as Chair of the Senate Internet and Technology Committee, to discuss her sponsorship of the Responsible Data Center Development Act.

Senator Gonzalez breaks down why data centers have become such a pressing issue in New York, particularly as large language models and generative AI drive demand for hyperscale facilities that consume great amounts of energy and water. She explains the intentions behind the bill towards understanding the broader impact of large-scale data center development on New York’s energy grid, utility bills, environmental resources, and local communities.

The conversation also covers what it means for New York to become the first state to pass a statewide data center moratorium, why community benefit agreements and labor standards matter, how local governments are facing pressure from major technology companies, and why Senator Gonzalez believes responsible planning is necessary to support innovation without placing the burden on everyday New Yorkers.

To learn more about Senator Kristen Gonzalez and her work, visit nysenate.gov or follow her official account, @SenGonzalezNY.

To learn more about Lee and Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit bfkplaw.com.

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To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at https://bfkplaw.com/.

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On this episode of Closed!, Mike sat down with Tina Larsson, co-founder of The Folson Group and author of “Living the High Life,” to discuss what really happens behind the scenes inside New York City co-op and condo buildings.

Tina explained why co-op and condo boards are not just managing apartments, but effectively running complex businesses with aging infrastructure, regulations, budgets, building-wide mortgages, insurance concerns, and volunteer board members who often have limited time and technical expertise. She also discussed how her own experience organizing a board coup led to major savings for her building and eventually inspired the creation of The Folson Group.

The conversation covers how boards can better manage costs, evaluate vendors, oversee major projects, navigate Local Law 97 and energy compliance, improve board processes, and make more informed decisions for the long-term health of their buildings. Tina also breaks down why shareholders and unit owners need to take a more proactive role in understanding the buildings they live in, the systems they depend on, and the governance structures that affect their investment.

To learn more about Tina Larsson and The Folson Group, visit https://www.thefolsongroup.com/about

To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at https://bfkplaw.com/.

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On this episode of Closed!, Lee sits down with Michael Cohen, Managing Partner of Brighton Capital Advisors, to unpack what is happening behind the scenes in the commercial mortgage-backed securities market, and why the next several years could present serious challenges for commercial real estate borrowers.

Michael explains how CMBS loans are structured, why their leverage and nonrecourse features can make them attractive, and what changes once a loan is securitized and the original lender no longer controls it. The conversation also examines the wave of ten-year loans approaching maturity in 2027, the backlog created by post-COVID extensions, and the growing pressure facing multifamily, office, and hotel assets. Michael explains why borrowers should begin preparing six to nine months before a maturity or anticipated default, what lenders expect to see in a workout proposal, and why waiting until a loan reaches special servicing can significantly reduce a borrower’s leverage.

To learn more about Michael Cohen and Brighton Capital Advisors, visit https://brightoncapitaladvisors.com/leadership-team/michael-cohen/ and follow their latest research and insights on LinkedIn.

To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at https://bfkplaw.com/.

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On this episode of Closed!, recorded live at The Real Deal Forum, Lee and Emily sit down with Brave Ronquillo-Ascalon, a business development leader at Stage One, to talk about the role of staging and furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E) in transforming how real estate is wholly experienced and ultimately sold to buyers.

Brave breaks down why FF&E is the 5% that makes up 100% of a buyer's first impression of a development, demonstrating how the right lobby, amenity space, furniture selection, artwork, materials, and layout can shape their opinions before they ever step inside a unit. She discusses how Stage One works with developers and landlords as a one-stop procurement and furnishing partner to streamline increasingly complex new development projects. From the emotional impact of design to the practical risks of poor staging and designs, Brave explains why even a small slice of a project’s budget can define the entire sensory experience of a building.

To learn more about Brave Ronquillo-Ascalon and Stage One, find Stage One on Instagram and LinkedIn, and as always, to learn more about Lee, Emily, and BFKP, visit bfkplaw.com.

To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at bfkplaw.com.

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To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at https://bfkplaw.com/.

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On this episode of Closed!, recorded live at The Real Deal Forum, Mike and Emily sit down with Samir Mezrahi, founder of Zillow Gone Wild, the viral real estate platform highlighting the most unusual and unexpected listings across the country.

Samir talks about the origins of Zillow Gone Wild as a pandemic-era side project that grew into a multi-platform media brand with more than 4 million followers and a hit HGTV television franchise. He breaks down why real estate has become entertainment, what really makes a listing go viral, and how the strangest homes often reveal the most about the personal and creative choices people make with the spaces they live in.

From secret gun ranges hidden beneath private go-kart tracks to 68,000-square-foot Alabama mansions, Samir offers a look inside the internet’s obsession with weird homes and why real estate is the best form of storytelling.

To learn more about Samir Mezrahi and Zillow Gone Wild, follow @samir @zillowgonewild, and as always, to learn more about Mike, Emily, and BFKP, visit bfkplaw.com.

To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at bfkplaw.com.

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To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at https://bfkplaw.com/.

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On this episode of Closed!, recorded live at The Real Deal Forum, Lee and Mike sit down with Stephen Siegel, Chairman of Global Brokerage at CBRE and one of the most recognizable names in New York City brokerage, to talk about what the data is really saying about the recovery of the New York City office market.

Stephen breaks down why the return-to-office conversation has shifted so dramatically since the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, and why working from home was never going to replace in-person work. He discusses how financial services firms, law firms, AI companies, and other major users are reshaping the market, and why premium supply remains scarce. Stephen delves into flight-to-quality, rising rents across Class B buildings, and why landlords who invest in amenities and general improvements will see the market move in their favor.

To learn more about Stephen Siegel and CBRE, visit cbre.com, and as always, to learn more about Lee, Mike, and BFKP, visit bfkplaw.com.

To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at bfkplaw.com.

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To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at https://bfkplaw.com/.

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On this episode of Closed!, recorded live at The Real Deal Forum, Lee and Mike sit down with Justin Pelsinger, partner and COO of Charney Companies, to talk about how one of New York's most active developers is building at scale across Brooklyn and Queens.

Justin breaks down how Charney got into Gowanus before the rezoning, how they closed a $450 million construction loan for a 55-story tower in Long Island City, and why relationships still drive large-scale financing in any market. He also gets into the Gowanus Wharf master-brand campus, their cultural cross-branding partnership with Brooklyn music venue Public Records, and why design is never just an afterthought.

To learn more about Charney Companies, find them on Instagram @charneycompanies, and as always, to learn more about Lee and BFKP, visit bfkplaw.com.

To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at https://bfkplaw.com/.

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On this episode of Closed!, recorded live at The Real Deal Forum, Lee sits down with YuhTyng Patka, partner at Adler & Stachenfeld LLP, and one of the leading real estate tax attorneys in the country, to pull back the curtain on one of the most important and least understood forces shaping New York City real estate: property taxes and tax incentives.

Tyng chairs her firm's New York City Real Estate Tax & Zoning Incentives Practice, its Climate Mobilization Act Task Force, and its PACE Financing Practice, and was recently named to Crain's 2026 Notable Women in Law. She works with owners and developers every day on tax certiorari proceedings, incentive programs, and the ever-evolving legislative landscape that determines whether a project pencils out or not.

In this conversation, Tyng breaks down how the property tax system actually works, why the 485x incentive has spawned a wave of 99-unit buildings across the city, and what developers are leaving on the table as a result. She also shares how she uncovered that the city had been misclassifying properties and misinterpreting its own law, winning significant refunds for her clients in the process.

Whether you are a developer, an owner, or a lawyer who wants to better understand the tax side of real estate, this one is not to be missed.

To learn more about Tyng and Adler & Stachenfeld, visit https://www.adstach.com or find her on LinkedIn. And as always, to learn more about Lee, Mike, and BFKP, visit bfkplaw.com

To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at https://bfkplaw.com/.

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On this episode of Closed!, recorded live at The Real Deal Forum, Lee and Mike sit down with Bess Freedman, CEO of Brown Harris Stevens, one of the most prominent privately held real estate firms in the country, to discuss one of the most contested debates in residential real estate right now: private listing networks.

Bess brings decades of perspective to the conversation, from her early days as an assistant state's attorney and legal aid lawyer to leading one of New York's most storied brokerages. She breaks down exactly what private listing networks are, why she believes they hurt sellers and buyers alike, and why Brown Harris Stevens has chosen not to play the game despite having the network size to do so.

She also shares her thoughts on price discovery, fiduciary duty, the states already moving to outlaw the practice, and why she thinks the whole thing is, in her words, a bunch of malarkey.

If you work in residential real estate or are thinking about buying or selling a home, this one is essential listening.

To learn more about Brown Harris Stevens, visit bhsusa.com, and as always, to learn more about Lee, Mike, and BFKP, visit bfkplaw.com.

To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at https://bfkplaw.com/.

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