I had a summer associate position at a large law firm in Manhattan and was able to buy my first apartment while in my second year of law school. I absolutely loved everything about the buying process, which at the time was a lot of New York Times online searches and tripping up along the way as I learned how the industry and purchase process worked.

A few years into my law career, friends and family kept reaching out to me for real estate advice based on my experience buying at such a young age, so it was a natural next step to pursue. I took the dive and started my own boutique real estate brokerage, which I proudly grew and eventually brought to Halstead in 2012, our predecessor company to Brown Harris Stevens.

   

Be a sponge. Invest in your own skills and education by learning as much as you can about the industry, the nuances of a transaction, and the inventory where you want to focus on selling. The real estate industry can be very rewarding, but it is not a get-rich-quick scheme. It takes years to cultivate a client base and you have to show up for work every day. You often hear people become real estate agents to have flexible schedules, but I have found the agents that treat this like a business are the ones that find the most success.

   

For better or worse, I have a photographic memory. So, I have a slideshow of memories of relaying exciting news to clients over the years that they had either sold or bought their home. That moment of sharing the excitement, relief, and sometimes bittersweet emotions never gets old.

My most memorable experience was when my team member Cliff Marks, who had transitioned from commercial to residential real estate to work with my team, sold his first apartment. He earned it and did all the hard work for his client who was elated. Helping create that moment for someone else is special to me.

   

In my decade plus experience selling real estate, the NYC market has experienced two cycles of a market downturn followed by recoveries, including the current post-COVID rebound we are witnessing. There are still great opportunities in NYC real estate to live and invest, and like most investment vehicles, the greater the risk, often the greater reward.

Location is still key and I always explain to clients that buying in NYC can be like navigating a maze of landmines. You want to avoid potential pitfalls like a property or building that has extensive issues. That’s why you hire an agent!

   

The current real estate market is still offering opportunities for savvy buyers, yet sellers in many sub-markets are seeing the “COVID discount” disappear, translating to stronger and quicker sales.

   

My favorite part of dining in NYC, which is one of my favorite activities, is that NYC offers so many new and varied great restaurants. I once read you could try a different restaurant in NYC every night for 50 years and never eat at the same place twice.

With dining back in full swing, my wife and I recently discovered Sola Pasta Bar in SoHo. They did an incredible job with their outdoor dining set-up. I highly recommend the burrata appetizer followed by the homemade cacio e pepe. The staff and service are amazing. We got to chatting with a waiter from Rome who came to NYC to chase his dreams. NYC still has that “it” factor.

   

Once in a blue moon, someone will stop mid-conversation and tell me I have two different colored eyes. It’s true.

     

Family. They are my "why."

@RorySClark on Instagram
rclark@bhsusa.com