Why NYC’s Top Broker Still Cold Calls

Bob Knakal is one of New York City's most legendary real estate brokers, having closed over 2,400 building sales worth $24 billion, and sold his own company, Massey Knakal, for $100 million. In this episode, Bob opens up about nearly going bankrupt three times during the savings and loan crisis, the bizarre way he found out he'd been fired from Cushman & Wakefield (via a press article), and how a COVID lockdown led him to walk every block of Manhattan to build his now-famous "map room." Enjoy! __________ Check out Avi Akiva on Momentum:    • The Secret to Becoming a Real Estate Execu...   __________ SPONSORS: • Real Property Captive: Own Your Insurance. Recapture Your Premiums. Visit https://RealPropertyCaptive.com • Yazdi Entertainment: New York's Premiere Event Production Company. [email protected] or (646) 765-5643 __________ ABOUT MOMENTUM: 🎙️ Momentum brings you the stories, advice, and wisdom of business visionaries, designed to inspire and guide you on your path to success. Be sure to subscribe on all platforms: YouTube:    / @themomentumpod   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1jOPoAr... Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Instagram:   / momentumpodcast_   __________ GEAR (please use my affiliate links to make me rich!) Cameras: https://amzn.to/3UuwW5o Podcast Mics: https://amzn.to/3J5QWsv Clip-on Mics: https://amzn.to/3H52iwo Mic Stands: https://amzn.to/4kZj4uL Lights: https://amzn.to/45lA5up Tripods: https://amzn.to/4lHHQAI __________ (00:00) Coming Up… (01:40) Bob Knakal’s Record-Breaking Career (04:23) From Wharton Baseball to Real Estate by Accident (06:49) Partnering with Paul Massey After Just Two Days (09:41) Starting Massey Knakal & Almost Going Bankrupt (12:01) Ad: Real Property Captive (13:06) The Daytimer, the $4,400 Security Deposit & Leaving CBRE (18:41) Ad: Yazdi Entertainment (19:41) Building a Brokerage Around Extreme Specialization (24:32) Surviving the Savings & Loan Crisis (28:33) How Massey Knakal Became New York’s Most Dominant Brokerage (29:29) Bob’s Hiring Philosophy & Building Company Culture (36:36) The $179 Million Deal That Started With 2 Years of Cold Calls (41:31) Turning Down a $50 Million Acquisition Offer (43:08) Selling the Company for $100 Million (45:29) Cushman, JLL & Getting Fired Through the Press (52:53) Starting Over & Building BKREA (54:55) Mentorship, Leadership & Creating 34 Industry Leaders (58:12) Family, Legacy & Philanthropy (1:00:34) Bob’s Momentum Moment (1:03:22) Outro & My Top 3 Takeaways