Real Takk Podcast

In this solo episode of The Real Takk Podcast, I unpack the complexities of NYC rezoning and spotlight the Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan, approved in August 2025. After decades of outdated zoning, it finally opens 42 blocks to nearly 10,000 new homes. Then I dive into this month's hottest topic: the renewed attention on the Epstein files following the DOJ's massive January 2026 document release, with a focus on the elite real estate connections and broker name-dropping linked to Epstein's former Upper East Side townhouse.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to The Real Takk Podcast, where we dive deep into the high-stakes world of NYC real estate, the stories behind the deals, and the lives of the power players making it all happen.  AND it’s that time of the year again!  The end-of-the-year wrap-up pod is here, where we discuss all things real estate in 2025, along with our prediction pod for real estate in 2026.     Today, I'm absolutely thrilled to introduce our guest, Frank Giordano, a seasoned New York City real estate advisor and the Director of Brokerage Services at Charney Companies, a dynamic boutique firm specializing in sales, leasing, and investments across the city's luxury and multifamily markets. With over a decade of hands-on experience, Frank honed his expertise at Compass, where he collaborated with top agents on high-profile new developments like One York Street, 70 Greene Street, and 88 Franklin Street. A graduate of Pace University's Lubin School of Business with a focus on entrepreneurship, Frank and I first met when he was just a young 20-year-old front desk administrator, starting from the ground up, at the once legendary real estate brokerage Town Real Estate, here in this very same office building almost 18 years ago.  We became great friends, ultimately taking him on a trip to Japan and inviting his family, and, fast forward, he now lives with his wife, Sarah, and son Leo in the Gramercy Park neighborhood.   Please follow Frank on the socials @f_roundtown on IG 

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to The Real Takk Podcast, where we dive deep into the high-stakes world of NYC real estate, the stories behind the deals, and the lives of the power players making it all happen.  AND it’s that time of the year again!  The end-of-the-year wrap-up pod is here, where we discuss all things real estate in 2025, along with our prediction pod for real estate in 2026! Today, I'm absolutely thrilled to introduce our guest, Esther Patten, a powerhouse real estate agent with Compass in the heart of NYC. With over 15 years of expertise navigating the fast-paced worlds of Manhattan and Brooklyn, Esther is your go-to expert for everything from sleek condo sales and co-op closings to savvy multi-family investments, cutting-edge new developments, and seamless residential leasing. She's shattered records—like setting the bar for the priciest townhouse in Bedford-Stuyvesant at 1 Verona Place—and has racked up an impressive $360 million in transactions, all while building her success almost entirely on glowing client referrals and deep-rooted connections with investors, developers, buyers, and sellers across the city. A proud Northwestern University alum and former Division I women's basketball player, Esther brings that same competitive edge and Midwestern grit to every deal, making her an invaluable resource for clients from Chicago and beyond. She's passionate about giving back, supporting causes like the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Meals on Wheels NYC, and when she's not outpacing the market, you'll find her dominating on the court in women's basketball leagues or fueling up with high-energy workouts at Barry's Bootcamp and Tone House. @estherpatten

We're back with an annual tradition of wrapping up the good & the bad of real estate in 2025, and the prediction pod of 2026.  I am here with my good friend Elkin Serna,  Elkin is voted the “Best Realtor in the USA” by his daughter and is the principal of the Serna Team here in NYC.  He is a 9-time NYC Marathon Runner and part of the prestigious Real Trends 2025 by sales volume. I have had the pleasure of knowing for almost 2 decades in the real estate business.  Born in Colombia and a New Yorker since age 10, Elkin brings that Wall Street grit from a decade in finance before joining the brokerage world.  Elkin & I first met at a showing for one of the portfolios I represented in Midtown Manhattan. Eventually, I worked in the same office at the now-defunct brokerage TOWN Real Estate, once located here at 110 5th Avenue.  Please follow Elkin on the socials @elkinjserna

I’m absolutely thrilled to introduce a powerhouse who's not just reshaping the Boise, Idaho market but inspiring a whole generation of agents with her blend of grit, heart, and unyielding expertise.   Please join me in welcoming Rachel Hausman Masse, a trailblazing real estate advisor with Compass in Boise, Idaho. What sets her apart isn't just the numbers; Rachel grew up in a generational real estate brokerage family, where her grandparents were home builders in Chicago, her mother was a top agent in her neighborhood, and now Rachel who joined the family business right out of college, eventually starting from scratch once again to open up her real estate practice in Boise Idaho with her family.  Rachel is a nonstop hustler, working & showing homes while in labor, connecting with buyers while on her flight to Oregon, hosting client events, & closing over 150 transactions per year while raising her two daughters with her husband.   On this episode, we’ll discuss her family, her upbringing, the difficulties of being in this business, and, of course, learn about the housing market dynamics of Boise, Idaho.  Please give her a follow on Instagram at @rachelsellsboise Compass Website Rachel's Website