The Broker Brunch

With Brian Whelan and Mitchel Flaherty
  • 4.4 (7)
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  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Casual conversations over mimosas discussing the life of a broker. 

  1. #56 David Schwartz: The Solution to New York City's Housing Crisis

    MAR 26

    #56 David Schwartz: The Solution to New York City's Housing Crisis

    Check out our current listings here: https://www.ripcony.com/property-listings/?broker=Brian%20Whelan%2C%20Mitchel%20Flaherty David Schwartz has built over 80 deals and is just getting started. With over 100,000 New Yorkers living in homeless shelters, he believes we can't keep doing the same things and expecting different outcomes.  In this episode of Broker Brunch, Brian Whelan sits down with David Schwartz, Co-Founder of Slate Property Group, to discuss how his team is tackling New York's housing crisis through hotel conversions, nonprofit partnerships, and creative development strategies.  David explains how converting hotels into housing saves roughly 25% on cost and 50% on time, why partnering with nonprofits like Riseboro ensures affordability in the long run, and how Slate is building on city land in Inwood and securing free land through air rights in Williamsburg for 100% low-income housing.    Connect with us on LinkedIn: Brian Whelan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-whelan-43155850/ Mitchel Flaherty: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchel-flaherty-7b4b1064/ David Schwartz's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-schwartz-19a7161/   (00:00) Intro (02:29) How Hotel Conversions Work  (06:48) Partnering With Nonprofits  (13:00) Building on City Land in Inwood  (24:04) Affordable Housing in Good Neighborhoods  (28:29) Slate's Lending Business: Scale  (39:27) What the Best Brokers Do Differently  (43:23) Metropolitan Park and Steve Cohen  (52:09) Advice for Brokers in 2026

    58 min
  2. #55 Jamie A Smarr - Inside the Policies Holding NYC Housing Back

    MAR 5

    #55 Jamie A Smarr - Inside the Policies Holding NYC Housing Back

    Check out our current listings here: https://www.ripcony.com/property-listings/?broker=Brian%20Whelan%2C%20Mitchel%20Flaherty New York City has no shortage of people who want to live here. The real challenge is supply. In this episode of Broker Brunch, Mitchel Flaherty sits down with Jamie Smarr, President and CEO of the Housing Partnership Development Corporation, to discuss why NYC is not building enough housing and what it means for the future of the market. Jamie breaks down how public-private partnerships helped rebuild New York in the past and why stronger incentives, fewer regulatory barriers, and better policy alignment are key to increasing housing production today.  The conversation also explores programs like 421A and 485X, the role of government incentives, and why housing supply remains the central issue behind affordability in the city. For brokers, developers, and investors in the New York real estate market, this episode provides valuable insight into the policies, economics, and market forces shaping NYC housing today. Connect with us on LinkedIn: Brian Whelan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-whelan-43155850/ Mitchel Flaherty: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchel-flaherty-7b4b1064/ (00:00) Why NYC’s Housing Supply Is Broken (03:41) Programs Helping New Yorkers Become Homeowners (07:26) The Real Problem: Demand vs Housing Supply (12:23) Politics, NIMBYism, and Why Housing Gets Blocked (15:12) Massive Demand for Affordable Housing in NYC (19:09) Converting Offices to Housing: Why It’s Difficult (24:24) Creative Real Estate Development in NYC (27:13) Lessons From the Bloomberg Development Era (28:50) Why NYC Must Keep Building Housing

    31 min
  3. #54 Zach McHugh & Jack Shulman - Exploring the Current State of the Industrial Real Estate Market

    FEB 5

    #54 Zach McHugh & Jack Shulman - Exploring the Current State of the Industrial Real Estate Market

    Check out our current listings here: https://www.ripcony.com/property-listings/?broker=Brian%20Whelan%2C%20Mitchel%20Flaherty Industrial real estate continues to outperform, but only for operators who understand the details that most investors miss. In this episode of Broker Brunch, Mitchel Flaherty sits down with Zach McHugh (Sitex Group) and Jack Shulman (B&D Holdings) to break down what is really driving today’s industrial market.  From shallow bay demand and IOS strategy to sale-leasebacks, environmental risk, and the flood of institutional capital entering the space, they share how experienced owners consistently win while new entrants get caught by hidden risks. They also unpack why functionality beats flash, why multi-story industrial struggles in NYC, how PFAS contamination can kill deals overnight, where Florida is outperforming New York, and why 2026 could see a major surge in leasing and transaction velocity. If you invest, broker, or operate in industrial real estate, this is a practical look at what actually matters on deals today. Connect with us on LinkedIn: Brian Whelan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-whelan-43155850/ Mitchel Flaherty: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchel-flaherty-7b4b1064/

    37 min
  4. #53 Rod Santomassimo - The Secret to Long-Term Success in CRE Brokerage

    JAN 4

    #53 Rod Santomassimo - The Secret to Long-Term Success in CRE Brokerage

    Check out our current listings here: https://www.ripcony.com/property-listings/?broker=Brian%20Whelan%2C%20Mitchel%20Flaherty In this episode of Broker Brunch,  Rod Santomassimo, founder of The Massimo Group, joins us to unpack what actually drives long-term success in commercial real estate brokerage. We talk about the mindset shift from chasing transactions to building a real business, why specialization and discipline separate top producers from everyone else, and how systems and coaching turn effort into consistent results. Rod also shares how AI is changing prospecting, marketing, and even exclusivity timelines, and what brokers need to do now to stay ahead. Guest Rod Santomassimo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crecoach Connect with us on LinkedIn: Brian Whelan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-whelan-43155850/ Mitchel Flaherty: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchel-flaherty-7b4b1064/ (00:00) Preview and Intro (03:34) Why Brokers Stay Stuck (05:45) What Top Brokers Do Differently (07:41) Impact of AI on CRE (13:34) The Scaling Order That Works (18:10) The Two Career Killers (21:06) Know Your Client Better Than They Do (24:57)  LinkedIn, Content Cadence, and Old-School Mailers (26:25) How Much to Invest in Career Growth (28:57) The Future of Real Estate Brokerage

    30 min
  5. #52 Lev Mavashev & George Gianopoulos - The Real Reason Why NYC Rents Keep Breaking Records

    12/28/2025

    #52 Lev Mavashev & George Gianopoulos - The Real Reason Why NYC Rents Keep Breaking Records

    Check out our current listings here: https://www.ripcony.com/property-listings/?broker=Brian%20Whelan%2C%20Mitchel%20Flaherty Lev Mavashev of Alpha Realty and George Gianopoulos of King’s Capital break down what is really happening in the New York City multifamily market, from record high rents and extreme supply constraints to the sharp divide between prime assets and rent stabilized buildings. In this episode, they explain how boutique firms are competing with institutional players, why foreign capital is aggressively buying NYC multifamily, how value add strategies actually work on the ground, and what investors, brokers, and operators should expect as activity ramps up heading into 2026. Connect with us on LinkedIn Brian Whelan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-whelan-43155850/ Mitchel Flaherty: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchel-flaherty-7b4b1064/

    43 min
  6. #51 Jeff Gural - Why Conservative Leverage Beats Timing the Market

    12/18/2025

    #51 Jeff Gural - Why Conservative Leverage Beats Timing the Market

    Check out our current listings here: https://www.ripcony.com/property-listings/?broker=Brian%20Whelan%2C%20Mitchel%20Flaherty Jeff Gural is one of the most influential yet low profile figures in New York City real estate, with a career spanning construction, brokerage, long term ownership, and large scale development. In this episode, he shares his full story, from his early days in construction to building Newmark, forming GFP Real Estate, owning iconic NYC assets, and navigating decades of market cycles, regulatory shifts, and political complexity. This conversation covers the realities of surviving real estate downturns, lessons learned from partnerships under pressure, tax law changes that reshaped the industry, the evolution of the NYC office market, and his unexpected rise as a casino and racino owner. Jeff explains how conservative leverage, asset quality, and patience allowed him to perform well in difficult markets and why long term thinking continues to matter more than ever for investors, operators, and developers today. Connect with us on LinkedIn: Brian Whelan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-whelan-43155850/Mitchel Flaherty: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchel-flaherty-7b4b1064/

    53 min
  7. #50 DJ Johnston and Stephen Palmese - How Brooklyn Developers Are Beating The High Rate Environment

    11/27/2025

    #50 DJ Johnston and Stephen Palmese - How Brooklyn Developers Are Beating The High Rate Environment

    Check out our current listings here: https://www.ripcony.com/property-listings/?broker=Brian%20Whelan%2C%20Mitchel%20Flaherty DJ Johnston and Stephen P. Palmese unpack the competitive edge that consistently separates Brooklyn’s most successful investors and brokers from the pack and explain how local expertise and timing cycles shape every major decision. In this episode, they go deep into how neighborhood level fundamentals, shifting lender expectations, and policy changes like City of Yes are creating new opportunities for disciplined operators who know how to translate micro market data into real strategy. Hear their breakdown of today’s development economics, private credit trends, and the importance of authentic relationship driven brokerage in a market where information and timing are everything. Connect with us on LinkedIn Brian Whelan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-whelan-43155850/ Mitchel Flaherty: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchel-flaherty-7b4b1064/

    1h 1m
  8. #49 Seth Weissman - Why Private Credit Is Winning the New Real Estate Cycle

    11/20/2025

    #49 Seth Weissman - Why Private Credit Is Winning the New Real Estate Cycle

    Check out our current listings here: https://www.ripcony.com/property-listings/?broker=Brian%20Whelan%2C%20Mitchel%20Flaherty Seth Weissman went from buying small buildings in New York City to building Urban Standard Capital into a national private credit platform. In this episode, he breaks down how he identified opportunities traditional lenders were ignoring, why today’s middle market is the most attractive part of the capital stack, and how private credit can deliver consistent income with strong downside protection. Hear his insights on raising third party capital, underwriting in a higher rate environment, and scaling a lending business that now operates across the country. Connect with us on LinkedIn Brian Whelan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-whelan-43155850/ Mitchel Flaherty: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchel-flaherty-7b4b1064/

    53 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.4
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Casual conversations over mimosas discussing the life of a broker. 

Information

  • Creator
    With Brian Whelan and Mitchel Flaherty
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    56
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Broker Brunch
  • Show Website
    The Broker Brunch

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