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Guest: Bob Knakal, Chairman and CEO, BK Real Estate Advisors
Bob Knakal is Chairman and CEO of BK Real Estate Advisors. He is also a New York City real estate legend. Knakal has sold more than 2,300 buildings worth over $22 billion in market value.
He previously co-founded Massey Knakal Realty Services. There, he built the firm into one of New York City’s leading investment sales brokerages.
In this conversation, Knakal explains what it takes to succeed as a broker in one of the world’s most competitive markets. He discusses the value of specialization and the current state of New York City real estate.
Knakal also shares how social media has transformed his business. His approach highlights how brokers can adapt and build their businesses in a changing market.
Key Takeaways
Forty years into his brokerage career, Knakal is still actively closing deals at a remarkable pace, having just logged his 2,347th transaction.
“I’ve been an investment sales broker in New York City since 1984. Yesterday I closed deal 2,347.”
Bob Knakal, [2:07]
Knakal’s old firm, Massey Knakal, didn’t just do a lot of deals — it outsold its nearest competitor by more than 3-to-1 over more than a decade.
“From 2001 to 2014, when we sold the business, the number two company in New York had sold about 1,300 buildings. We sold over 4,000 — so we left the field by more than 3x.”
Bob Knakal, [2:39]
Knakal rejects the entire premise of “off-market” deals, arguing that showing a building to even one buyer already puts it on the market.
“There’s no such thing as an off-market deal. The minute you go to one buyer with a deal, it’s on the market.”
Bob Knakal, [28:27]
Knakal frames his prolific social media presence as building market presence rather than personal fame — being known drives referral business.
“It’s not who you know, it’s who knows you.”
Bob Knakal, [34:28]
Knakal sees AI as a competitive-advantage tool rather than a threat — the risk isn’t AI itself but falling behind brokers who adopt it.
“AI is not going to replace anybody, but somebody using AI will replace somebody who’s not using it.”
Bob Knakal, [46:39]
