Stephen W. Allen, Esq.

Partner
Romer Debbas, LLP

Stephen W. Allen is a partner and real estate attorney at Romer Debbas LLP where he co-manages the firm's residential real estate practice. He has practiced residential real estate for over twenty (20) years. Stephen also enjoys teaching continuing education courses on a wide array of residential topics.

Eric Brecher, Esq., CES

Executive Vice President
Chicago Deferred Exchange Company

Eric Brecher is an attorney and holds the designation of Certified Exchange Specialist (one of approximately 125 in the country.) He is Executive Vice President of Wintrust Financial Corporation's 1031 Exchange Service - Chicago Deferred Exchange Company. For over 17 years, Mr. Brecher has served as QI working with attorneys, accountants and real estate professionals in connection with thousands of transactions.

Melissa Cohn

Executive Vice President
Raveis Mortgage

A pioneer in the mortgage industry for more than 35 years, Melissa Cohn began her career with CitiMortgage before launching her own successful mortgage company, The Manhattan Mortgage Company in 1985. As one of the very first independent mortgage brokers, Ms. Cohn was able to exponentially grow her business into the #1 residential mortgage broker on the East Coast with more than $5 billion in annual volume. Her expertise and insights are regularly featured in press including Forbes, CNBC/Acorns, and Mansion Global.

Pierre E. Debbas, Esq.

Managing Partner
Romer Debbas, LLP

Pierre E. Debbas, Esq. is a partner and founding member of Romer Debbas, LLP. Pierre has extensive experience in the areas of real estate and general business law. His practice focuses on the purchase and sale of commercial and residential real estate in New York City, commercial leasing, real estate related financing matters, representation of cooperative and condominium boards, foreign investors and small businesses. Pierre is frequently quoted in a variety of national and regional publications including the New York Times, Bloomberg TV and Wall Street Journal. He is regularly a featured lecturer at several of the city’s largest real estate brokerage firms.
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Antonio del Rosario

Licensed Real Estate Broker
Brown Harris Stevens

Antonio del Rosario has been a licensed real estate broker and head of the Antonio del Rosario team for over twenty (20) years. He has been involved in over 2,000 real estate transactions throughout his career totaling over $1 Billion. Antonio is also a consultant on issues related to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging.

Michael R. Feldman, Esq.

Partner
Romer Debbas, LLP

Michael R. Feldman, Esq. is a partner at Romer Debbas LLP and manager of the firm’s residential real estate department. Michael concentrates his practice on representing buyers, sellers and lending institutions in residential and commercial real estate transactions. He is involved in all aspects of the firm’s transactional real estate practice and is well versed in the areas of contract negotiation and due diligence. Michael is a frequent presenter on various topics involving New York residential real estate. Since 2017, Michael has been named in the Rising Stars section of Super Lawyers. Rising Stars lists the top 2.5% of lawyers under the age of 40 in their practice area.

Neil B. Garfinkel, Esq.

Managing Partner
Abrams Garfinkel Margolis Bergson LLP

Neil B. Garfinkel, Esq. leads his full-service, NY and CA-based law firm with a focus on all aspects of residential and commercial real estate, banking, and lending law. As Broker Counsel of REBNY and appointed member of the New York State Real Estate Board, as well as certified instructor of real estate courses, he provides training programs across the country and created the TOOLBOX 4 SUCCESS to be an integral resource for the real estate community. Neil was also recently named a Notable in Real Estate by CRAINS and a Power Lawyer by Schneps Media.

Josh Garfinkel, Esq.

Associate Attorney
Abrams Garfinkel Margolis Bergson LLP

Josh Garfinkel is currently an associate in AGMB’s real estate practice, where he represents purchasers, sellers and lenders in real estate transactions. Since high school, Josh has interned at AGMB and, while attending law school at night, Josh worked as a Team Lead in AGMB’s Pay-Off Department as well as worked in AGMB’s Trusts and Estates and Entertainment divisions.

Alan Goodkin

Managing Director
Ackman-Ziff

Alan Goodkin joined Ackman-Ziff in 2000 and serves as a Managing Director. Alan has originated, structured and closed over $8 billion in debt and equity transactions on a variety of asset types including retail, office, hotel, multifamily and land. In 2016, Alan won the Real Estate Board of New York’s Most Ingenious Deal of the Year award in the finance category for the $66.5 million, 100% of cost, construction loan for the development of a 160,000 square foot medical office and parking facility in East New York, Brooklyn. In 2005, his financing of the conversion of the Watergate Hotel was awarded the “Best Real Estate Deal Award for Financing” by the Washington Business Journal.

Kael Goodman

President
Marketproof

Kael Goodman is an entrepreneur with a history of using technology and data to bridge the offline and online worlds. In 2009, Kael founded BlankSlate, a media and technology company monetizing a network of web properties, which led to his eventual acquisition of niche Brooklyn real estate site Brownstoner. Brownstoner, along with the monetization software BlankSlate had built, was acquired by Schneps Communications in 2017. Shortly after the sale of Brownstoner, Kael’s latest venture, Marketproof, was born.

Larry Haber, Esq.

Partner
Abrams Garfinkel Margolis Bergson LLP

Larry Haber, Esq. is the managing partner of the Commercial Real Estate Department of t Abrams Garfinkel Margolis Bergson, LLP. Larry takes great pride in providing his clients with the power to make knowledgeable decisions concerning their business and individual needs. Combining decades of commercial real estate ownership with a professional background in law, accounting, commercial brokerage, property management, construction, planning and development, Larry and his team can be the difference in helping our clients navigate the challenging times that may lie ahead in their lives or business.

Scott Harris

Associate Broker
Brown Harris Stevens

Since 2003, Scott Harris and the Harris Residential Team, which he founded and leads, has been involved in the marketing and sales of more than $750 million of New York City residential property. In 2015, Scott was recognized as the number 30 broker in New York City and among the top 250 in the nation, in sales volume, by the WSJ/Real Trends Top 1000 list. He is recognized on an annual basis among the top 10 agents within his firm, Brown Harris Stevens. Scott is a member of the Real Estate Board of New York. He has achieved the certification as a New York Residential Specialist, and Certified Negotiation Expert. Both designations are reflective of his dedication to excellence.

Heather Huff

Licensed Real Estate Salesperson
Bohemia Realty Group

Heather Huff has lived in over 11 cities in 3 countries (and on a cruise ship!), but New York City is magic! From moving to many different places, and now residing in Harlem, Heather has done her fair share of apartment hunting, and understands the importance of finding a reliable and trustworthy partner in the real estate market to be your guide. That's where she comes in! Heather knows searching for your new home can be overwhelming at times, but she will be there to make the process as fun and stress-free as possible!

Tony Jao

VP, Home Lending Officer
Popular Bank

Tony Jao is a Home Lending Office and VP for Popular Bank (NMLS# 7536). For over 20 years he has specialized in residential purchases for the Manhattan and Brooklyn markets. Tony frequently teaches continuing education classes for real estate agents locally and has also written articles on lending in condos and co-ops for publications related to the local real estate market. He lives with his family in Park Slope.

Tara King-Brown

Licensed Associated RE Broker
The Corcoran Group

Tara King-Brown brings over 17 years’ of experience selling luxury real estate and has built her reputation as an ambitious, knowledgeable, and integrity-driven agent who delivers exceptional results for her clients. She has sold over $750M in her career and is distinguished within the Top 20 Small Team by Volume in Manhattan & Top 30 in New York State according to the RealTrends 2022 rankings. ara is an established New Development expert and sell-out specialist. She has represented many top developers in marquee projects thoughout NYC.

Deanna Kory

Associate Broker
Corcoran Group

Deanna Kory has distinguished herself as one of the leading agents in Manhattan overall as well as continuously ranking among the top 3 brokers in sales volume within The Corcoran Group. With 35 years of experience in the real estate industry, Deanna Kory has built a reputation as a hard-working broker with the intellect, knowledge, sensitivity, and expertise to assist all of her clients in realizing their real estate goals. She has a predominantly referral-based clientele which is a testament to these attributes. Along with her team, Deanna has sold well over $2 billion of residential real estate in Manhattan in the last decade alone and her team has grown over the years to become a unified and strong presence throughout the city. From East Side to West Side, Downtown to Uptown, the team has first-hand knowledge of all of Manhattan’s varied markets.

Georgia Lombardo-Barton

President
Barton Management

Georgia Lombardo-Barton, has been in residential building management and construction for over fifteen years. Her experiences include construction management of new condo conversions/developments for notable NYC developers Rockrose Development and RFR Davis. Prior to forming Barton Management LLC, she joined Morton Glick of Morton Andrews, Ltd as a partner. Ms. Barton was previously associated with Lawrence Properties for several years. As its group leader, her team was awarded the prestigious NYARM recognition for best management in 1999. She has a BBA Degree in Finance from Baruch College. She is also a licensed R.E. broker.se this area to describe the image or provide supporting information.

Nick Malfitano

Sales Director
Titlevest

As a Sales Executive for TitleVest, Nick is acutely involved in the growth components of the title insurance business. With clients across the real estate spectrum, Nick leverages his 10 years in commercial and residential real estate to provide value to lawyers, institutional owners and residential agents alike. With a propensity for developing strategic relationships, connecting intelligent and innovative people and solutions is the nucleus of Nick’s business and a core value to his industry associations. Technology and cutting edge advancements will continue to excite the business of real estate, however, its Nick’s belief that great people, with these tools in-hand, will move the industry forward.

Gary L. Malin

Chief Operating Officer
The Corcoran Group

With more than two decades of real estate experience, Gary Malin is one of the industry’s most prominent and well-respected executives. As Chief Operating Officer of The Corcoran Group, Gary is actively engaged in the day-to-day operations of New York City’s leading brokerage firm. He ensures company departments function at the highest level while seeking innovative solutions to conducting business smarter and more efficiently. Gary leads Corcoran senior sales executives in the recruiting and nurturing of top talent - and builds alliances with key real estate entities and professionals.

Paul Massey

CEO
B6 Real Estate Advisors

Paul Massey was born in Boston where he attended the Roxbury Latin School. He graduated from Colgate University in 1983.

Massey began his career at CBRE and later co-founded Massey Knakal Realty Services. As CEO, Massey managed the development of the firm’s strategic initiatives, which led to being ranked NY’s #1 investment sales company for 14 years. Massey Knakal was acquired by Cushman & Wakefield in 2014, leading Paul to serve as the President, NY Investment Sales.

In 2017, Massey ran as a Mayoral Candidate for NYC, focusing on education, housing, and homelessness. In July 2018, Paul and his partners Neil Heilberg and Michael Wlody, launched B6 Real Estate Advisors (Building By Building, Block By Block). The investment sales and capital advisory firm specializes in the middle-market and employs a Territory Network model which ensures sub-market expertise for its agents along with an owner-aligned philosophy and technology forward platform.

Heather McDonough Domi

Founding Partner, H + H Real Estate Team
Compass

Heather McDonough Domi, a founding partner of the H + H Real Estate Team at Compass, has over 19 years of real estate experience in the luxury market in Manhattan with a specialty in new development. Heather and her partner, Henry Hershkowitz, have collectively sold more than $1 billion in residential real estate in New York City and are consistently ranked in the top 1% nationally by the Wall Street Journal Real Trends. Heather is the Founding Chairperson of the New York Residential Agent Continuum (NYRAC), an organization established in 2018 by and for residential real estate agents, that is focused on enhancing the consumer experience and elevating the status of the residential brokerage profession in New York City. was elected by her peers in 2020 to serve on REBNY Residential Board of Directors. Heather has been recognized for her work in many local and national publications.

Eric McLendon

CEO
Clear National Title

Eric McLendon established Clear National Title to raise the bar on title service. His experience as a contractor, investor, developer, and an award-winning sales agent for one of New York’s largest brokerage firms was the catalyst for his vision, and his success. Eric has emerged as an accomplished leader and recognizable figure both in real estate and across a multitude of professional networks. A proud minority business owner with inspiring entrepreneurial roots, he brings capability, ingenuity and reassurance to the most complex real estate transactions.

James Nelson

Principal, Head of Tri-State Investment Sales
Avison Young

James Nelson is Principal and Head of Avison Young’s Tri-State Investment Sales group where he leads a group of three dozen professionals in the sale of multi-family, office, development and retail properties.

In 2018, the Tri-State Investment Sales group closed 16 sales valued at $394 million, resulting in Avison Young naming James one of its Top Sales Professionals for the year.

James has built a unique sales platform at Avison Young consisting of a unified, client first, sales group that is broken out by asset class, rather than territory, and where brokers share information and commissions in order to provide the best client experience. The group is currently marketing 50+ active listings valued at over $1.5 billion.

Sarah Orlinsky-Maitland

Managing Director, Agent Strategy
Compass

A natural trouble-shooter, Sarah fosters a positive environment with a hands-on approach and a will to find a solution to every problem. Stemming from her background as tour manager of Broadway shows for over a decade, Sarah wears a behind the scenes hat, promoting, supporting, and motivating the agents who work with her in all facets of their professional lives.

Sarah is deeply involved with the Real Estate Board of New York. Her work with the New York Residential Specialist program as an Executive Committee member has gained her respect throughout the brokerage community.

A native New Yorker, a mother of two, a half marathon runner and a world traveler, Sarah is also trilingual in English, French, and Spanish. She attended Boston University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Psychology and is always seeking more learning opportunities.

Vince Rocco

Associate Broker
Brown Harris Stevens

Vince Rocco is a Licensed Real Estate Associate Broker with Halstead. Vince is dedicated to delivering quality service to his buyers and sellers while remaining involved in every detail of the deal. He achieves success through his straightforward approach, integrity and flexibility while working with clients. Cultivating strong relationships that can last a lifetime is what Vince is mostly passionate about. His extensive knowledge of Manhattan and its neighborhoods has earned him a successful career in selling high end luxury properties. Vince has appeared on HGTV’s House Hunters, DIY Network’s Sweat Equity and in publications such as The New York Times, New York Post and New York Magazine. His career success has led him to be the radio talk show host of “Good Morning New York, Real Estate with Vince Rocco”.

Michael J. Romer, Esq.

Managing Partner
Romer Debbas, LLP

Michael J. Romer, Esq. is the co-founder and Managing Partner of Romer Debbas, LLP. Michael represents a broad range of clients in connection with the acquisition, sale, lease, development and/or financing of commercial land residential properties. Such clients include both domestic and foreign individuals buying for residential or investment purposes as well as institutional and private equity clients. Michael is also counsel to a wide majority of lending instutions in the country that are focused on real estate finance. He is a frequent contributor to local and national media including New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Real Deal and Nasdaq TV. In addition, Michael frequently lectures in NYC's major real estate brokerage firms.
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Noah Rosenblatt

Founder & CEO
Urban Digs

Noah Rosenblatt is the founder and CEO of Urban Digs which is an industry leader in data insights and technology for professional real estate agents in the New York City residential real estate markets

Sarah Saltzberg

Principal Licensed RE Broker
Bohemia Realty Group

Sarah Saltzberg is co-owner of Bohemia Realty Group, a boutique and independently owned real estate firm of 100+ agents that services the NYC area. Sarah accidentally got into real estate when she was raising money for a show she helped create, which became the Tony-award winning The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. In addition to Spelling Bee, Sarah’s creative credits include: additional material author on Broadway’s Gettin’ The Band Back Together, creator/actor of off-Broadway's Don't Quit Your Night Job; co-writer of off-Broadway's Miss Abigail's Guide to Dating, Mating and Marriage. Sarah sits on the board of directors at REBNY, is the co-chair of REBNY's Fair Housing Committee, and is the 2022 recipient of the Kenneth R. Gerrety Humanitarian Award which recognizes a REBNY member's outstanding service to the community.

Emil A. Samman, Esq.

Partner
Romer Debbas, LLP

Emil A. Samman is a partner at Romer Debbas LLP and co-manages the firm’s litigation and cooperative and condominium practice groups. Emil specializes in resolving and/or litigating disputes related to cooperative and condominium boards, real estate transactions, loan defaults, and landlord/tenant issues. Emil has also served as panel counsel for insurance companies with respect to cooperative and condominium claims as well as title insurance claims. In addition, Emil has experience representing cooperative and condominium boards in connection with general governance issues and day to day matters. The firm’s cooperative and condominium practice group represents approximately seventy-five (75) boards.

Michael Santora

Principal
SB+C Architecture, D.P.C.

Michael Santora is a Principal at SB+C Architecture in NYC. In 2008 he founded CDC V, an MBE certified consulting firm with expert knowledge in municipal, building and zoning codes. In 2014 he co-founded Crown Architecture where he remains committed to the creativity, design, and style of each project. Michael leads Crown Holdings which specializes in the acquisition and assemblage of underdeveloped sites for a variety of new, mixed income affordable housing developments. All of Crown Holding’s developments meet Enterprise Green Community and Passive House Standards. His development in the South Bronx recently received the NYSERDA Building of Excellence Award.

Luciane Serifovic

CEO & Founder
Luxian International Realty

Luciane Serifovic is a luxury real estate powerhouse, thought leader, and founder of Luxian International Realty which is the first Luxury Virtual Real Estate company servicing HNWI and Sports & Entertainment clients worldwide.

Eighteen years ago, Luciane walked into a real estate office in Manhattan and convinced the manager to give “a young woman from Brazil who spoke little English and knew little about New York City,” a chance. Since then, she has sold and managed multi-millions of dollars of high end New York real estate, coached hundreds of agents, and appeared in many speaking and media engagements.

Cathy Taub

Senior Global Real Estate Advisor, Associate Broker
Sotheby's International Realty

Cathy Taub is a Senior Global Real Estate Advisor and Associate Broker with over $2 billion in career sales and a 2017 Wall Street Journal/Real Trends ranking of #42 in the country by Sales Volume, #2 in the Sotheby’s International Realty Manhattan Brokerage, and top 25 in Sotheby's International Realty nationwide. Cathy works with sellers to list properties throughout Manhattan and represents buyers in their search for primary homes, pieds-a-terre, and investment properties and has vast experience selling cooperatives, condominiums, and townhouses. Cathy is proud to be one of the two Founding Chairpersons of the New York Residential Agent Continuum (NYRAC), an organization established in 2018 by and for residential real estate agents; NYRAC is focused on enhancing the consumer experience and elevating the status of the residential brokerage profession in New York City. by encouraging innovation, transparency, ethics, advocacy, influence, best practices, education, collegiality, and professional networking.

Orest Tomaselli

President & CEO
National Condo Advisors, LLC

Orest Tomaselli is the President and CEO of National Condo Advisors, LLC and Strategic Inspections, LLC. With more than 25 years in the industry he leads a team of experts providing compliance solutions to the condo and co-op industry which includes builders, developers, property managers, HOA’s, national lenders and government agencies. Services at his firms include Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, VA and Portfolio Condo-Co-op compliance lending approval, Lender Project Collateral Review, Commercial Mortgage Lending Compliance, Agency Compliant Condominium and Cooperative Reserve Studies and FEMA Flood Map Removal. Orest has provided training and guidance to national and local lenders, the New York State Attorney General’s Office, National Real Estate organizations, The Mortgage Bankers Association, State Bar Associations and Government Agencies in Reserve Study Compliance and Condominium and Cooperative lending compliance.

Brian Tormey

President
Titlevest

As President for TitleVest, Brian is involved in strategic planning, execution and oversight of operational projects, business development, and technology creation and deployment. He handles client inquiries, and provides expertise for complex transactions such as commercial defeasance, multi-site/multi-state portfolios, air rights projects and other commercial matters.

With over fifteen years of experience in residential and commercial transactional real estate and title insurance, Brian has familiarity with every position within a title insurance company, including extensive experience performing title examinations. He has leveraged this knowledge to help develop the cutting-edge technology and business practices behind the critically-acclaimed TitleVest proprietary systems.

Scott van der Marck

Sr. Managing Director
First Republic Bank

Scott van der Marck has over 30 years of experience as an advisor to both companies and private clients in the real estate and financial services sectors.

Scott is a Senior Managing Director at First Republic Bank, focused on residential and commercial real estate lending, fully integrated to include specialty finance and wealth management services for businesses, family offices, nonprofits and foundations.

Prior to First Republic, Scott was at Wells Fargo & Co where led the build out of Wells Fargo’s Non-Warrantable Portfolio Platform, establishing specialized end loan financing partnerships for new construction projects with leading private equity sponsors and developers. Scott personally funded over $2.5 billion in total production while at Wells Fargo and led the firm’s total production and new development league tables for almost a decade.

Michael Vargas

President and CEO
Vanderbilt Appraisal Company LLC

Mr. Vargas has over 25 years of diversified real estate experience with a focus on the appraisal of real estate in the NY-NJ-CT metropolitan area. In particular, Mr. Vargas is recognized as one of the most experienced professionals in the appraisal of New York metro area cooperative and condominium housing; and luxury, mansion, complex type residential real estate. Since forming Vanderbilt Appraisal Company in 2003, Mr. Vargas has been engaged to perform appraisal services for some of the area’s most valuable, prestigious, high dollar value residential properties in Manhattan and the Outer-Boroughs; Westchester County and the Hudson Valley region; the Catskills region; Long Island and the Hamptons; and suburban New Jersey spanning from Bergen County to the Jersey Shore.

James Wenk

Vice Chairman & Director
Savills North America

Jim Wenk is a Vice Chairman and Director for Savills North America, based in New York. He and his team joined Savills in January 2021 as a preeminent tenant/occupier-focused advisory group with a track record of working with some of the most recognized global brands. They specialize in locating, analyzing, negotiating and structuring complex headquarters office lease transactions. They optimize real estate portfolios through workplace consulting, and, when applicable, negotiate and secure state and municipal incentives.

Michael C. Xylas, Esq.

Partner
Abrams Garfinkel Margolis Bergson LLP

Michael C. Xylas us a Partner in the Real Estate and Banking Practices Group of Abrams Garfinkel Margolis Bergson, LLP. Mr. Xylas has extensive transactional real estate experience representing individuals and entities with residential and commercial acquisitions and sales and the related financing of real estate properties. His banking experience includes overseeing mortgage settlement representation for major retail lenders and wholesale mortgage bankers, and he has also represented a number of major lenders in New York involving mixed-use commercial properties and with construction loan settlements.

Christian Zebicoff, Esq.

Partner
Romer Debbas, LLP

Christian Zebicoff, Esq has been practicing law for over 25 years, after graduating from Fordham University School of Law and Boston College. His practice focuses on estate planning, trust and estate administration, elder law and real estate matters. He also has substantial experience representing commercial and not for profit entities.

His clients are typically individuals, families and small businesses. He assists his clients with the preparation of their wills and trusts and advises them on more complex tax planning techniques. Christian has guided his clients through the often difficult process of administering these trusts and estates with personal care and service. He also assists elderly clients and their families with long term care and Medicaid planning issues. During his career, he has been involved in litigating many Surrogates Court matters, including contested probate, accounting and miscellaneous proceedings in all counties.

Instructor Policies

Qualification

Each and every New York Real Estate Center instructor is either approved to teach within the State where the class is conducted and/or is a guest of another instructor who is approved with such State. A State certified instructor will always be present at a New York Real Estate Center class. All our instructors must have knowledge of and actual experience with the material presented


Requirements

In addition to presenting the material, our instructors are expected to answer student’s questions respectfully and promptly. New York Real Estate Center encourages an interactive teaching style and wants the students to feel engaged. We all learn from each other at the end of the day.

Our instructors are expected to respond to inquiries from students within a reasonable response time after the class.    


Netiquette/Conduct Policy

All instructors are expected to act maturely and are required to respect students, faculty members, and employees of the school. Possession of weapons, illegal drugs, and alcohol of any kind are not allowed at any time on school property. Any violation of school policies may result in permanent dismissal from the school.