Starting a company felt a little glamorous, and unexpectedly easy.

What I didn’t realize was that over the next 10 years, things were going to get a lot harder, and messier.

I would run my first business, Cantos, for six years, and in the process growing it into a recognizable name in the industry.

Then at the age of 30, I would put Cantos on pause to start a second new business, learning everything from scratch as a real estate agent.

This post gathers five lessons I wish I’d had taped to my laptop a decade ago. I wanted to share 10 lessons for 10 years, but less is more, so I condensed them into five and I hope some will resonate!

Buying a condo is much more similar to buying a house—you’re buying actual real property, with a title and your name on it. If you stop paying your mortgage or real estate taxes, the bank or the government can foreclose on your property.  

Buying a co-op is not buying real property. It’s more like getting into business with your neighbors in the same building. You’re actually buying shares of a company that owns the entire building. Along with the certificate of shares, you get a “proprietary lease” which entitles you to live in your particular unit for as long as you own your shares of the co-op.

And for some of my clients, renting is still a great option. Maybe they aren’t ready to decide where to live for an extended period, or maybe they expect to have a big life change in the near horizon that will require a bigger place but aren’t quite ready to take the plunge yet.

Earlier this month, I spilled some secrets that brokers don’t want you to know about the NYC rental market with fellow NYU alumni, such as where to find off-market listings, and how to get a discount on fees. If you want a copy of my deck, reply to this email and I’ll share it with you!

This is because I work with people all over New York, and what I keep finding is that there’s something to love about every neighborhood, from the dignified brownstone on a quiet corner in Park Slope to the swanky corner condos with soaring ceilings in Hudson Yards!

One can be measured in nostalgic coffee shops tucked away by lush greenery on tree-lined streets, the other in trendy restaurants and a unique walking trail with abandoned railway, native plants and bold sculptures. And I’d be happy to show you both!

Some days you just need to sit down with the most important person in your life and talk about money. Or how to get enough of it to buy a home together, since for so many people it’s the biggest financial investment they’ll ever make.

That’s why, after you’ve had “the talk” with your partner, you should both have a talk with me. I’ve been helping couples navigate the world of real estate since my first day on the job!

I believe that the New Year shouldn’t be about committing to unrealistic goals but about taking stock, reflecting, and then taking action!

In my world, that means getting ready to fall in love with your next home. And early in the year is the perfect time to start thinking about it.

Why?

Well, for one, buying a home is a looooong process. The average time it takes is 6 months. (Which is why it’s so important to work with a real estate agent that, you know, you actually like. Because you’ll be talking to them a LOT.)

As you might know, I work on both rentals and sales, and part of my responsibility is figuring out whether renting or buying is the better fit for each of my clients.

When my clients come to me looking for their next home, I’m not just thinking about their budget. I’m thinking about who they are as a person.

Having helped dozens of clients make the right decision for themselves (as they tell me afterwards!), I have crystallized seven things that you should consider when deciding to rent or buy.

But I’ve decided it’s time for me to strike out on my own.

I’m moving to the Douglas Elliman national headquarters at 575 Madison Avenue.

I’m still within my dear Elliman family. 

What’s changed is that I am now an independent agent, spreading my wings, charting my own path. I am fully in charge of the business and brand I am building. With this change comes more resources to better serve my clients, powered by the amazing Elliman brand. More PR and marketing support, more market intelligence, more opportunities and more markets.

Welcome to the second edition of my blog! For everyone who returned for my encore performance, I appreciate you. And if you’re just checking in for the first time, I’m so glad to have you. This blog is where I give you my perspective on what’s really going on in New York real estate, from someone whose boots (or sandals, for another few weeks!) are on the ground!

In April 2021, after running my own translation business for six years (woohoo Cantos Translations!), I got my real estate license. Interest rates were 2.65%, open houses had long lines, and bidding wars were happening everywhere.