March 24, 2025 • 22 mins
What happens when you combine 25 years of Wall Street analytical expertise with an intimate knowledge of Manhattan's evolving neighborhoods? You get Ellen Silverman, our fascinating guest who brings a uniquely powerful perspective to New York City real estate.
Born and raised in Manhattan, Ellen guides us through her compelling career transition story – from financial analyst navigating the restrictive post-2008 banking world to successful real estate professional at Compass. Rather than viewing her career change as a setback, Ellen embraced the opportunity when a new CEO "cleaned house" at her investment bank in 2016. Having bought and sold her own properties since 1995, real estate was a natural next step that leveraged her financial acumen and deep understanding of how neighborhoods transform over time.
The conversation takes us deep into the current Manhattan real estate landscape, where condos average an eye-popping $4 million and co-ops about $1.6 million. "You pay for your freedom in a condo," Ellen explains, highlighting how the less restrictive ownership model commands premium prices. Despite high interest rates, she observes buyers returning to the market in 2025, creating more competition amid an inventory shortage. Working primarily in Manhattan's uptown and Midtown West neighborhoods, Ellen brings sharp analytical skills to help clients make sound investment decisions in this high-stakes market.
In a delightful twist, Ellen shares her recent experience working as an extra on "And Just Like That" alongside Sarah Jessica Parker and other stars from the iconic Sex and the City franchise. This glimpse into her multifaceted life in New York adds color to understanding how she's navigating her real estate business through marketing innovations, including increased social media presence, podcasting, and video content creation. Follow Ellen on Instagram @ellenjsilverman to connect with this Manhattan real estate expert who blends Wall Street precision with an artistic eye for quality construction and thoughtful design.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Okay, make sure I don't want to.
I'm always paranoid.
I'm going to forget to hitrecord.
That would stink.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
All right, let's go.
Welcome back to episode 57 ofthe Now Making Moves in Real
Estate podcast.
I'm your co-host, michelle, akathe General, alongside my
beautiful co-host C Twiss, andtoday we're bringing some East
Coast energy to the show as wedive into the fast-paced,
ever-evolving world of New YorkCity real estate with a guest
(00:42):
who knows it inside and out,with a 25-year career as a Wall
Street analyst beforetransitioning to real estate.
With a guest who knows itinside and out, with a 25-year
career as a Wall Street analystbefore transitioning to real
estate in 2016,.
Today's guest brings financialexpertise, sharp market analysis
and strategic negotiationskills to every single deal.
She was born and raised inManhattan, has lived in some of
(01:03):
the city's most iconicneighborhoods, giving her a
firsthand understanding of themarket's ebbs and flows.
As a certified buyerrepresentative and master
certified negotiation expert,she helps clients make smart
moves in New York City realestate.
Her eye for design and markettrends gives her a competitive
(01:24):
edge in this high-stakes market.
So if you're ready for someEast Coast insights and winning
strategies, let's give a warmwelcome to our guest today, ms
Ellen Silverman.
All right, welcome.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
Ellen, thank you.
That was a very niceintroduction, thank you.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Michelle is good at that.
You know, always trying toimprove, getting better.
You know it's always a little.
You know, when we meet withthese great real estate agents
across the country, we got tolike highlight how awesome you
are.
So tell our listeners, who areprimarily real estate agents and
entrepreneurs, more about whoEllen is and what you're doing.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Oh boy.
Well, I was in the world ofbanking and finance for quite
some time and had a great career.
I really loved it.
But I think after the 2008banking crisis, my work started
to get very arduous and wasunder a lot of scrutiny, with
auditors and regulators sittingat our desks and supervising
every move we made andeverything had to be documented
(02:38):
very thoroughly.
So I was not enjoying the workas much during that time and I
probably should have left, but Istayed because I was an
employee for a very long timeand I was used to a steady
paycheck and, you know,stability and all the things,
(02:58):
all the perks that you get as anemployee.
So I stayed until around 2016and and I was with another very
prestigious investment bank thatis no longer no longer exists A
new CEO came in and he cleanedhouse and I was let go, and I
(03:19):
was actually very happy to belet go.
I was really time to leave, veryhappy to be let go.
It was really time to leave andsometimes you just need a
circumstance to throw you intoaction, and that definitely did.
I had always wanted to be inreal estate.
I had bought and sold my ownapartment several times over the
(03:40):
course well, from about 1995 to2012.
So I had a lot of experience asa buyer and as a seller and,
being born and bred in New YorkCity, I really knew the city
well.
I understood how neighborhoodschange and appreciate and
gentrify and I had goodfinancial skills.
(04:01):
So all that lent me to pursuinga career in real estate.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Well, that's, I mean, makes sense.
It was a smooth transition, andyou're right.
Those circumstances that we'reup against in life sometimes
repel you into the next thing.
So how did you transition andtell us a little bit about the
scope of your business.
Are you individual agent?
Do you have a team?
What's your structure look like?
Speaker 3 (04:28):
Yeah, I'm with Compass.
I've been with Compass fiveyears.
It's my fourth real estate firm.
I've been in real estate nineyears, so I was with three other
firms before Compass andsometimes it takes a while to
find the right company based onyour personality.
And sometimes it takes a whileto find the right company based
on your personality compensation, training, all kinds of things.
(04:51):
I don't think that's unusual.
I think a lot of agents movearound, but I've been very happy
at Compass.
As I said, I've been there fiveyears.
I am part of a huge team of 45people.
That is also not unusual atCompass.
Almost everyone is part of ateam.
However, I do work veryindependently within that team,
(05:14):
but I have the support of teammembers and several team leaders
to help me with whatever I needhelp in, and we have a
marketing person, anadministrative person and, of
course, my team lead that helpswith negotiations or anything
that I need help with.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
Awesome, and do you primarily focus on Manhattan
specifically?
Speaker 3 (05:39):
Yes, absolutely.
New York City is five boroughsand thousands of neighborhoods.
I focus on Manhattan, mainlythe uptown market and Midtown
West, and that's more thanenough, believe me.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
I bet what's the average price point in your area
.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
then Well, well, it depends on the neighborhood.
Overall condominiums and I justdid this for the month of
February the average price of acondo in Manhattan is about I
think it's about $4 million andthe average price for a co-op is
(06:22):
about $1.6 million.
Is about $1.6 million?
Condominiums give you morefreedom and flexibility.
They're less restrictive.
There aren't boards that areapproving your application and
scrutinizing your finances asmuch as they do in co-op
apartments.
So I always say you pay foryour freedom in a condo and
(06:44):
that's why there's more money.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
Well, I think people give us a bad rap for California
prices being high.
Well, take that, people Look atNew York and Manhattan.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
So what's the market like over there in New York
right now?
Speaker 3 (06:59):
Well, again, it really depends on the
neighborhood, but I would sayoverall, we have an inventory
shortage.
I do not see prices going downsignificantly.
I think that they're holding orincreasing, especially in the
condominium market.
I think that it is still a goodtime to buy.
(07:20):
Buyers are accepting the higherinterest rates and there are
more buyers that have reenteredthe market in 2025.
But it's also more competitiveand there are more bidding wars
now because of the inventoryshortage.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
We're starting to see the same thing here for sure.
I feel like every spring islike the bidding wars start,
like spring is here.
People come out, yeah yeah, theweather gets nice and everyone
comes out of the woodworks.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
So I was curious when we had just tapped into this
recording.
You mentioned that you've beendoing podcasts and you found us
and asked to be on our podcast,which you know shout out to EXP
Realty.
To be on our podcast, which youknow shout out to eXp Realty,
because without our transitionfrom her independent brokerage
(08:11):
to eXp, we wouldn't be here.
We've been able to collaboratewith agents across the country,
and so we're really, reallyexcited to invite agents like
yourself to our podcast.
But what about the podcastjourney has got you going down
this route in your business?
What about the podcast journeyhas got you going down this
route in your business?
Speaker 3 (08:28):
Well, every year I think about ways of branding
myself, and this year I hired abranding agency to get me out
into the world, and podcastingwas one way of doing it.
Another way is more socialmedia and more videos.
So I hired a coach to help mewith videos.
They look easy, but I don'tthink they are.
(08:50):
But I definitely feel that, youknow, people are on their
phones, people are watchingvideos, people are addicted to
social media and that's a placeto be seen.
(09:10):
You know, I think part ofgenerating leads as an agent is
getting yourself out there andit's not.
It wasn't particularly easy.
It's still not easy for mebecause I'm sort of, you know,
and I still have that analyst,you know, mentality, but I also
have to generate leads and Ihave to take that very seriously
as an agent, because I'd say,70% of my week is spent on lead
(09:31):
generation and and no one really, you know, understands that or
sees that they all think we justlook at beautiful apartments
and make thousands of dollarsevery day.
Yeah, but, um, but but.
Marketing is a big part of myjob.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Okay, well, I'm going to put you on blast here, sorry
, Courtney.
So here you are, you're outthere, you're on a podcast.
Tell people why they shouldreach out to you Not only real
estate agents for referrals, bythe way, I actually have my
house is on the market right nowand and the, the buyer's agent,
is bringing clients from NewYork city to look at my house on
(10:10):
Sunday.
So there's definitely the, theagents that are listening, that
can be like hey, I've got thisclient that needs something in
Manhattan.
Why should agents and clientsreach out to use you?
Speaker 3 (10:22):
Well I I'm more of a buyer's agent than a sales agent
, but basically I really knowthe city well and I keep on top
of new developments in all parts, not just Manhattan but also in
Queens and Brooklyn, in theBronx.
I love new development.
I have a really goodunderstanding of price
(10:46):
appreciation if it's a goodinvestment and I have a good eye
for construction and design andlayouts and finishes.
I see so many apartments.
I know right away if somethingis well built, and that's just a
sixth sense.
It's not that I'm I have abackground as an architect or in
(11:08):
the construction industry, butyou just know right away.
You look at the quality of adoor or the doorknob or the
finishes or the walls or thewindows and you can tell right
away if something is reallythoughtfully designed.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
Awesome.
Well, I want to circle back alittle bit to a couple of things
.
First, with the social media,because brand awareness is such
a long game, right, it takes awhile and it's hard to know if
people are seeing your brand andif they're recognizing it.
Have you found, now that you'vehired your coach and you've
been focusing on the podcast andyour social, that a lot of your
(11:46):
lead gen is converting via likeInstagram, for example?
Speaker 3 (11:52):
Yeah, I, I just started.
This is like all new for me inthe last six weeks actually but
I am getting a lot moreengagement on Instagram,
absolutely.
When I, when I post a video ofmyself, I definitely get more
comments and likes andengagement, and so that is a
(12:12):
positive thing.
I think it brings credibilityto who you are, so people get to
know you and I definitely feelthat it will lead to more sales.
Yes, it helps.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
Yeah, it helps build the trust.
Yeah, it can't all be of thesepretty apartments that you're
talking about.
It has to be of you in thesepretty apartments.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
Yeah, I mean, people want to see you know how, how
I'm selling, what I'm looking at, why it's a good apartment, the
views, the finishes, the layout, and I'm showing that, and so
it's that whole experience.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
I love it.
Well, I have to bring this up.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
Sex and the City.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
I knew it, I had it, I knew it.
I mean Sex and the City is likemy favorite show ever All
through my college years.
I'd like marathoned it all.
My roommates and I and you havea connection to that.
Like to me, you're.
I actually told my husband thismorning.
We have Ellen Silverman on ourpodcast this morning and she is
like sex in the city.
(13:14):
Tell everyone, tell everyonemore about that.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
Oh gosh, uh, yeah, I mean it is a phenomenal show.
Um, well, last year, uh, 2024was not the greatest year for a
lot of real estate agents and Iwas just looking into other
things to do that would be fun,that I could earn some money.
So I decided to be a movie or aTV extra and, um, I got on to
(13:46):
some of these sites in theacting world backstage for
instance, acting world backstage, for instance and did some you
know headshots and photos andall that stuff.
And I was, luckily, last fall,sex Well, it wasn't sex in the
city, it's and just like that,which is the you know
continuation of sex in the city.
(14:06):
They were looking for a lot ofextras, a lot of extras.
So luckily, I got called in andI did it for two days.
I was on the Upper West Sidefor one day and then Lower
Manhattan for another day and Iplayed an extra walking the
streets, and who crossed my pathwas Sarah Jessica Parker and
(14:30):
Cynthia Nixon one day, and thenthe following day was Sarah
Jessica and Charlotte KristenDavis.
So it was a lot of fun.
I got to work with a lot ofother extras and everybody.
I met other real estate agents.
It was really funny Other realestate agents who were movie
(14:50):
extras who also were having acrappy year and it's a very fun
environment.
You get your makeup and yourhair done and you know clothes
and wardrobe and then you reallyget to meet the actors and you
really see them in real life andin their fantastic clothes.
(15:12):
Yeah, it was a lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
So fun, Michelle.
We need to do that.
I want to go do that and thenhave a martini afterwards.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
I mean I'm down, let's go.
I love me some NIC.
Except I wouldn't recommendgetting like stranded there by
yourself, like trying to gettransportation back to New
Jersey.
That was not a smart move whenI thought that was another
another story, another story,different time.
So this one hasn't been to NYCyet.
We need to get her out there.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
Oh, okay, okay, I, you know, I think the show
really romanticizes the city insome ways and, uh, I think young
girls in their twentiesprobably don't have the income
to buy Manila Blahnik shoesevery week and go out to dinner
every night the way you see them, you know on the show.
(16:01):
But but a lot of it, it trulyall that does truly exist.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
So it must be like super competitive real estate in
New York City.
Speaker 3 (16:11):
Yes, I'm asked this every podcast.
I was going to say Scott, yougot Ryan.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
You got.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Ryan Serhant, and then who's the other?
Bravo, frederick, frederick.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
He's in Miami, frederick Ecklund.
He's like everywhere, though.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
He's international, doesn't he have, like you know,
overseas New York City, miami,they're like big, maybe
California, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
Yeah, I mean again, what you see on TV is often
exaggerated and it'sentertainment and it's eye candy
.
You see the most attractiveagents in the most attractive
clothes showing the mostbeautiful properties in the
world.
That is not every day in NewYork City.
There's really isn't.
(16:55):
And I also think New York isfast paced and it can be
competitive, but it's alsoenormously.
It's enormous and there's somany neighborhoods and there's
something here for everyone andthere's a lot of opportunity
that that brings.
So, as competitive and fastpaced as it is, there's also
(17:20):
something for everyone.
And you know, I try not to getcaught up in the drama.
I really just try to wake upevery day and do what I need to
do and sometimes there is drama,mostly between other agents,
and sometimes it works out andsometimes it doesn't, and you
know that's the way it goes and,honestly, I had plenty of bad
(17:43):
days on Wall Street that werefar more dramatic.
So I don't know.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
I bet Don't get that.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Well, I really appreciate you coming on the
podcast today, Ellen.
I mean it's super exciting tomeet.
I don't think we've had anybodyfrom New York, Not yet no,
you're the first.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
Oh my God.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
Well, there's a lot of us.
It's pretty exciting.
I know we need to get out there.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
I'm actually going next year.
It's going to be quite anamazing trip full of eighth
graders.
Yeah, that's right To seeWashington DC and New York, and
it's like a whirlwind month-longtrip packed into five days.
It should be great.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
Yay, excellent, excellent.
Do you get out less often,ellen?
Excellent.
Do you get out west often,ellen?
I certainly have been toCalifornia many times, mostly
(18:56):
Los Angeles and San Francisco.
I haven't been in a very long.
Californians seem to be veryloyal and committed to
California.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
So you know, when I moved to San Francisco, I was in
a taxi cab and the driver haddescribed San Francisco as a
gentle New York, and ever sinceI heard that it couldn't be more
true, because it really is likethis little tiny version of New
York City which, you know, Imean on the West Coast.
(19:21):
It's a privilege to have alittle piece of that over here.
Speaker 1 (19:24):
So Well, I would.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
Oh no, go ahead, ellen.
I'm so sorry.
No, I was going to say I was inSan Francisco in the 90s.
I mean it is a beautiful city,absolutely.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
Well, I was going to say before we sign off, being
that most of our listeners arerealtors what's something that
you do on the daily or regularlyto keep your business going,
and what's like a key to yoursuccess.
Speaker 3 (19:52):
Basically, if you were to sum it up in one thing,
Well, I have a monthlynewsletter and I try to post on
social media as often as I can.
I mean, I should be doing itevery day and I don't.
I need to really do that moreoften and I'm doing podcasting
(20:12):
and that.
I think that's that's.
That's it.
I really am a big Instagrambeliever.
So Instagram, if you, if allelse fails, do the Instagram, do
the gram, do the newsletter anddo the pods.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
What would?
What was besides our podcast?
What would be your like, yourfavorite podcast you've ever
been on?
Speaker 3 (20:35):
Well, they've all been really great.
They really have my.
You know, my first one wascalled Dinner for Shoes and that
really focused more on fashionand we really talked about my
time on the and just like thatset and that was a lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (20:53):
I have to show my shoes because I actually really
like them.
They're super cute, can you see?
Speaker 2 (20:56):
them, just take them off.
I mean, I don't know what yourtoes look like, but they're so
fun, they're just really fun.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
Little shoes, beautiful.
How do we have fashionable ones?
With my lady from New York,yeah, and here's the thing on
shoes.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
We should do a podcast on style.
Yeah, on fashion.
Speaker 1 (21:13):
Yeah, fashion and real estate, that's a good idea.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
Thanks.
The problem with these shoesfor me is I have to have
something strapped on my heel tokeep them on, because I'll just
fly right out of them.
But they are super cute, forsure super cute, for sure.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
Well, thank you so much, ellen, for joining us
today.
We really appreciate it.
We will definitely hit you upthe next time we are in the city
and let us know when you're outin cali, absolutely great.
Thank you so much for having meand for those listening, it's at
ellen silverman on instagram,right at ellen, at ellen j.
Yes, I've had it Awesome.
Well, make sure you guys lookher up and follow, as well as
(21:55):
following us, ask the Generaland All Things Twist.
And then you could also seethis on the video on YouTube, on
our YouTube channel.
Give us some reviews, please.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
So nice to meet you, Ellen.
Good success.
We wish you all the best andhope to meet you soon.
Speaker 3 (22:13):
Thank you so much, so long.
Bye-bye.
Okay, make sure I don't want to.
I'm always paranoid.
I'm going to forget to hitrecord.
That would stink.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
All right, let's go.
Welcome back to episode 57 ofthe Now Making Moves in Real
Estate podcast.
I'm your co-host, michelle, akathe General, alongside my
beautiful co-host C Twiss, andtoday we're bringing some East
Coast energy to the show as wedive into the fast-paced,
ever-evolving world of New YorkCity real estate with a guest
(00:42):
who knows it inside and out,with a 25-year career as a Wall
Street analyst beforetransitioning to real estate.
With a guest who knows itinside and out, with a 25-year
career as a Wall Street analystbefore transitioning to real
estate in 2016,.
Today's guest brings financialexpertise, sharp market analysis
and strategic negotiationskills to every single deal.
She was born and raised inManhattan, has lived in some of
(01:03):
the city's most iconicneighborhoods, giving her a
firsthand understanding of themarket's ebbs and flows.
As a certified buyerrepresentative and master
certified negotiation expert,she helps clients make smart
moves in New York City realestate.
Her eye for design and markettrends gives her a competitive
(01:24):
edge in this high-stakes market.
So if you're ready for someEast Coast insights and winning
strategies, let's give a warmwelcome to our guest today, ms
Ellen Silverman.
All right, welcome.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
Ellen, thank you.
That was a very niceintroduction, thank you.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Michelle is good at that.
You know, always trying toimprove, getting better.
You know it's always a little.
You know, when we meet withthese great real estate agents
across the country, we got tolike highlight how awesome you
are.
So tell our listeners, who areprimarily real estate agents and
entrepreneurs, more about whoEllen is and what you're doing.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Oh boy.
Well, I was in the world ofbanking and finance for quite
some time and had a great career.
I really loved it.
But I think after the 2008banking crisis, my work started
to get very arduous and wasunder a lot of scrutiny, with
auditors and regulators sittingat our desks and supervising
every move we made andeverything had to be documented
(02:38):
very thoroughly.
So I was not enjoying the workas much during that time and I
probably should have left, but Istayed because I was an
employee for a very long timeand I was used to a steady
paycheck and, you know,stability and all the things,
(02:58):
all the perks that you get as anemployee.
So I stayed until around 2016and and I was with another very
prestigious investment bank thatis no longer no longer exists A
new CEO came in and he cleanedhouse and I was let go, and I
(03:19):
was actually very happy to belet go.
I was really time to leave, veryhappy to be let go.
It was really time to leave andsometimes you just need a
circumstance to throw you intoaction, and that definitely did.
I had always wanted to be inreal estate.
I had bought and sold my ownapartment several times over the
(03:40):
course well, from about 1995 to2012.
So I had a lot of experience asa buyer and as a seller and,
being born and bred in New YorkCity, I really knew the city
well.
I understood how neighborhoodschange and appreciate and
gentrify and I had goodfinancial skills.
(04:01):
So all that lent me to pursuinga career in real estate.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Well, that's, I mean, makes sense.
It was a smooth transition, andyou're right.
Those circumstances that we'reup against in life sometimes
repel you into the next thing.
So how did you transition andtell us a little bit about the
scope of your business.
Are you individual agent?
Do you have a team?
What's your structure look like?
Speaker 3 (04:28):
Yeah, I'm with Compass.
I've been with Compass fiveyears.
It's my fourth real estate firm.
I've been in real estate nineyears, so I was with three other
firms before Compass andsometimes it takes a while to
find the right company based onyour personality.
And sometimes it takes a whileto find the right company based
on your personality compensation, training, all kinds of things.
(04:51):
I don't think that's unusual.
I think a lot of agents movearound, but I've been very happy
at Compass.
As I said, I've been there fiveyears.
I am part of a huge team of 45people.
That is also not unusual atCompass.
Almost everyone is part of ateam.
However, I do work veryindependently within that team,
(05:14):
but I have the support of teammembers and several team leaders
to help me with whatever I needhelp in, and we have a
marketing person, anadministrative person and, of
course, my team lead that helpswith negotiations or anything
that I need help with.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
Awesome, and do you primarily focus on Manhattan
specifically?
Speaker 3 (05:39):
Yes, absolutely.
New York City is five boroughsand thousands of neighborhoods.
I focus on Manhattan, mainlythe uptown market and Midtown
West, and that's more thanenough, believe me.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
I bet what's the average price point in your area
.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
then Well, well, it depends on the neighborhood.
Overall condominiums and I justdid this for the month of
February the average price of acondo in Manhattan is about I
think it's about $4 million andthe average price for a co-op is
(06:22):
about $1.6 million.
Is about $1.6 million?
Condominiums give you morefreedom and flexibility.
They're less restrictive.
There aren't boards that areapproving your application and
scrutinizing your finances asmuch as they do in co-op
apartments.
So I always say you pay foryour freedom in a condo and
(06:44):
that's why there's more money.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
Well, I think people give us a bad rap for California
prices being high.
Well, take that, people Look atNew York and Manhattan.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
So what's the market like over there in New York
right now?
Speaker 3 (06:59):
Well, again, it really depends on the
neighborhood, but I would sayoverall, we have an inventory
shortage.
I do not see prices going downsignificantly.
I think that they're holding orincreasing, especially in the
condominium market.
I think that it is still a goodtime to buy.
(07:20):
Buyers are accepting the higherinterest rates and there are
more buyers that have reenteredthe market in 2025.
But it's also more competitiveand there are more bidding wars
now because of the inventoryshortage.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
We're starting to see the same thing here for sure.
I feel like every spring islike the bidding wars start,
like spring is here.
People come out, yeah yeah, theweather gets nice and everyone
comes out of the woodworks.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
So I was curious when we had just tapped into this
recording.
You mentioned that you've beendoing podcasts and you found us
and asked to be on our podcast,which you know shout out to EXP
Realty.
To be on our podcast, which youknow shout out to eXp Realty,
because without our transitionfrom her independent brokerage
(08:11):
to eXp, we wouldn't be here.
We've been able to collaboratewith agents across the country,
and so we're really, reallyexcited to invite agents like
yourself to our podcast.
But what about the podcastjourney has got you going down
this route in your business?
What about the podcast journeyhas got you going down this
route in your business?
Speaker 3 (08:28):
Well, every year I think about ways of branding
myself, and this year I hired abranding agency to get me out
into the world, and podcastingwas one way of doing it.
Another way is more socialmedia and more videos.
So I hired a coach to help mewith videos.
They look easy, but I don'tthink they are.
(08:50):
But I definitely feel that, youknow, people are on their
phones, people are watchingvideos, people are addicted to
social media and that's a placeto be seen.
(09:10):
You know, I think part ofgenerating leads as an agent is
getting yourself out there andit's not.
It wasn't particularly easy.
It's still not easy for mebecause I'm sort of, you know,
and I still have that analyst,you know, mentality, but I also
have to generate leads and Ihave to take that very seriously
as an agent, because I'd say,70% of my week is spent on lead
(09:31):
generation and and no one really, you know, understands that or
sees that they all think we justlook at beautiful apartments
and make thousands of dollarsevery day.
Yeah, but, um, but but.
Marketing is a big part of myjob.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Okay, well, I'm going to put you on blast here, sorry
, Courtney.
So here you are, you're outthere, you're on a podcast.
Tell people why they shouldreach out to you Not only real
estate agents for referrals, bythe way, I actually have my
house is on the market right nowand and the, the buyer's agent,
is bringing clients from NewYork city to look at my house on
(10:10):
Sunday.
So there's definitely the, theagents that are listening, that
can be like hey, I've got thisclient that needs something in
Manhattan.
Why should agents and clientsreach out to use you?
Speaker 3 (10:22):
Well I I'm more of a buyer's agent than a sales agent
, but basically I really knowthe city well and I keep on top
of new developments in all parts, not just Manhattan but also in
Queens and Brooklyn, in theBronx.
I love new development.
I have a really goodunderstanding of price
(10:46):
appreciation if it's a goodinvestment and I have a good eye
for construction and design andlayouts and finishes.
I see so many apartments.
I know right away if somethingis well built, and that's just a
sixth sense.
It's not that I'm I have abackground as an architect or in
(11:08):
the construction industry, butyou just know right away.
You look at the quality of adoor or the doorknob or the
finishes or the walls or thewindows and you can tell right
away if something is reallythoughtfully designed.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
Awesome.
Well, I want to circle back alittle bit to a couple of things
.
First, with the social media,because brand awareness is such
a long game, right, it takes awhile and it's hard to know if
people are seeing your brand andif they're recognizing it.
Have you found, now that you'vehired your coach and you've
been focusing on the podcast andyour social, that a lot of your
(11:46):
lead gen is converting via likeInstagram, for example?
Speaker 3 (11:52):
Yeah, I, I just started.
This is like all new for me inthe last six weeks actually but
I am getting a lot moreengagement on Instagram,
absolutely.
When I, when I post a video ofmyself, I definitely get more
comments and likes andengagement, and so that is a
(12:12):
positive thing.
I think it brings credibilityto who you are, so people get to
know you and I definitely feelthat it will lead to more sales.
Yes, it helps.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
Yeah, it helps build the trust.
Yeah, it can't all be of thesepretty apartments that you're
talking about.
It has to be of you in thesepretty apartments.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
Yeah, I mean, people want to see you know how, how
I'm selling, what I'm looking at, why it's a good apartment, the
views, the finishes, the layout, and I'm showing that, and so
it's that whole experience.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
I love it.
Well, I have to bring this up.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
Sex and the City.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
I knew it, I had it, I knew it.
I mean Sex and the City is likemy favorite show ever All
through my college years.
I'd like marathoned it all.
My roommates and I and you havea connection to that.
Like to me, you're.
I actually told my husband thismorning.
We have Ellen Silverman on ourpodcast this morning and she is
like sex in the city.
(13:14):
Tell everyone, tell everyonemore about that.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
Oh gosh, uh, yeah, I mean it is a phenomenal show.
Um, well, last year, uh, 2024was not the greatest year for a
lot of real estate agents and Iwas just looking into other
things to do that would be fun,that I could earn some money.
So I decided to be a movie or aTV extra and, um, I got on to
(13:46):
some of these sites in theacting world backstage for
instance, acting world backstage, for instance and did some you
know headshots and photos andall that stuff.
And I was, luckily, last fall,sex Well, it wasn't sex in the
city, it's and just like that,which is the you know
continuation of sex in the city.
(14:06):
They were looking for a lot ofextras, a lot of extras.
So luckily, I got called in andI did it for two days.
I was on the Upper West Sidefor one day and then Lower
Manhattan for another day and Iplayed an extra walking the
streets, and who crossed my pathwas Sarah Jessica Parker and
(14:30):
Cynthia Nixon one day, and thenthe following day was Sarah
Jessica and Charlotte KristenDavis.
So it was a lot of fun.
I got to work with a lot ofother extras and everybody.
I met other real estate agents.
It was really funny Other realestate agents who were movie
(14:50):
extras who also were having acrappy year and it's a very fun
environment.
You get your makeup and yourhair done and you know clothes
and wardrobe and then you reallyget to meet the actors and you
really see them in real life andin their fantastic clothes.
(15:12):
Yeah, it was a lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
So fun, Michelle.
We need to do that.
I want to go do that and thenhave a martini afterwards.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
I mean I'm down, let's go.
I love me some NIC.
Except I wouldn't recommendgetting like stranded there by
yourself, like trying to gettransportation back to New
Jersey.
That was not a smart move whenI thought that was another
another story, another story,different time.
So this one hasn't been to NYCyet.
We need to get her out there.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
Oh, okay, okay, I, you know, I think the show
really romanticizes the city insome ways and, uh, I think young
girls in their twentiesprobably don't have the income
to buy Manila Blahnik shoesevery week and go out to dinner
every night the way you see them, you know on the show.
(16:01):
But but a lot of it, it trulyall that does truly exist.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
So it must be like super competitive real estate in
New York City.
Speaker 3 (16:11):
Yes, I'm asked this every podcast.
I was going to say Scott, yougot Ryan.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
You got.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Ryan Serhant, and then who's the other?
Bravo, frederick, frederick.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
He's in Miami, frederick Ecklund.
He's like everywhere, though.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
He's international, doesn't he have, like you know,
overseas New York City, miami,they're like big, maybe
California, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
Yeah, I mean again, what you see on TV is often
exaggerated and it'sentertainment and it's eye candy
.
You see the most attractiveagents in the most attractive
clothes showing the mostbeautiful properties in the
world.
That is not every day in NewYork City.
There's really isn't.
(16:55):
And I also think New York isfast paced and it can be
competitive, but it's alsoenormously.
It's enormous and there's somany neighborhoods and there's
something here for everyone andthere's a lot of opportunity
that that brings.
So, as competitive and fastpaced as it is, there's also
(17:20):
something for everyone.
And you know, I try not to getcaught up in the drama.
I really just try to wake upevery day and do what I need to
do and sometimes there is drama,mostly between other agents,
and sometimes it works out andsometimes it doesn't, and you
know that's the way it goes and,honestly, I had plenty of bad
(17:43):
days on Wall Street that werefar more dramatic.
So I don't know.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
I bet Don't get that.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Well, I really appreciate you coming on the
podcast today, Ellen.
I mean it's super exciting tomeet.
I don't think we've had anybodyfrom New York, Not yet no,
you're the first.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
Oh my God.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
Well, there's a lot of us.
It's pretty exciting.
I know we need to get out there.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
I'm actually going next year.
It's going to be quite anamazing trip full of eighth
graders.
Yeah, that's right To seeWashington DC and New York, and
it's like a whirlwind month-longtrip packed into five days.
It should be great.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
Yay, excellent, excellent.
Do you get out less often,ellen?
Excellent.
Do you get out west often,ellen?
I certainly have been toCalifornia many times, mostly
(18:56):
Los Angeles and San Francisco.
I haven't been in a very long.
Californians seem to be veryloyal and committed to
California.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
So you know, when I moved to San Francisco, I was in
a taxi cab and the driver haddescribed San Francisco as a
gentle New York, and ever sinceI heard that it couldn't be more
true, because it really is likethis little tiny version of New
York City which, you know, Imean on the West Coast.
(19:21):
It's a privilege to have alittle piece of that over here.
Speaker 1 (19:24):
So Well, I would.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
Oh no, go ahead, ellen.
I'm so sorry.
No, I was going to say I was inSan Francisco in the 90s.
I mean it is a beautiful city,absolutely.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
Well, I was going to say before we sign off, being
that most of our listeners arerealtors what's something that
you do on the daily or regularlyto keep your business going,
and what's like a key to yoursuccess.
Speaker 3 (19:52):
Basically, if you were to sum it up in one thing,
Well, I have a monthlynewsletter and I try to post on
social media as often as I can.
I mean, I should be doing itevery day and I don't.
I need to really do that moreoften and I'm doing podcasting
(20:12):
and that.
I think that's that's.
That's it.
I really am a big Instagrambeliever.
So Instagram, if you, if allelse fails, do the Instagram, do
the gram, do the newsletter anddo the pods.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
What would?
What was besides our podcast?
What would be your like, yourfavorite podcast you've ever
been on?
Speaker 3 (20:35):
Well, they've all been really great.
They really have my.
You know, my first one wascalled Dinner for Shoes and that
really focused more on fashionand we really talked about my
time on the and just like thatset and that was a lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (20:53):
I have to show my shoes because I actually really
like them.
They're super cute, can you see?
Speaker 2 (20:56):
them, just take them off.
I mean, I don't know what yourtoes look like, but they're so
fun, they're just really fun.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
Little shoes, beautiful.
How do we have fashionable ones?
With my lady from New York,yeah, and here's the thing on
shoes.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
We should do a podcast on style.
Yeah, on fashion.
Speaker 1 (21:13):
Yeah, fashion and real estate, that's a good idea.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
Thanks.
The problem with these shoesfor me is I have to have
something strapped on my heel tokeep them on, because I'll just
fly right out of them.
But they are super cute, forsure super cute, for sure.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
Well, thank you so much, ellen, for joining us
today.
We really appreciate it.
We will definitely hit you upthe next time we are in the city
and let us know when you're outin cali, absolutely great.
Thank you so much for having meand for those listening, it's at
ellen silverman on instagram,right at ellen, at ellen j.
Yes, I've had it Awesome.
Well, make sure you guys lookher up and follow, as well as
(21:55):
following us, ask the Generaland All Things Twist.
And then you could also seethis on the video on YouTube, on
our YouTube channel.
Give us some reviews, please.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
So nice to meet you, Ellen.
Good success.
We wish you all the best andhope to meet you soon.
Speaker 3 (22:13):
Thank you so much, so long.
Bye-bye.
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