Real Takk Podcast

Episode 132: 2026 First Solo Pod on Rezoning & Real Estate Players in the Epstein Files

In this solo episode of The Real Takk Podcast, I unpack the complexities of NYC rezoning and spotlight the Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan, approved in August 2025. After decades of outdated zoning, it finally opens 42 blocks to nearly 10,000 new homes.
Then I dive into this month's hottest topic: the renewed attention on the Epstein files following the DOJ's massive January 2026 document release, with a focus on the elite real estate connections and broker name-dropping linked to Epstein's former Upper East Side townhouse.

Episode 131: Year-End Wrap-Up & Prediction Pod with Frank Giordano of Charney Co.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to The Real Takk Podcast, where we dive deep into the high-stakes world of NYC real estate, the stories behind the deals, and the lives of the power players making it all happen.  AND it’s that time of the year again!  The end-of-the-year wrap-up pod is here, where we discuss all things real estate in 2025, along with our prediction pod for real estate in 2026.  
 
Today, I'm absolutely thrilled to introduce our guest, Frank Giordano, a seasoned New York City real estate advisor and the Director of Brokerage Services at Charney Companies, a dynamic boutique firm specializing in sales, leasing, and investments across the city's luxury and multifamily markets. With over a decade of hands-on experience, Frank honed his expertise at Compass, where he collaborated with top agents on high-profile new developments like One York Street, 70 Greene Street, and 88 Franklin Street. A graduate of Pace University's Lubin School of Business with a focus on entrepreneurship, Frank and I first met when he was just a young 20-year-old front desk administrator, starting from the ground up, at the once legendary real estate brokerage Town Real Estate, here in this very same office building almost 18 years ago.  We became great friends, ultimately taking him on a trip to Japan and inviting his family, and, fast forward, he now lives with his wife, Sarah, and son Leo in the Gramercy Park neighborhood.  
Please follow Frank on the socials @f_roundtown on IG 

Episode 130: Esther Patten of Compass NYC, The End of Year Wrap up Pod & 2026 Real Estate Prediction Podcast

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to The Real Takk Podcast, where we dive deep into the high-stakes world of NYC real estate, the stories behind the deals, and the lives of the power players making it all happen.  AND it’s that time of the year again!  The end-of-the-year wrap-up pod is here, where we discuss all things real estate in 2025, along with our prediction pod for real estate in 2026!
Today, I'm absolutely thrilled to introduce our guest, Esther Patten, a powerhouse real estate agent with Compass in the heart of NYC. With over 15 years of expertise navigating the fast-paced worlds of Manhattan and Brooklyn, Esther is your go-to expert for everything from sleek condo sales and co-op closings to savvy multi-family investments, cutting-edge new developments, and seamless residential leasing. She's shattered records—like setting the bar for the priciest townhouse in Bedford-Stuyvesant at 1 Verona Place—and has racked up an impressive $360 million in transactions, all while building her success almost entirely on glowing client referrals and deep-rooted connections with investors, developers, buyers, and sellers across the city.
A proud Northwestern University alum and former Division I women's basketball player, Esther brings that same competitive edge and Midwestern grit to every deal, making her an invaluable resource for clients from Chicago and beyond. She's passionate about giving back, supporting causes like the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Meals on Wheels NYC, and when she's not outpacing the market, you'll find her dominating on the court in women's basketball leagues or fueling up with high-energy workouts at Barry's Bootcamp and Tone House.
@estherpatten

Episode 129: Elkin Serna of Compass NYC, The End of Year Wrap up Pod & 2026 Real Estate Prediction Podcast

We're back with an annual tradition of wrapping up the good & the bad of real estate in 2025, and the prediction pod of 2026.  I am here with my good friend Elkin Serna, 
Elkin is voted the “Best Realtor in the USA” by his daughter and is the principal of the Serna Team here in NYC.  He is a 9-time NYC Marathon Runner and part of the prestigious Real Trends 2025 by sales volume. I have had the pleasure of knowing for almost 2 decades in the real estate business.  Born in Colombia and a New Yorker since age 10, Elkin brings that Wall Street grit from a decade in finance before joining the brokerage world.  Elkin & I first met at a showing for one of the portfolios I represented in Midtown Manhattan. Eventually, I worked in the same office at the now-defunct brokerage TOWN Real Estate, once located here at 110 5th Avenue.  Please follow Elkin on the socials @elkinjserna

Episode 128: Rachel Hausman Masse of Compass Boise, Idaho, The 5 Mile Lifestyle & 3rd Generation Real Estate Power Agent

I’m absolutely thrilled to introduce a powerhouse who's not just reshaping the Boise, Idaho market but inspiring a whole generation of agents with her blend of grit, heart, and unyielding expertise.  
Please join me in welcoming Rachel Hausman Masse, a trailblazing real estate advisor with Compass in Boise, Idaho. What sets her apart isn't just the numbers; Rachel grew up in a generational real estate brokerage family, where her grandparents were home builders in Chicago, her mother was a top agent in her neighborhood, and now Rachel who joined the family business right out of college, eventually starting from scratch once again to open up her real estate practice in Boise Idaho with her family.  Rachel is a nonstop hustler, working & showing homes while in labor, connecting with buyers while on her flight to Oregon, hosting client events, & closing over 150 transactions per year while raising her two daughters with her husband.  
On this episode, we’ll discuss her family, her upbringing, the difficulties of being in this business, and, of course, learn about the housing market dynamics of Boise, Idaho. 
Please give her a follow on Instagram at @rachelsellsboise
Compass Website
Rachel's Website
 
 

Episode 127: Chris Okada of Okada & Co. NYC Commercial Real Estate 2025, Mamdani, & Growing Your Team & Business

Very excited to bring back Chris Okada of Okada & Co., this time in person, since he last joined us back during the depths of COVID back in the summer of 2020.  
Chris is the founder & owner of Okada & Co, a commercial real estate brokerage firm specializing in the ownership, acquisition, & leasing of office, building, land, & storage facilities across NYC & New Jersey.  Chris & his firm are tasked with overseeing a portfolio of more than 110 Manhattan properties spanning 6.5 million square feet, a market share that he has grown significantly since 2021.  He’s also been involved in residential new development at 432 West 52nd Street, along with acquisitions of commercial building 41-15 West 34th Street, retail properties like 894 Avenue of Americas on West 32nd Street, 148 West 24th Street (where the Barcade is located), and the retail at 135 West 52nd Street (across 6.5 Avenue)   
Chris’s story is a unique one, as he hails from a real estate family whose parents moved from Japan in the 60s. His father carved out a niche in the commercial real estate world, working with companies like Toyota Motors, Mitsubishi, Kawasaki, Sony, and many restaurant and hospitality companies to establish their first North American headquarters back in 1967.  
Chris has been featured numerous times in publications including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Crain's Business, The New York Post, The Real Deal Magazine, & The NY Observer, to name a few.  He also has a powerful presence on his social media platforms, including Instagram & LinkedIn, which I will plug in the show notes.  His insightful posts are educational, thought-provoking, and likely the most interesting among the many commercial thought leaders in his business. 
Please give Chris Okada a follow on: 
Instagram
Linkedin
Okada & Co Website
 

Episode 126: Compass Acquisition of Anywhere RE & Fare Act Results

Join me on a quick episode to discuss the results of the NYC Fare Act, government intervention in NYC real estate, and my thoughts on Compass's acquisition of Corcoran & Anywhere Real Estate. 
 

Episode 125: Tanya Delahoz, Founding Agent of Compass Breckenridge, Colorado

Pleased to bring on Tanya Delahoz, one of our founding agents of our Breckenridge, Colorado market in Summit County.  Hailing from New Jersey, Tanya grew up as a competitive ski racer throughout childhood.  What should have been a quick stop to Breck during those years ended up being a 25+year tenure as a permanent resident, where she now resides with her husband and two children.  
For those of you who are aware of Breckenridge, the resort town has just been named The Most Charming Small Town Downtowns by HGTV, making it the only Colorado town included in the list of 40 most charming small town downtowns in the US.  The city is right off Highway 70, which also connects to prominent resorts like Beaver Creek, Vail, Copper, Arapahoe Basin, & loveland ski resorts.  Just about an hour away from Denver, Colorado, the area is a major attraction for locals & the global ski & outdoor enthusiasts.  
Founded in 1859 during the Colorado Gold Rush, Breckenridge was a mining town before becoming a ski destination. The resort’s Peak 9 was named after a prospector, and remnants of mining history, like old equipment, can still be seen around town.
Please follow Tanya at the links below! 
Instagram
Website
Compass

Episode 124: Lauren Mitrick Wood, Compass Chicago Founder, Coaching, and Business Owner

I welcome Lauren Mitrick Wood from Compass Chicago for the second time on the Real Takk Pod. Lauren & I first met at the LA Compass national conference about 7 years ago.  Since then, she's represented a few of my personal friends and hundreds of millions of dollars worth of transactions in Chicago.  
Lauren is a powerhouse Chicago real estate broker and the founder of “Olive Well” at Compass. Olive Well, inspired by the phrase “all live well,” features her family members, husband, and team agents who assist in representing their clients in the Chicago metropolitan market.  
As a third-generation Realtor, she’s built a stellar career working with everyone from first-time buyers to Chicago Bears stars and influential investors. 
A Forbes '30 Under 30' honoree, Lauren was one of the folding agents of our Chicago market and has revitalized industry groups like the Women’s Council of Realtors and the Women of Compass group. 
She recently renovated a 100-year-old North Shore home, which we’ll discuss later, but all in all, her passion for helping people find their dream homes shines through. 
 
Please give her a follow on her socials! 
@lmitrickwood
@Olive.well
www.Olivewell.com "Where All Live Well"

Episode 123: Cheryl Foote, The Master of Steamboat Springs Real Estate, Land, Water, Houses & More!

Pleased to bring on Cheryl Foote, our founding agent from our Steamboat, Colorado market, on the Real Takk Pod.  Born & raised in Minnesota, Cheryl attended Regis College in Denver, which brought her to Colorado.   Cheryl moved to Steamboat Springs in 1996, and fast forward almost 30 years, Cheryl & her family call Steamboat their home.  
Cheryl has a wealth of knowledge in the steamboat market with hundreds of transactions completed from townhomes, single-family homes, land, condos, and high-end fractional ownership. 
For those of you who are aware of Steamboat Springs, the town got its name in the early 1800s from French trappers who heard a chugging sound, like a steamboat’s engine, coming from a natural mineral spring. This “Steamboat Spring” stopped chugging after railroad construction in 1908, but the name stuck, and the town still boasts over 150 natural hot springs.
The term “Champagne Powder” was coined in Steamboat to describe its light, fluffy snow, which has just 6% water content due to cold temperatures and low humidity. This trademarked snow type, popularized in the 1950s, makes Steamboat a top destination for skiers seeking smooth, powdery runs.
Please follow Cheryl @Cheryl_foote on IG & I will plug her website below: 
Compass
Instagram
Personal Website