Closed! NYC's Real Estate Podcast

On this episode of Closed!, Lee sits down with New York State Senator Nathalia Fernandez, who represents the 34th Senate District covering parts of the Bronx and Westchester, to discuss the Fair and Transparent Real Estate Listings Act and the debate over pocket listings in New York real estate.Senator Fernandez breaks down what pocket listings are, why private or limited-access listings can leave sellers without full information and buyers without a fair chance to compete, and how her bill seeks to bring more transparency into the home sale process. Rather than banning private listings outright, the legislation would require sellers to be informed about where their property is being marketed and to provide written consent before a listing is kept off broadly accessible platforms.The conversation also explores the fair housing implications of hidden listings, how restricted access can shape who sees available homes, what brokers and agents should be preparing for if the bill becomes law, and why transparency is becoming a larger theme in real estate policy. Senator Fernandez also discusses the rise of AI-altered listing photos, “house fishing,” and the broader need to make sure buyers and sellers know what is real, what is available, and what choices they actually have.To learn more about Senator Nathalia Fernandez and her work, visit nysenate.gov or follow her on Instagram at @senfernandez34 and @fernandez4ny To learn more about Lee and Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit bfkplaw.com

On this episode of Closed!, Mike sits down with Joel Berg, CEO of Hunger Free America, a nationwide anti-hunger advocacy and direct service organization headquartered in New York City.The conversation centers on New York’s proposed city-owned, privately operated grocery stores, which are intended to offer essential foods at roughly 30 percent below retail prices. Joel breaks down what the proposal could accomplish, where it may fall short, and why five grocery stores alone cannot solve a hunger crisis affecting more than one million New Yorkers.Joel also discusses the deeper causes of food insecurity, including low wages, rising rent, high childcare and healthcare costs, cuts to SNAP, and the limits of relying on food pantries and soup kitchens to fill gaps in the social safety net. The episode also explores how food access fits into New York’s broader affordability crisis, why food is often left out of urban planning, and what it would take to build a city where nutritious food is accessible to everyone.To learn more about Joel Berg and Hunger Free America, visit hungerfreeamerica.org.To learn more about Mike and Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit bfkplaw.com

On this episode of Closed!, Lee sits down with David Helbraun, founding partner and chairman of Helbraun Levey, a New York hospitality law firm representing restaurants, bars, hotels, and nightlife operators across the city.Before becoming a lawyer, David spent years in the restaurant industry himself, first behind the bar and later as the owner of Pyramid Coffee Company, a multi-unit Manhattan café chain. In this conversation, he brings both perspectives to the table, breaking down what restaurant operators actually look for when evaluating a New York City space.David walks through the practical and legal considerations that can make or break a restaurant deal, from liquor license restrictions, outdoor dining, landmark issues, ventilation, electricity, basements, and second-generation spaces to the informal broker networks that often determine who gets access to the best locations before they ever hit the market.The conversation also explores the pressures facing restaurants today, including labor shortages, rising costs, landlord leverage, delivery platforms, restaurant group consolidation, and why the future of New York dining may look very different from the fine-dining era that came before it.To learn more about David Helbraun and Helbraun Levey, visit helbraunlevey.com. To learn more about Lee and Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit bfkplaw.com.

On this episode of Closed!, Lee sits down with Jonathan Miller, co-founder of Miller Samuel, a New York-based real estate appraisal and consulting firm, for a timely conversation on New York City’s rental market and the recent decision to freeze rents for rent-stabilized apartments.Jonathan breaks down what the rent freeze does and does not mean, including why it applies to rent-stabilized units rather than the entire rental market. He explains how the decision could affect renters, landlords, lenders, open-market rents, and the long-term condition of New York City’s affordable housing stock.The conversation also explores the broader pressures facing the city’s housing market, from rising operating costs and limited financial incentives to maintain older buildings, to constrained lending, historically high market rents, and the ongoing distortion created by low inventory and elevated mortgage rates. Jonathan discusses why maintaining existing affordable housing may be just as important as building new units, and why the city’s rental market remains one of the most complicated pieces of New York’s real estate economy.To learn more about Jonathan Miller and his work, visit housingnotes.com and follow his market commentary through The Real Deal.To learn more about Lee and Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit bfkplaw.com.

On this episode of Closed!, Lee sits down with NY State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, who represents District 59 in Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan and serves as Chair of the Senate Internet and Technology Committee, to discuss her sponsorship of the Responsible Data Center Development Act.Senator Gonzalez breaks down why data centers have become such a pressing issue in New York, particularly as large language models and generative AI drive demand for hyperscale facilities that consume great amounts of energy and water. She explains the intentions behind the bill towards understanding the broader impact of large-scale data center development on New York’s energy grid, utility bills, environmental resources, and local communities.The conversation also covers what it means for New York to become the first state to pass a statewide data center moratorium, why community benefit agreements and labor standards matter, how local governments are facing pressure from major technology companies, and why Senator Gonzalez believes responsible planning is necessary to support innovation without placing the burden on everyday New Yorkers.To learn more about Senator Kristen Gonzalez and her work, visit nysenate.gov or follow her official account, @SenGonzalezNY.To learn more about Lee and Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit bfkplaw.com.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Closed!, Mike sat down with Tina Larsson, co-founder of The Folson Group and author of “Living the High Life,” to discuss what really happens behind the scenes inside New York City co-op and condo buildings.Tina explained why co-op and condo boards are not just managing apartments, but effectively running complex businesses with aging infrastructure, regulations, budgets, building-wide mortgages, insurance concerns, and volunteer board members who often have limited time and technical expertise. She also discussed how her own experience organizing a board coup led to major savings for her building and eventually inspired the creation of The Folson Group.The conversation covers how boards can better manage costs, evaluate vendors, oversee major projects, navigate Local Law 97 and energy compliance, improve board processes, and make more informed decisions for the long-term health of their buildings. Tina also breaks down why shareholders and unit owners need to take a more proactive role in understanding the buildings they live in, the systems they depend on, and the governance structures that affect their investment.To learn more about Tina Larsson and The Folson Group, visit https://www.thefolsongroup.com/about