View From The Top

When Ryan Serhant moved to New York City in 2006 to pursue a career in acting, he never imagined his career path would lead him to becoming one of the city’s top real estate brokers; a co-star on the hit Bravo show “Million Dollar Listing New York”; and the focus of his own Bravo show, “Sell It Like Serhant.”

His acting dream became a reality in 2007 when he landed the role of Evan Walsh on the soap opera “As the World Turns.” Yet, despite his obvious talent and leading-man good looks, Serhant found that acting jobs were few and far between. Even after supplementing his career with jobs as a hand model, he was still struggling to pay the bills. 

“One day, my credit card was declined,” he says. “I was devastated at the prospect of being broke and having to move back home to live with my parents in order to make ends meet.”

A friend suggested that Serhant obtain his real estate license, and he then launched his real estate career on Sept. 15, 2008 – one of the darkest days in the history of finance. That same day, the investment bank Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy amid the housing market collapse that led the country into a two-year recession.

While other brokers were questioning whether real estate were a viable career, Serhant was excited to prove himself in a new field. 

“My first year was really tough,” he admits. “Yet, I also learned aspects of real estate some agents never learn in a booming market.”

Over the years, Serhant has honed his skills, and today he’s considered one of the best real estate brokers in the world. The Serhant Team at Nest Seekers International comprises more than 60 real estate agents and support staff who have sold billions of dollars in real estate. In July, Real Trends named The Serhant Team the No. 1 real estate team in New York and No. 3 in the entire country. His team also maintains offices in Miami, Los Angeles and the Hamptons and works with clients across the globe.

Hard Work Pays Off

Unlike some of his colleagues, Serhant wasn’t born into New York real-estate royalty. He grew up in Massachusetts and credits his hard work ethic to his father, John.

“When I first started out, I didn’t know the difference between Broadway and West Broadway, but I learned that success is all about building relationships,” Serhant says. “I was the real estate underdog without a pedigree. But I also had no history, and I used that to my advantage and learned to give my time and resources without expecting anything in return.”

The 35-year-old also believes in sharing his secrets to success with others. His 2018 book, “Sell it Like Serhant: How to Sell More, Earn More and Become the Ultimate Sales Machine,” became a best-seller – not just with real estate agents but also with salespeople, other business professionals, and those looking to buy or sell their homes.

With his direct, determined and often humorous approach to business, Serhant’s book offers motivational advice and actionable tips on how to thrive both in business and in life.

“Success begets success,” he says. “I believe that my success in real estate led to the TV show and my book, which, in turn, has led to other new business ventures.”

One of those ventures is his new entertainment and media company, Serhant Media Group. His YouTube channel has  nearly 500,000 subscribers, and he uses his social media presence (including more than 2 million followers across Instagram, Twitter and Facebook) to showcase real estate listings and offer business advice.

“I just sold a townhouse in Chelsea through YouTube,” he adds. 

Serhant’s latest endeavor, released in August, is Sell It Like Serhant: The Course, a digital program designed to help others secure more clients, make more money and live a better lifestyle.

“Since my course is all online, students can pick and choose the topics that are of particular interest to them or do the course at the same pace as a Netflix binge,” he says. 

Last year, he also released his first mobile game, Agent Empire: NYC, which allows players to navigate a simulated Big Apple to meet clients and broker deals as Serhant offers advice and guidance. The app combines story and strategy, allowing each player to select their responses in different scenarios to successfully seal the deal.

Be The Change

Onscreen, Serhant is a confident force to be reckoned with. But he’s the first to admit that he wasn’t always that way.

Growing up, he remembers being incredibly shy, overweight and socially awkward.

“When I was struggling before embarking on a career in real estate, I made a promise to one day be successful enough to help others who also wanted to achieve their true potential,” he says. “Today, I look back at my younger self and want to tell him to quit stressing and that good things come to those that put in the work.”

Now, the Brooklyn resident starts each day at the gym. He says this level of self-discipline sets the tone for the day and gives him the energy he needs to run a successful business; keep up with his daughter, Zena, born in February; and enjoy traveling to exotic destinations with his wife, Emilia Bechrakis. 

The new season of “Million Dollar Listing New York,” which premiered in August, shines the spotlight on Serhant’s new role as a dad, along with co-stars Steve Gold and Fredrik Eklund, who also recently became fathers.

“The dynamic has changed this season in the sense that we all have children now and there’s been a significant drop in the New York real estate market,” Serhant says. “We’re seeing homes that are now on the market for months, so we’re definitely becoming more creative in our approach to secure buyers.” O