Boroughs & Burbs, the National Real Estate Conversation

Boroughs and Burbs, Season 6, Episode #233 goes inside the process of Building Your Hamptons Dream Home with Scott Hobbs of Hobbs Inc. and Stuart Disston of Austin Patterson Disston Architecture & Design. In one of the most demanding luxury markets in the country, great homes do not happen by accident. They require vision, discipline, collaboration, and deep local knowledge. We’ll talk about f...

Boroughs and Burbs, Season 6, Episode #232 heads to Megève and the French Alps with Max Rains and Matt Edelsten of Douglas Elliman France. Long known as one of Europe’s most elegant mountain villages, Megève offers a rare mix of ski culture, old-world charm, discreet luxury, and year-round Alpine living. We’ll explore what makes the French Alps different from other second-home markets, from chalet...

Boroughs and Burbs Season 6, Episode #230 asks a simple question with big consequences: why does the right partner matter so much in design, development, and luxury real estate? Daniele Busca of Scavolini and Tim Rooney of Jeffrey Beers International join us to discuss how trusted partnerships turn vision into value. From Italian kitchens and baths to hotels, restaurants, residences, and branded s...

On Boroughs and Burbs Season 6, Episode #230, “The Home Photo Test,” we look at the pre-listing fixes that matter most on camera. Ed Quinlan, President of Chem-Dry, joins us on carpets, rugs, and soft surfaces. Chris Seman, President of N-Hance Wood Refinishing, explains how cabinet color, finish, and condition shape kitchen impressions. Nathan Willard, President of The Patch Boys, adds the wall a...

Boroughs and Burbs, Season 6, Episode #229 takes us to New Jersey with Danielle Lacko and Andre Di Stefano of Douglas Elliman for a closer look at one of the most dynamic real estate markets in the country. From commuter towns with direct access to Manhattan to waterfront communities, historic suburbs, luxury new construction, and lifestyle-driven relocations, New Jersey is not one market, it is m...

On Season 6, episode #234 of Boroughs and Burbs, we dive into one of the most important trends shaping today’s built environment: adaptive reuse. Joined by Bob Diamond of Diamond Law Center, we explore how outdated office buildings, retail spaces, and industrial properties are being transformed into residential and mixed-use assets. As cities grapple with shifting work patterns and housing shortag...

On this episode of Boroughs and Burbs, we explore one of South Florida’s most coveted beachfront corridors, Bal Harbour and Surfside with Rita Collins and Ray Jacomo of Douglas Elliman. These neighboring communities offer a unique blend of ultra-luxury living, walkability, and international appeal. From Bal Harbour’s iconic high-end condominiums and world-class retail to Surfside’s evolving reside...

On Season 6, Episode #227 of Boroughs and Burbs, we explore the powerful intersection of real estate and design with two leaders in their fields: Louise Phillips Forbes of Brown Harris Stevens and Dahlia Jacob of Dahlia’s Day Interiors. From preparing listings to maximizing value, their collaboration shows how thoughtful design can transform a property and the outcome of a sale. We discuss how sta...

On Season 6, episode #226 of Boroughs and Burbs, we sit down with Jonathan Miller of Miller Samuelfor a clear-eyed look at the Q1 housing market. With headlines dominated by interest rates, inventory constraints, and shifting buyer behavior, what is actually happening beneath the surface? Jonathan breaks down the data versus the narrative, highlighting where markets are tightening, where they’re s...

On Season 6, episode #225 of Boroughs and Burbs, we explore one of the most coveted segments of the market, waterfront living, with a side-by-side look at Long Island vs. coastal Connecticut. Joined by Maria Babaev and Tom Tripodi of Douglas Elliman, we break down the key differences in lifestyle, pricing, inventory, and buyer demand across both shorelines. From sandy beaches and Hamptons estates...

On season 6, episode #224 of Boroughs and Burbs, we head to one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing markets in the country: Houston, Texas. Joined by Stephanie Aron-Weiss of Douglas Elliman and Casey Schrade of The Greater Houston Partnership, we unpack what’s driving Houston’s continued growth. From a booming energy sector and expanding medical and tech corridors to population influx and busi...

On this episode of Boroughs & Burbs, we head to one of the most exclusive residential enclaves in the country: Fisher Island, Florida. Accessible only by ferry, private boat, or helicopter, this ultra-private community has become a global destination for wealth, discretion, and luxury living. Joining us are Lourdes Alatriste of Douglas Elliman and Karla Abaunza of Luxury Living Realty, who off...

On this episode of Boroughs and Burbs, we tackle one of the most powerful and often misunderstood tools in real estate investing: cost segregation. Joining us are Jason Melillo and Sumit Sharma of KBKG, a firm that has helped investors unlock billions in tax savings through strategic depreciation analysis. They explain how cost segregation works, why it can dramatically accelerate tax deductions,...

On this episode of Boroughs and Burbs, we step into the high-energy world of sports marketing with Don Davis of Douglas Elliman and branding strategist Tony “The Tycoon” Hills. From athlete endorsements and sponsorship strategy to personal brand building and media exposure, we explore how sports marketing has evolved into a powerful business engine. How do athletes turn performance into long-term...

On this episode of Boroughs & Burbs, we head to one of South Florida’s most distinctive lifestyle markets: Wellington. Known globally as the equestrian capital of the world, Wellington blends luxury estates, seasonal international buyers, and year-round family living. Joining us are Martha Jolicoeur and Mark Norman of Douglas Elliman, who share insider insight into what makes this community un...

Season 6, Episode #219 of Boroughs and Burbs dives into a topic every investor, lender, and property owner should understand: distressed properties and property assessment. We’re joined by Greg Trotter of Commercial Building Consultants, who has built a career evaluating buildings before small problems become catastrophic ones. From deferred maintenance and structural red flags to environmental ri...

This week on Boroughs & Burbs, Season 6, Episode #218, we sit down with Stephen Kliegerman, President of Development Marketing at Brown Harris Stevens, for a deep dive into the state of NYC’s new development market. From shifting buyer demand and rising construction costs to financing hurdles and political headwinds, Stephen breaks down what’s really happening behind the cranes. What projects...

The Kips Bay Decorator Show House is one of the most anticipated design events of the year, setting the tone for luxury interiors, emerging trends, and philanthropic impact. In this special episode of Boroughs & Burbs, we go behind the scenes with four standout designers who brought their vision to life: Jennifer Cohler Mason, Melanie Roy, Chris Coleman and Jack Ovadia with Lisa Ben-Isvy of LB...

On episode #216 of Boroughs & Burbs, we head uptown to explore one of Manhattan’s most intellectually rich and architecturally distinctive neighborhoods: Morningside Heights. Joining us is Pierre Malterre-West and Ella Chavers of Douglas Elliman, who brings deep market insight into a community shaped by world-class institutions, historic prewar buildings, and a growing mix of longtime resident...

Las Vegas is one of the most closely watched real estate stories in the country. In Season 6, Episode #215 of Boroughs & Burbs, we head to Las Vegas with Don Kuhl of Douglas Elliman to unpack what’s really happening on the ground. From luxury communities and second-home demand to inbound buyers from California and the Northeast, Don shares why Vegas has matured into a serious lifestyle and inv...

Season 6, Episode 214 of Boroughs & Burbs takes us inside one of the most coveted luxury markets in the world with “Billionaire’s Triangle.” Joined by Tara West and Drew Backoff of Douglas Elliman, we explore the rarefied pocket where Palm Beach, Jupiter Island, and surrounding enclaves converge to attract ultra-high-net-worth buyers from across the globe. What defines this market beyond price...

We kick off Season 6 with a deep look inside the institutions that power American homeownership. In Episode 213, The Mortgage Machine, we’re joined by three insiders: Rick Coyle, who spent his career at Freddie Mac; Tony Lucente, formerly in Freddie Mac’s credit division; and Jeff Farrell, who worked in Freddie Mac’s affordable housing group. Together, they unpack how Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac he...

In Season 5, Episode #212 of Boroughs & Burbs, we dive into one of the most overlooked, yet highly profitable real estate niches: vacant land. Our guest, Brent Bowers, founder of The Land Sharks, has built a nationally recognized business teaching investors how to find, acquire, and flip land for substantial returns with surprisingly low competition. We explore why land offers unique advantage...

This week on Boroughs & Burbs, Season 5, Episode #211 we explore one of the most resilient and quietly powerful asset classes: timberland investments. Our guest, John Brenard of Southview Timberland Investments, brings deep expertise in land management, sustainable forestry, and income-producing agricultural assets. We break down why institutional investors love timber, how farmland performs i...