This week on the RealTrending podcast, we sit down with Ilan Bracha, a seasoned real estate broker and investor. Now leading IB Global and The Bracha Team with Corcocan in New York City, Ilan shares his insights on navigating market shifts, the trends he’s seeing working with family offices and how he is preparing for the next business cycle of real estate..

Ilan discusses his current strategies for matching buyers and sellers in New York, his investment funds focused on properties in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Hamptons, and the role of family offices as key investors. He also offers leadership lessons learned during the financial crisis, providing actionable advice on how to future-proof your business in today’s rapidly changing market.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

• Family offices are a key audience for investment funds, as they often seek to diversify their portfolios by including real estate assets.
• Anticipating and preparing for market cycles is essential to capitalize on emerging opportunities.
• Key leadership lessons always involve attracting and inspiring the right talent, crafting a clear vision for the business, and staying prepared for market downturns.

Here’s a small preview of today’s interview. The transcript below has been lightly edited for length and clarity:

Tracey Velt: What was your “aha” moment? You probably have had many of them through the years, but what do you feel like is the most impactful one that really caused you to rethink how you were doing business? Or maybe it was something personal that caused you to rethink the way that you were doing things?

Ilan Bracha: I remember my first breakdown in the business was in 2008. We used to sell 330 condos a year. And all of a sudden, from September 2008 until almost September 2009, we didn’t sell one unit. It’s ridiculous, it’s a shock. You start questioning yourself. Can I sell anymore? What’s happening? It’s not like we didn’t try to sell. And then what you learn from it: you need to prepare for your next cycle.

You’re going to have many, cycles in your career. This is okay. You just need to prepare for the next cycle. Prepare it in education and learning and actually know there is something happening soon and there will be a cycle down. I can tell you that after every cycle I’m getting better.

The RealTrending podcast features the brightest minds in real estate. Every week, brokerage leaders, top agents, team leaders, and industry experts share their success secrets, trends, and lessons learned navigating this ever-changing industry. Hosted by Tracey Velt and produced by Elissa Branch.