Posted by Leonard Steinberg, President of URBAN COMPASS on December 31st, 2014

2014 was monumental: making the leap to URBAN COMPASS in June was a daring move, yet looking back now after a mere seven months, I am certain it was the best move ever. Many felt this move was my midlife crisis – simply absurd – however now with the world talking about Urban Compass it is clearly apparent that this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was a pivotal moment in my career and the industry: we proved the critics wrong. It was time for the the New York real estate paradigm to shift, and shift it did. The shift was seismic.

Being part of the company as it almost tripled in size in half a year, now with a superb Fifth Avenue megaplex head office, Uptown Park Avenue Lever House offices, and our expansion into Washington DC, has been exhilarating, exhausting and truly the best time of my life. I want to thank each and every one of you for your support, hard work, incomparable great attitude, and commitment to quality throughout this year.

A year ago I met with Robert Reffkin at a small breakfast at Cookshop in West Chelsea (I met Ori Allon at Soho House a few days later) and immediately I knew these guys were going to change our industry: I wanted to be a part of that change. It was an honor to join a group of dedicated, energized, brilliant people, all focused on building an exciting new future. Ori is quite simply a genius. I don’t say that easily. While brain power is his forte, equally impressive is his calm resolve and big-picture global thinking. Robert has been an inspiration: his focus, willpower, dedication and brilliance are apparent to all. Working closely with him, I have also learned about his kindness, marathon-level work ethic and his caring and forthright demeanor. It is a pleasure to learn from him daily as he repeats the same question: “How can we make it better?” This non-arrogant, innovative thinking permeates throughout the organization, where I have learned the value of treating brokers as our most valued clients. The quality and quantity of assistance in our collaborative efforts has opened my eyes to a wonderful new vision of real estate.

It has been a privilege working alongside some of the top brokers in our industry: this small group has expanded over the past few months to include some of the most recognizable and respected names in the industry. Thank you to each and everyone of you for your hard work and your commitment to the success of the company. As we enter 2015 with around $600 million in exclusive sales listings, $500,000 in monthly valuation rental listings and around $2 billion in new developments, it is very tempting to say we have arrived: this may be so, yet 2015 will be the year where we truly reveal the fruits of our labors. You are all instrumental in helping us build a company that we can be proud of.

Urban Compass represents about ONE QUARTER of ONE PERCENT of the over 50,000 licensed real estate brokers and salespeople in New York City, yet we have had the greatest impact on change in our industry since Barbara Corcoran fought to co-broke listings decades ago. Our technology-infused innovative style is changing the way even the most traditional Century-old industry icons are working and speaking today: this is indeed an extraordinary honor and accomplishment.

Let me repeat this: Urban Compass has made the biggest impact on the New York brokerage industry in decades. And we have only just begun!

Thanks again to all of you for your kindness and support.

HAPPY, HEALTHY 2015!!!!

Leonard