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More Than Four Decades in New York City Investment Sales
More Than Four Decades in New York City Investment Sales
Bob Knakal has worked in New York City commercial real estate since 1984, building a career focused on investment property sales and the New York market. Over 42 years, he has brokered the sale of more than 2,422 properties totaling more than $24.8 billion in value and more than 95.4 million square feet.
Bob began his career at CB Richard Ellis, where he met Paul J. Massey Jr. In 1988, they co-founded Massey Knakal Realty Services. The firm grew into one of New York City’s leading building sales firms and closed more than 6,000 transactions with an aggregate value exceeding $23 billion before Cushman & Wakefield acquired it in 2014.
Following the acquisition, Bob served as Chairman of New York Investment Sales at Cushman & Wakefield and ranked as the firm’s top originating investment sales broker in 2014, 2015 and 2016. He later held senior investment sales leadership roles at JLL.
In 2024, Bob founded BK Real Estate Advisors, where he serves as Chairman and CEO.
His work outside brokerage has also become an important part of his career. Since 2009, Bob has written the weekly Concrete Thoughts column for Commercial Observer. He is the author of Selling Buildings: Maximizing Prices and Profits in Commercial Real Estate and regularly speaks on commercial real estate, business development and personal branding.
Bob graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science in Economics. His industry recognition includes Crain’s New York Business Forty Under Forty and two Robert T. Lawrence Awards from the Real Estate Board of New York.
Mapping Opportunities: Bob Knakal's Innovative Approach During the Pandemic
Mapping Opportunities: Bob Knakal's Innovative Approach During the Pandemic
While many were navigating the challenges of home confinement during the global pandemic, real estate veteran Bob Knakal was charting a different course. He took to the streets of New York City, crafting a comprehensive development site map based on firsthand research across Manhattan.
In a recent YouTube video, “The Map of All Maps - Bob Knakal Shares How He Maximized his Time During the Pandemic,” Bob shares the story of how he turned the lockdown into an opportunity.
Throughout the pandemic, Bob made regular trips to NYC every 7 to 10 days. He drove and walked around, scrutinizing buildings in Manhattan south of 96th Street. A task that would typically take 800-1000 hours was accomplished in just 220 hours, thanks to the city’s shutdown.
Bob’s efforts led to the documentation of an astonishing 27,649 buildings, encompassing both ongoing development sites and potential ones. He used tax maps and highlighters to track each site, culminating in an extensive Sanborn map that measures 27 feet by 12 feet.
This detailed map reflects Bob’s commitment to firsthand market research and deep knowledge of New York City real estate. It remains one of the most distinctive examples of the building-level research that has shaped his approach throughout his career.
For more about Bob Knakal and his work, explore his portfolio on BobKnakal.com or connect with him on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
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