By Matt Chaban 5/14/12 10:14am

Broken Brokers

They won't go hungry! (Bracha Blog)

Keller Williams Getting Killed in New York?

Last year, Ilan Bracha told The Observer his new firm, Keller Williams NYC, would be No. 1 within five years.

It was a strong boast in a town already packed with real estate brokerages, where the business is a blood sport. But he was rolling out a franchise of the nation’s biggest brokerage, one that has a very popular system that an mean huge commissions for top producers, of which New York has many.

Still, a little over a year in, Keller Williams NYC has struggled to succeed in New York, according to Crain’s. Read More

By Matt Chaban 3/30/12 1:31pm

Manhattan Transfers

Living large. (City Realty)

The Latest Rushmore Celeb? Mati Bracha Buys $5 M. Penthouse

In February of last year, Ilan Bracha, the developer and star broker now heading up Keller Williams NY told The Observer, “We’ll be No. 1 in five years,” He was referring to his firm, but the Bracha family has now taken the top spot elsewhere—at Gary Barnett’s hugely successful Rushmore condominiums at the Riverside South development.

Mati Bracha, Ilan’s wife, just paid $5.28 million for penthouse 3A, according to city records. It was not immediately clear if Mr. Bracha would be moving in. Read More