Deconstruct

Deconstruct

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Deconstruct episodes

  • Inside real estate's "hustler's ball," the RED Awards; plus, Floyd Mayweather's real estate lawsuit explained

    On this week's episode of Deconstruct, Hannah Kramer and Lilah Burke break down one of the strangest real estate stories of the year: Floyd Mayweather's lawsuit against former advisor Jona Rechnitz, alleging the theft of $175 million in cash, jewelry and real estate investments.

    The hosts trace Mayweather's rapid expansion into New York real estate, including deals involving multifamily properties, the Versace Mansion and major investment partnerships, and discuss the unanswered questions surrounding those transactions.

    They also examine Mayor Zohran Mamdani's ambitious housing plan and what it could mean for landlords, developers and rent-stabilized buildings across New York City. Plus, a deep dive into the Red Awards, real estate's most unusual gala, where elevator contractors, developers and industry hustlers gather for a night of recognition and networking.

    31 min
  • How the last great development site in NYC left some of the Upper East Side's wealthiest residents with nowhere to go | Deconstruct

    On this episode of Deconstruct, hosts Lilah Burke and Hannah Kramer break down how New York City’s latest budget, tax proposals, and one high-profile Upper East Side building are reshaping the city’s real estate market — from rent-stabilized apartments to ultra-luxury rentals.

    First, they unpack Mayor Zoran Mamdani’s executive budget, including:

    • Why City Hall says it closed the budget gap without a broad property tax hike
    • How the proposed pied-à-terre tax is expected to plug a $500 million hole — and why the industry is starting to accept it
    • What $4 billion for HPD and another $500 million for apartment construction in FY 2031 could mean for New York’s housing pipeline
    • The future of the CityFHEPS voucher program, where the administration hopes to cut costs via “management protocols,” rent reasonableness, and broker fees
    • Then, they dive into the Rent Guidelines Board and what a 0–2% proposed increase for one-year leases could mean:

      • Tenant advocates pushing for a rent freeze or even a “rent rollback”
      • Why rent-stabilized landlords are alarmed about rising operating costs with little room to raise rents
      • Hannah and Lilah also explore key tax incentives:

        • The push to expand J-51: increasing abatements up to 100% of renovation costs and raising the eligible assessed value per unit
        • The national “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” incentive that makes owner-occupied commercial real estate more attractive — and why more companies are buying their own office space
        • In the main story, residential reporter Jake Indursky joins to talk about 800 Fifth Avenue, a classic Upper East Side rental building once owned by Eliot Spitzer and now controlled by Miki Naftali:

          • Why it’s considered one of the best remaining development sites in New York City
          • How more than 200 wealthy renters are being pushed out to make way for what could become some of the most expensive condos in NYC
          • The surprising reality that even $8,000–$10,000-a-month renters are struggling to find comparable apartments on the prime Upper East Side
          • How some are reluctantly buying co-ops, paying $175,000/month at luxury clubs like Fasano, or even considering hotels like The Pierre and The Sherry-Netherland
          • Why this “world’s smallest violin” problem still mirrors the broader rental affordability crisis across the city
          • Finally, Lilah shares her wildest real estate-adjacent story of the week:

            A federal sextortion case involving Fortress Investment Group co-founder and Milwaukee Bucks owner Wes Edens, alleged extortion attempts by Sophia Luo, and how a private dispute spilled into the public eye via an FBI investigation and federal indictment.

            Topics covered: NYC budget, pied-à-terre tax, CityFHEPS, Rent Guidelines Board, J-51 tax break, owner-occupied office space, Upper East Side rental market, 800 Fifth Avenue, Naftali Group, luxury renters, co-ops, Fortress, Wes Edens, sextortion case.

            25 min
          • Why NYC real estate is suddenly all about politics

            On this week’s episode of Deconstruct, hosts Hannah Kramer and Lilah Burke dive into the increasingly political world of New York City real estate.

            They break down the latest developments surrounding New York’s proposed Pied-à-Terre tax, including new details about how the state may determine which luxury second homes are taxed — and why the logistics could still derail the plan.

            The episode also explores rising tensions between the real estate industry and the administration of Mayor Zohran Mamdani. At The Real Deal’s NYC Real Estate Forum, protesters interrupted a panel featuring Related Companies CEO Jeff Blau over Hudson Yards subsidies, while developers and city officials debated rent stabilization, housing incentives like 485x, and whether City Hall and the industry can still work together.

            Plus:

            • Why Japanese investors are pouring billions into NYC real estate
            • The Mamdani administration’s $31 million judgment against a Bronx landlord
            • Steve Roth’s controversial comments about “tax the rich” politics
            • What industry leaders really think about the future of New York development

            If you want to understand where NYC real estate, housing policy and politics are headed next, this episode is for you.

            20 min
          • Breaking down the Chetrit Group's challenges

            On this episode of Deconstruct, hosts Lilah Burke and Hannah Kramer unpack the growing challenges for the Chetrit Group, longtime players in New York City real estate now dealing with lawsuits, alleged mismanagement, and mounting lender pressure. The episode takes listeners inside a tense courtroom auction tied to a $132 million judgment, offering a rare glimpse into how distress is playing out in real time.

            The show also covers major headlines shaping the market: Gary Barnett’s acquisition of the historic Friars Club and what it signals for his Midtown assemblage strategy; uncertainty around a $2 billion Hudson Yards platform deal as political priorities shift; and CoStar’s sharp stock decline following its expensive push into residential real estate.

            Plus, the hosts dive into the high-profile clash between NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani and billionaire Ken Griffin, exploring what a proposed tax on ultra-wealthy homeowners could mean for New York — and whether it could push capital elsewhere.

            23 min
          • Why private clubs are popping up everywhere in New York City

            This week on Deconstruct, hosts Lilah Burke and Hannah Kramer break down Governor Kathy Hochul’s controversial pied-à-terre tax proposal on luxury second homes, what it could mean for the NYC housing market, and why brokers and developers are worried.

            They also unpack the guilty verdict against former Vornado executive Jared Solomon in a years-long fraud scheme involving fake brokerages and stolen company funds. Plus: Is Manhattan’s Third Avenue office market making a comeback?

            Then TRD reporter Liz Cryan joins the show for an exclusive look at New York City’s booming private club scene—from Soho House and Zero Bond to the new wave of family-friendly clubs reshaping office towers, condos, and luxury real estate. Are private members clubs the future of urban amenities—or headed for a correction?

            18 min
          • Spring selling season is here. Will NYC's luxury real estate market bloom?

            This week on Deconstruct, top luxury broker Frances Katzen joins the podcast to discuss the New York City luxury real estate market as spring selling season begins. She shares insight on inventory shortages, buyer behavior, new developments, international demand, and what both buyers and sellers should expect in the months ahead.

            The episode also covers major real estate headlines, including guilty pleas in the Omnibuild fraud case, Cushman & Wakefield’s lawsuit against Sotheby’s over a $10 million commission dispute, distressed office deals in New York and San Francisco, and Zara founder Amancio Ortega’s growing global real estate empire.

            26 min
          • Real estate after Zohran Mamdani's first 100 days

            Deconstruct breaks down the latest news on the Flatiron Building, a record lease at 9 West 57th, and a foreclosure at a car-branded condo in Miami. Plus, politics reporter Kathryn Brenzel joins the podcast to cover how new NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani has fared in his first 100 days in office.

            21 min
          • After a $10 million fraud, Josh Schuster's victims try to claw back their cash

            In this week’s episode of Deconstruct, a podcast from The Real Deal, hosts Lilah Burke and Hannah Kramer examine how record Wall Street bonuses could influence New York City’s luxury real estate market, preview the upcoming trial of a former Vornado executive accused of fraud, discusss foreclosure risks at Kaufman Astoria Studios, and why Palantir’s Miami headquarters announcement may not be what it seems. Then Senior Reporter Rich Bockmann joins the podcast to explain how infamous developer Josh Schuster rose to prominence, fell from grace, and how the would-be investors he left behind are struggling to claw back their profits.

            21 min
          • Zillow vs. Compass: behind the battle to control home listings

            Compass and Zillow have been battling it out over real estate listings. The outcome could reshape how homes are marketed across the U.S.

            In this episode of Deconstruct, hosts Lilah Burke and Hannah Kramer talk to reporter Sheridan Wall to break down Compass’ lawsuit, which accused Zillow of anticompetitive behavior after the portal introduced a ban on privately marketed listings. At the heart of the dispute: who controls access to listings, and how much power platforms like Zillow should have over the residential market.

            The conversation unpack what Zillow’s policy actually does, why Compass says it harms competition, and how the fight fits into a broader battle over listing transparency, private networks, and the future of home search. They also explore what this means for agents, buyers, and sellers—and whether this case could set a precedent for how real estate platforms operate going forward.

            If listings are the lifeblood of residential real estate, this is a fight over who gets to control the bloodstream.

            Plus, the hosts take you through headlines about the future owner of the Chrysler building, a stalled project at the World Trade Center, an ambitious rezoning starting to take shape in Brooklyn, and more.

            23 min
          • A constitutional crisis in Section 8 housing

            In the latest episode of Deconstruct, a podcast by The Real Deal, hosts Lilah Burke and Hannah Kramer talk about proposals for increased property taxes, rent control, and a rezoning that could open a floodgate for New York City development. In an interview with TRD Policy Pro reporter Caroline Spivack, they dive into a debate over Section 8 vouchers, which some landlords say are unconstitutional.

            18 min

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          In Deconstruct, The Real Deal's reporters and editors explain the most important news in real estate. We follow the money across New York City and beyond to explain how real estate powers the world…

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