Ryan Serhant knows how to sell "it." Usually, that "it" is New York City's luxury real estate market. This season, the "it" factor he packs into his personal philosophy also represents hope for the city to which he owes everything.
The successful broker and author exclusively told TheThings about what Bravo fans can expect from the upcoming season of Million Dollar Listing New York.
Selling During The Pandemic
Are you going to touch on the pandemic's effect on the market?
"Oh ya. This season is unique in the sense that one, we have a new cast member. But two, we started filming in mid-2019. Season 8 aired in 2019 so we started filming again for the next season. Season 9 was supposed to come out mid-2020."
"Then COVID hit so you're going to watch this season as everything's great, everything's normal we're just trying to sell real estate in crazier ways then ever before. Then boom! The curtain goes black. We started to record ourselves doing the deals or trying to save the deals that were dying."
Fortunately, that life-altering halt has since been back on the up-and-up. Serhant stated that the market is on fire as of recent.
"For anyone that wasn't in New York during COVID, we were. So you'll see empty New York City. You'll see exactly what it looked like, what it felt like. How scary it was and how we got through it."
Fans can watch these new episodes of Season 9 every Friday on Hayu, a streaming service for all of their reality television needs.
We see you dressed up as the lion from Narnia. How did you go into that when you couldn't have those events that you're known for?
"That open house was before COVID so that was what we were shooting prior to. I was trying to sell two lofts in Tribeca that were connected by a door. I decided that I was going to list one of them and then use the second one as a surprise."
"I put a bureau over the door and no one knew. People were hanging out for an hour and then it was like hey, I've got something to show you all. Let's climb through the wardrobe...I had like a thousand balloons everywhere."
His imagination didn't end there. At another open house, viewers can expect to see his Baywatch alter ego, as he dresses up in full lifeguard attire.
This Season's Scoop
Who was your biggest competition this season who inspired you to sell more?
"Honestly, my answer is not going to be great. My biggest competition is myself in the future. I want to work as hard as I can for that guy. I'm going to be him before I know it. I want his life to be great. Everything I do today is for him and his family. That's really what keeps me motivated."
That's awesome, for Zena as well! Are you fully moved into Brooklyn from Soho?
"Ya we just rented our apartment in Soho to a great tenant that's awesome. We moved into the townhouse, it's basically done...But we're getting used to it, it's very different."
What are the biggest differences you see?
"In Soho, we were on one floor with outdoor space off the living room. We were high up so we had amazing views. Here, we have six floors! We have to have an elevator to get around. We've got stairs, so the baby is on one floor, Amelia's on another, I'm up here. We're just trying to get used to how you live in a space that is super vertical."
Selling Marc Jacobs's Home
Kirsten Jorden, kind of going back, what's your dynamic like with her?
"We're all competing for the same business in this city. So whether you're a guy, girl, young, old, be nice. Work hard but like, stand you're ground. Kirsten does that for sure. We call her KJ."
"We did a deal together. I was selling Marc Jacobs's townhouse and she brought me the buyer in one day. We filmed that so you'll get to watch that process go down. That was the last deal the show follows right before the city got shut down. We closed on Friday. A couple days later, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he was shutting down the city."
He included that the fear in NYC locals magnetized when the police told residents that Gov. Cuomo was going to shut down bridges and tunnels into Manhattan.
Treating NYC Like His Home
Is there a property you're most excited for people to see?
"I sold during quarantine, there's a townhouse on 17th Street, Chelsea. 11,000 square feet, private glass garage for a Bentley. Private underground pool. Just like the craziest townhouse you'd find. It's just insane. We followed that storyline and I sold it during quarantine, it was so hard."
How do you think the city has given back to you?
"I would not be where I am today if it were not for New York City. I tell people that all the time. New York is 'the house.' I am just a player. I sold an apartment yesterday fro $20 million, I didn't make it worth $20 million. New York made it worth $20 million. That apartment in the middle of nowhere is worth $200,000."
"The least I could do is pick up trash in New York City. We donate a significant amount of time and money to the city because New York is 'the house' and you've got to take care of the house.
You were a soap opera actor and came into real estate. Looking back, what would you say to the guy who thought he was giving up on his dream and found his actual dream?
"The path to success exists but it has not been paved yet. Any brick wall you think you're hitting whether it's your dream crumbling, being fired, or losing money. (It's) not a brick wall, it's just a speed bump. So what do you do when you go over a speedbump? You slow down so you don't get whiplash or knock your head in the seat."
"You slow down, you take notice of what's happening, and then you keep moving. That's the most important thing. I tell myself listen, everything's going to work out. Buckle up. You have no idea what's coming."