Hakimian launches investment sales firm

One of Manhattan’s leading mid-market commercial brokers, Ivan Hakimian, is opening his own firm after six years in the industry, he told The Real Deal.

This week, Hakimian launched the investment sales company Hakimian Properties, to be known as HPNY. While it will handle the sale of all types of assets, in the past he has specialized in off-market sales of retail and residential multi-family properties.

The announcement comes two months after he brokered the $72 million sale of 1414 Sixth Avenue, at the corner of 58th Street, to Starwood Capital Group.

The former precious gemstone dealer only entered the commercial real estate industry in 2005, joining Itzhaki Properties, where he stayed until starting the new venture, which is based in Midtown.

Hakimian decided to strike out on his own after sensing that sales activity was pointing up.

“2011 is going to be great year for Manhattan real estate,” he said.

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He knew, he said, “By the amount of phone calls I am getting.”

Hakimian is starting the firm with two associates (not from Itzhaki), and hopes to hire six to eight additional agents, he said.

Last year, he sold Lloyd Goldman’s 1024 Lexington Avenue for $24.5 million, as The Real Deal previously reported, and Stellar Management’s 5 West 91st Street on the Upper West Side.

Laurence Gluck, president of Stellar Management, had high praise for Hakimian.

“Very talented. Solid citizen,” he said in an e-mail.