Bob Knakal

Knakal got into real estate by accident. He supposedly applied for a summer internship at Coldwell Banker in 1981, thinking it was a bank. Whether that’s apocryphal or not, Knakal is now one of the city’s top investment sales brokers.

Knakal spent most of his career at Massey Knakal, the boutique brokerage firm he built with co-founder Paul Massey. Since selling the firm for $100 million in 2014 to Cushman & Wakefield, Knakal has done stints at the heavyweight firms. He spent a few years at Cushman then jumped to JLL, where he was until 2024. After a sudden split with that firm, he brought his famous map room to a new home, founding BKREA.

His focus is narrow. Knakal only represents sellers for exclusive listings in New York, mostly looking at ground-up development, redevelopment and vacant user properties.

Among its 43 sales in 2025 was the sale of the Durst Organization’s 1800 Park Avenue to Clipper Equity for $50 million. 

But he’s not limited to Manhattan. In 2025 Knakal’s firm also represented Brooklyn Hospital Center in its successful effort to offer ground leases at three development sites in Fort Greene. TF Cornerstone signed the contract for those parcels over the summer. 

Knakal’s long been a major player. Now out on his own again, we’ll see if he can stay one.