PHOTOS: Inside Marcus & Millichap’s 2017 holiday brokerfest

“New York has a lot more to go down than to go up,” said one attendee

It was a real brokerfest at Marcus & Millichap’s 2017 holiday party in Chelsea Wednesday night. By 9 p.m., a line of wheelers and dealers had formed outside Tao Downtown, ready to hobnob and name-drop under the watchful eyes of the towering Geisha murals.

Attendees included Lightstone Group’s Meir Milgraum, Luise Barrack of Rosenberg & Estis, and VEREIT’s Tom Falatko. Marcus & Millichap’s Eric Anton, J.D. Parker and Joe Koicim were seen chatting with guests.

Across the room, men and a few women drank, exchanged cards, talked deals that did and did not happen, and discussed the news of the season — sexual harassment and the GOP tax bill.

One small-time multifamily owner predicted tough days ahead in the Big Apple multifamily market. “New York has a lot more to go down than to go up,” he said.

See more highlights from the 2017 holiday parties

Others were more focused on business than pessimistic prognostications. Two attendees, who had proven their worth by making it all the way through the packed pit to the venue’s bar, said it best.

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They were waiting for their drinks when an older gentleman leaned in behind them. “Get me a red, a Cabarnet, would you?” he asked the two younger men .

Sure, they said, turning slightly to face him, with one elbow each on the bar. “What do you do?” they asked the gentleman.

“I sell,” he yelled over the music. “What do you do?”

The two youngsters leaned further back against the bar and faced him. “We buy!” they shouted in unison.

Rich Bockmann contributed reporting.

Photos by Jhila Farzaneh for The Real Deal.