While real estate development is often a family affair ask the Rudins, Dursts and Trumps with brokerages, that’s rarely the case.
But residential broker Kevin Kurland is off to good start he’s at least got the first generation sewn up.
Kurland Realty’s founder started up a one-man operation in 1997, doing rentals out of his Murray Hill apartment. But he soon hired his 36-yearold identical twin brother, Eric, who serves as chief technology officer.
Another brother, Adam Kurland, a lawyer specializing in real estate at Fenster & Kurland LLP, provides legal advice. And several of Kevin Kurland’s buddies, including the managing director of his Chelsea office, Andrew Chontow, who was a groomsman at his wedding, have joined in at the firm. Other pals include senior agent Josh Fields.
The mid-sized firm now has around 55 employees handling both residential rentals and sales in offices located in Murray Hill and Chelsea. The latter was the latest to open a year ago.
A third office will open in Midtown West in 2006, and ultimately Kurland would like the company to have more than 10 offices in Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Hamptons, he said.
It’s not all family, though. Leaders at the firm such as Nelson Williams and Stacia Burton, managing director and assistant managing director of the Murray Hill office, respectively, came from outside the circle of friends.
“This is not a ‘family business,'” Kurland said. “There is a lot of opportunity for promotion from within and career advancement.”