Albert Behin, founder of BIG Investors, died Feb. 20 while vacationing with his family in Mexico. He was 43.
The cause of death was a heart attack.
“I’ve been working with him now for close to 10 years, and our life is definitely going to be different and harder,” said his brother David Behin, a broker at Newmark Knight Frank. “I love him, and I miss him.”
Behin founded BIG Investors in 2011, and amassed a portfolio of multifamily buildings. These include 42-44 Meserole Street in Williamsburg, 361 Graham Avenue in Williamsburg and 657 Knickerbocker Avenue in Bushwick. Before starting BIG, had formed Mortgage Securities LLC, a fund that invested in nonperforming residential mortgages during the subprime crisis.
Born in New York City on Feb. 13, 1976, Behin had celebrated his 43rd birthday just a week before his death. He grew up in Tenafly, New Jersey and attended George Washington University and New York University, where he received his master’s degree in real estate.
Matthew Steinberg, a broker at Compass, said he was always impressed by his kindness and trustworthiness, two qualities that can be rare in a cutthroat industry like real estate.
“I was using him as an example of how I wanted to model my own career in both his success and the way he interacted with people,” Steinberg said.
Behin is survived by his wife Dalia and their two-year-old twin sons Zachary and Ethan, along with his parents Fereidoon and Parvin and his brothers David and Daniel.
The family is requesting donations to the Books For Kids Foundation.