Name: How real estate brokers scrambled to get inside the Epstein house
Uploaded: 2026-02-19T21:00:40Z
Description: Deconstruct is back. New hosts from The Real Deal's newsroom are bringing you the most important news for New York City's real estate world. Up first: the Epstein files reveal how top townhouse brokers tried to claw their way into Jeffrey Epstein's Upper East Side mansion. Plus, early impacts on real estate from the Mamdani administration, Mark Zuckerberg's maybe-buy in Miami, and more.

In Deconstruct, The Real Deal’s Lilah Burke and Hannah Kramer break down the most important ideas in real estate. We follow the money across the country to explain what investors, brokers and developers are focused on right now. This is essential listening for understanding the great, big world of real estate.

Check out earlier episodes of Deconstruct on Apple and Spotify.

Deconstruct Pod

On this episode of Deconstruct, hosts Lilah Burke and Hannah Kramer break down how New York City’s latest budget, tax proposals, and one high-profile Upper East Side building are reshaping the city’s real estate market — from rent-stabilized apartments to ultra-luxury rentals.

How the last great development site in NYC left Upper East Side renters with nowhere to go

On this week’s episode of Deconstruct, hosts Hannah Kramer and Lilah Burke dive into the increasingly political world of New York City real estate.

Why NYC real estate is suddenly all about politics | Deconstruct Season 5 Episode 12

On this episode of Deconstruct, hosts Lilah Burke and Hannah Kramer unpack the growing challenges for the Chetrit Group, longtime players in New York City real estate now dealing with lawsuits, alleged mismanagement, and mounting lender pressure. The episode takes listeners inside a tense courtroom auction tied to a $132 million judgment, offering a rare glimpse into how distress is playing out in real time.

Breaking down the Chetrit Group's challenges | Deconstruct Season 5 Episode 11

This week on Deconstruct, hosts Lilah Burke and Hannah Kramer break down Governor Kathy Hochul’s controversial pied-à-terre tax proposal on luxury second homes, what it could mean for the NYC housing market, and why brokers and developers are worried.

Why private clubs are popping up everywhere in New York City | Deconstruct Season 5 Episode 10

Spring is peak selling season in New York City real estate — but what does the luxury market really look like in 2026? On this episode of Deconstruct, top Douglas Elliman broker Frances Katzen joins the show to break down NYC luxury real estate trends, buyer demand, tight inventory, new development competition, international buyers, and what sellers need to know right now.

Spring selling season is here. Will NYC's luxury real estate market bloom? | Deconstruct

Deconstruct breaks down the latest news on the Flatiron Building, a record lease at 9 West 57th, and a foreclosure at a car-branded condo in Miami. Plus, politics reporter Kathryn Brenzel joins the podcast to cover how new NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani has fared in his first 100 days in office.

Real estate after Zohran Mamdani's first 100 days | Deconstruct

In this week’s Deconstruct, we examine how record Wall Street bonuses could influence New York City’s luxury real estate market. Plus: the upcoming trial of a former Vornado executive accused of fraud, foreclosure risks at Kaufman Astoria Studios, and why Palantir’s Miami headquarters announcement may not be what it seems.

After a $10 million fraud, Josh Schuster's victims struggle to claw back their cash | Deconstruct

Most homebuyers don't even realize there's a battle over listings happening right now. Reporter Sheridan Wall joins the Deconstruct podcast to break down how Zillow's dominance — and new alliances like Compass' partnership with Redfin — could start shifting where buyers search and what homes they actually see.

Who controls what homes you see? The listing wars explained | Deconstruct

Residential brokers cash in when they move listings. But they can't do it alone. The brokerages where they hang their hats take a split, and other service providers have often looked to profit on the home sales market. TRD's Sheridan Wall tracked a battle between brokerage giant Compass and listings platform Zillow, as the two took to the courts to determine who decides where and how brokers market those listings for sale. 

Breaking down the battle between brokerages and tech platforms | Deconstruct

In the latest episode of Deconstruct, a podcast by The Real Deal, hosts Lilah Burke and Hannah Kramer talk about proposals for increased property taxes, rent control, and a rezoning that could open a floodgate for New York City development. In an interview with TRD Policy Pro reporter Caroline Spivack, they dive into a debate over Section 8 vouchers, which some landlords say are unconstitutional.

A constitutional crisis in Section 8 housing | Deconstruct

Why are apartments sitting empty in a city desperate for housing? Multifamily broker Lev Mavashev joins the Deconstruct podcast to break down the economics behind so-called "warehousing" in NYC rent-stabilized buildings.

Why some NYC apartments sit vacant | Desconstruct

In the latest episode of Deconstruct, hosts Lilah Burke and Hannah Kramer explain the battle to demolish a landmark church on the Upper West Side, close the loop on the verdict in the sex trafficking case against the Alexander brothers, and explain why development in Gowanus has boomed. Then, the hosts interview multifamily broker Lev Mavashev to find out who's buying New York City's devalued rent-stabilized building – and who isn't.

Who's still buying NYC's rent stabilized buildings? | Deconstruct

Oren and Tal Alexander were once among the highest echelon of luxury real estate brokers, rubbing elbows with celebrities and billionaires. For the last month we've seen them in the courthouse as they, along with Oren's twin brother Alon, stood trial on federal sex trafficking charges. TRD senior editor Ellen Cranley, who was on the team that broke the earliest allegations against the brothers in June of 2024, explained to Deconstruct's Lilah Burke and Hannah Kramer what the reporters have seen in the courtroom, breaking down the strategy for both the defense and prosecution and explaining what it all means for real estate. Plus, why the late Ivana Trump's townhouse took so long to sell, why Dish wireless is enraging landlords, and more.

The sex trafficking case against the Alexander Brothers comes to a close | Deconstruct

After the 2008 financial crisis, regulators imposed strict safeguards on single-family mortgages: income verification, tighter underwriting, and new oversight designed to prevent fraud.

Inside the mortgage fraud scandal rattling real estate | Deconstruct

ICE is expanding detention capacity—and the ripple effects could be felt far beyond immigration policy. How is the industrial real estate sector responding?

Where is ICE buying industrial real estate? | Deconstruct

In Season 5, Episode 2 of Deconstruct, hosts Lilah Burke and Hannah Kramer talk about the latest in the Alexander brothers court case, the drama over Manhattan's Worldwide Plaza, and interview senior reporter Keith Larsen about fraud within the multifamily mortgage industry. Watch the full episode here, and listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or TheRealDeal.com. 

Deconstruct is back. New hosts from The Real Deal's newsroom are bringing you the most important news for New York City's real estate world. Up first: the Epstein files reveal how top townhouse brokers tried to claw their way into Jeffrey Epstein's Upper East Side mansion. Plus, early impacts on real estate from the Mamdani administration, Mark Zuckerberg's maybe-buy in Miami, and more.

How real estate brokers scrambled to get inside the Epstein house

Matthew Mannion is auctioneer to the stars of New York City real estate. He handled the Flatiron Building's two-parter, the Times Square Margaritaville's flameout and most recently the UCC auction of Cohen Realty Enterprises' interest in a potpourri of assets.
As foreclosure filings keep ticking up, Mannion shares stories from the courthouse steps and the inside scoop on how auctions get done.

The Guy Holding the Gavel at the Fortress v. Cohen Auction | Deconstruct

After years of negotiations, Albany has finally fleshed out the framework for a housing deal. Tenants call it a give away to developers. Landlords have their own gripes with an intended boon for rent-stabilized owners. Deconstruct sits down with The Real Deal's Kathryn Brenzel to talk Gov. Kathy Hochul’s “parameters of a conceptual agreement.”