COMMERCIAL CORNER
RYAN LEWIS Erg Commercial Real Estate managing director Erg Commercial Real Estate recently promoted Ryan Lewis from senior advisor to managing director at the Long Island, New York-based investment sales, finance and property management firm. In his new role, Lewis is responsible for managing the commercial sales and investment team, handling deal flow, broker training and helping to close sales, financing and private lending deals. Lewis joined Erg as an associate advisor in 2015 directly out of college, after studying business and political science at James Madison University. He has since found success in different asset classes and transactions throughout the New York City and Long Island markets. His knowledge and experience have allowed him to advise clients and complete investment sales and finance transactions. “Whether it’s refinancing a multifamily building in Manhattan or selling a distressed, mixed-use asset on Long Island, Ryan’s wide range of experience has allowed him to become a source his clients can lean on to help accomplish all their real estate goals,” said Erg Chairman James Guarino. “Ryan’s competitive work ethic and knack for the business and communication skills help him succeed in negotiations to achieve premium results. As our top producer, Ryan will continue building relationships by going above and beyond for his clients.”
How long have you been in the business? I started in the business at the end of 2015, after graduating from James Madison University. What made you go into real estate? Since I could remember, I have always been interested in real estate. My grandparents, immigrants from Sicily, started a business, and with the money they made, they would purchase properties on Long Island. Their influence, constant conversations and passion for real estate pushed me to gain interest and ultimately work in the industry. What is the hottest deal you have made to date? Because ERG can orchestrate deals on both the investment sale and financing sides of the business, it allows me to take on interesting but challenging deals. I have always found that development sites have been the hottest deals because of the great opportunities they offer and the complexity those jobs take to get done. However, my favorite may be finding and negotiating the purchase of ERG’s Long Island headquarters. How do you make sure you close the deal? One of the most important things in any deal is understanding the people involved. You deal with different personalities, backgrounds and real estate needs. Understanding who you are dealing with and being able to communicate with them can make or break a deal.
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What is the busiest area for deals right now? I do not necessarily believe there is one specific area that is the hottest for deals. Coming out of the pandemic and the moratorium being lifted, I believe the deals will be determined by the banks. With current debts and forbearance agreements coming due and defaulted mortgages rising, decisions from the banks will determine what the market will look like in the next year. Who inspires you? I am very fortunate to have an amazing family, friends and coworkers at ERG. Starting in a commission-only business directly out of college is definitely not the normal path chosen. Their support and belief in me have inspired and pushed me to overcome the hurdles that you face in this industry and have allowed me to believe I can make it in this challenging business. What’s the best piece of advice you would give to someone starting in the field? You have to have patience. You need to work extremely hard without seeing any results for some time with no guarantee you will make money. To a lot of newer people in the office, I say, “no highs no lows,” to keep an even head. If a deal falls through, stay the course and keep moving forward to the next deal. If you push yourself and have the “I’m going to make it” attitude, you will find yourself in one of the most exciting, rewarding, entrepreneurial careers. mannpublications.com