Loy Carlos and Ryan Serhant (LaVie Classique, Getty)
Loy Carlos sealed his deal with Ryan Serhant this summer over mussels and roast chicken and some memorable duress — the Flatiron restaurant where they dined lacked air-conditioning.
The Manhattan dinner led Carlos, the veteran real estate agent who worked with so-called condo queen Carrie Chiang at Corcoran Group, to jump to Serhant’s shop. He’ll lead Serhant’s “Signature” divisions, for properties asking at least $10 million, and build his own team.
“We just had so much fun talking,” Carlos said in an interview yesterday.
It’s a return of sorts for Carlos, who studied journalism at New York University and said he’s been seeking a change for years. He left real estate in 2011 to consult for nonprofits and small businesses and founded a lifestyle magazine featuring some of his clients. He also started a company that handled aspects of luxury living, from property management to event planning.
“I needed a change in direction and career,” he said of that period. “Otherwise, I would be showing apartments for the rest of my life. I never intended to be just full-time doing real estate.”
Even so, in 2017 he rejoined Chiang, whose team was the top producer at Corcoran. Three years later, after reflecting on his goals during the lockdown hit, he left the team to work alone at Corcoran. That move didn’t reflect a falling out with his former team leader, he said. Corcoran spokesperson Johnna Muscente called Carlos a valued employee and said the firm wished him well.
Although Carlos and Serhant have known each other for years, Serhant said a recent deal was top of mind when he approached the agent. Last spring, while real estate showings were still banned, Carlos and Serhant worked together to close an $8.2 million sale at 829 Park Avenue, a white-glove co-operative 829 Park Avenue. The seller was comedian Rodney Dangerfield’s daughter, Melanie Roy-Friedman, property records show. Serhant said Carlos impressed him.
“He is a sales sniper,” said Serhant. “Watching him get that deal done was amazing.”
Carlos said Serhant’s vision for his new brokerage, which officially launched last October, resonated. It set the firm apart from others that tried to recruit him after he left Chiang’s team, Carlos said.
“Ryan reminded me of me 30 years ago, when everything was an opportunity,” Carlos said.. “I got really excited.”
Several agents and executives who’ve spent major chunks of their career at one firm have recently moved elsewhere. Last week, Douglas Elliman agent Richard Steinberg said he was moving his team to Compass. Earlier this year, Steven James, Elliman’s New York CEO and manager Brad Loe moved to Berkshire Hathaway’s HomeServices of America, followed last month by Diane Ramirez.
