Douglas Elliman CEO Shares Secrets To Success in Real Estate and Life

Explicit content warning

05/15/25 • 62 min

Real Estate Investing in New York by Christina Kremidas

In this episode of Real Estate Investing in New York, I'm thrilled to sit down with the remarkable Michael Liebowitz, CEO of Douglas Elliman Real Estate, whose journey from Staten Island to leading one of the most prestigious luxury real estate brands is nothing short of inspirational. Michael's genuine approach to business, from trusting his gut on a game-changing insurance deal to manifesting success through visualization, showcases why he's not just a brilliant business mind, but truly one of the most down-to-earth leaders I've encountered.
About the Guest:
Michael Liebowitz serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Douglas Elliman and as a member of our Board of Directors. Mr. Liebowitz is an entrepreneur, private investor, and seasoned business executive with extensive experience founding, acquiring, and monetizing businesses in the insurance and financial industries.
About the Host:
Christina Kremidas is a lifelong New Yorker who brings her extensive background in advertising to her successful real estate career in Manhattan. Her personal experience as a property investor and landlord in New York City gives her unique insight into her client's needs, while her negotiation expertise and market knowledge have quickly established her as a top-performing agent, ranking among the top 1.5% of licensed Agents in the United States for Sales Volume and among the Top 10 highest producing Small Teams at Douglas Elliman Real Estate.
Beyond her professional achievements, Christina is deeply involved in the NYC community. She is a founding Steward at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at the World Trade Center, where she serves on the Parish Council and leads social media, marketing, and young adult initiatives.
Get in touch with Christina:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christina.kremidas
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@christina.kremidas
Check out my website: https://christinakremidas.com/
Email me: [email protected]
What Is Your Property Worth?: https://christinakremidas.com/home-valuation
The Virtual Agent Experience: https://christinakremidas.com/virtual-agent
Timestamps
0:00 Michael Liebowitz Introduction
3:03 Michael's humble beginnings and background
9:10 The insurance transaction story that put Michael on the map,
17:38 Douglas Elliman's brand positioning in the high-end luxury real estate market
28:55 Achieving exclusivity with major companies like General Motors, Goldman Sachs, and JP Morgan
39:15 Michael's perspective on leadership intuition
43:52 The future of the real estate industry and AI technology
47:27 Michael's forecast for the 2025 residential real estate market
50:01 Michael's beliefs on visualization, manifestation, and the importance of personal development for success

Previous Episode

What Your Real Estate Attorney Should Be Asking

Jonathan Movtady graduated from the University of Florida in 3 short years with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. He also studied International Business, while living abroad, at Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona. After that, he earned a Juris Doctor at the University of Miami School of Law. Shortly thereafter, Jonathan was admitted to the New York & New Jersey Bars in early 2011. Jonathan has been practicing Real Estate Law ever since. Cl

About the Host:
Christina Kremidas is a lifelong New Yorker who brings her extensive background in advertising to her successful real estate career in Manhattan. Her personal experience as a property investor and landlord in New York City gives her unique insight into her client's needs, while her negotiation expertise and market knowledge have quickly established her as a top-performing agent, ranking among the top 1.5% of licensed Agents in the United States for Sales Volume and among the Top 10 highest producing Small Teams at Douglas Elliman Real Estate.
Beyond her professional achievements, Christina is deeply involved in the NYC community. She is a founding Steward at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at the World Trade Center, where she serves on the Parish Council and leads social media, marketing, and young adult initiatives.
Get in touch with Christina:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christina.kremidas
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@christina.kremidas
Check out my website: https://christinakremidas.com/
Email me: [email protected]
What Is Your Property Worth?: https://christinakremidas.com/home-valuation
The Virtual Agent Experience: https://christinakremidas.com/virtual-agent
Timestamps
0:00 Jonathan Movtady Introduction
5:49 What due diligence entails
8:13 Analyzing building financials
14:11 Key factors in building financial health and detecting warning signs
21:11 Special considerations for new development buildings and litigation risks
28:28 Consequences of inadequate due diligence and potential financial impact
31:00 Christina's personal story of poor due diligence experience
50:22 Sponsor ownership concerns and important questionnaire topics

Next Episode

Co-op Requirements vs Condo Freedom

In this I'm breaking down the surprising truth about co-ops versus condos in New York City real estate. While co-ops are known as the more affordable option with lower purchase prices, I'll show you the shocking math that reveals they actually require MORE income and cash on hand than their pricier condo counterparts.
Through a detailed side-by-side comparison of a $1M co-op and $1.25M condo, I'll expose how co-op down payment requirements, debt-to-income ratios, and post-closing liquidity demands dramatically change the affordability equation.
About the Host:
Christina Kremidas is a lifelong New Yorker who brings her extensive background in advertising to her successful real estate career in Manhattan. Her personal experience as a property investor and landlord in New York City gives her unique insight into her client's needs, while her negotiation expertise and market knowledge have quickly established her as a top-performing agent, ranking among the top 1.5% of licensed Agents in the United States for Sales Volume and among the Top 10 highest producing Small Teams at Douglas Elliman Real Estate.
Beyond her professional achievements, Christina is deeply involved in the NYC community. She is a founding Steward at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at the World Trade Center, where she serves on the Parish Council and leads social media, marketing, and young adult initiatives.
Get in touch with Christina:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christina.kremidas
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@christina.kremidas
Check out my website: https://christinakremidas.com/
Email me: [email protected]
What Is Your Property Worth?: https://christinakremidas.com/home-valuation
The Virtual Agent Experience: https://christinakremidas.com/virtual-agent
Timestamps
0:00 "The co-op math ain't mathing"
1:19 Setting up the comparison: $1M co-op vs. $1.25M condo
3:47 Breaking down financing options and down payment requirements
6:19 Analyzing debt-to-income ratio requirements
9:29 Calculating income requirements
11:52 Post-closing liquidity requirements
14:14 Comparing closing costs
16:22 Co-op requires $200K more cash and $30K higher income