Richard began his career in a New York bank’s commercial collections department in 1987.
“I worked full-time and continued my college education at night. While in school a classmate introduced me to the field of real estate appraisals. In 1988, I made the move and underwent two years of intensive training and have since specialized in appraising Manhattan and Queens co-ops and condominiums.”
Initially, it was the freedom of working in the appraisal field and the opportunity to explore the vibrant city of Manhattan that Richard found most rewarding about the profession.
“Over time, the flexibility of managing my own schedule and working from home became invaluable. The ability to directly influence my income through productivity has been a motivating factor throughout my appraisal career as well.”
The professionalism that Richard exhibits everyday is something that was instilled in him from day one.
“I was trained by a highly demanding mentor who instilled a deep sense of professionalism. Appraising high-value properties in Manhattan requires precision, accuracy, and integrity, qualities I have carried throughout my career. My ability to produce consistently reliable appraisals in a market that demands excellence is a point of pride.”
Since 2019, Richard has focused on appraising co-ops and condominiums in Queens, New York. Over this span of time, he has witnessed Queens undergoing a real estate renaissance. One neighborhood, Flushing, is at the forefront of this boasting two major projects.
“The Willets Point Redevelopment Project is the largest affordable housing initiative in decades, featuring 150,000 sq. ft. of open public space, 20,000 sq. ft. of retail, a 250-room hotel, and a 25,000-seat stadium. The Metropolitan Park Project (near Citi Field) is an $8 billion entertainment complex that features a casino, hotel, music venue, 20 acres of green space, and five acres of athletic fields and playgrounds.”
The market for co-ops and condominiums in Queens remains stable with a mix of data points that makes a trend hard to define.
“Sales in January 2025 were down slightly compared to January 2024 (208 vs. 224), and inventory was down too (1,361 vs. 1,628). However, total days on market for co-ops sold was lower (59 days vs. 73 days) but total days on market for condominiums sold was higher (89 days vs. 72 days).