Name: Tyson Youngs ’17
Title: Broker’s Intern
Organization: Douglas Elliman
What were you up to this past summer?
This past summer I worked as a Broker’s Intern in Manhattan at Douglas Elliman, the largest residential real estate firm in Metropolitan New York. The broker who I interned with focused primarily on new developments, but also brokered smaller deals, such as single-family sales and leases. Without an agents license, it was hard for me to completely shadow my broker as there are issues with legality and confidentiality, but I tried to fully immerse myself in the day-to-day operations of a real estate broker in NYC.
It is hard to describe a typical day, because every day was so different. Some days I would work from 10am-2pm, and other days I would work from 8am-7pm. It all depended on how much needed to be done on each individual day. As most agents and brokers are independent contractors, there is no set schedule, and daily activities vary based on a client’s needs. This means, if a client calls Monday night at 9pm and wants to see a few condos the next morning at 8am, you better be prepared, otherwise, you might not have that client anymore.
The fast passed, flexible schedule was something that I really enjoyed. Doing something completely different every day helped me learn a plethora of new skills, and it kept my energy high throughout the summer.
What was your favorite part?
The median sales price in NYC is just over $1,000,000. For the most part, as a top 75 broker in NYC my boss was brokering deals well over this amount. It was awesome to meet the people he was doing business with, and to see the places that amount of money can buy. It further fueled my passion for real estate, and motivated me to continue to learn and become the best agent, and eventually broker, that I can be.
I also enjoyed roaming the streets of New York City. Whenever my boss would give me an errand, I would be excited to explore a new section of the concrete jungle. I felt as though I was unlocking a map, and by the end of the summer, I knew my way around the city. It was also helpful in learning the different neighborhoods of NYC, as this will prove to be a vital skill when I return to the city after graduation.
What surprised you?
I was surprised by the amount of fun I had at work. I knew I would have fun when I had time off, but I didn’t expect that I would thoroughly enjoy going to work every day. I was excited to see that I had such a passion for this particular job, and the entire industry. I’m obviously sad about leaving Holy Cross, but I could not be more excited to be going back to New York and begin my new career.
