Led by Frances Katzen, The Katzen Team at Douglas Elliman NYC brings their clients expertise, diligence and sensitivity. All with the objective of eliminating the stress and unknown and elevating the buyer’s experience of property acquisition.

Originally from Cape Town, South Africa, Frances journey led her to move to Sydney, Australia due to the apartheid. She eventually relocated to New York when she was 15 years old and received a scholarship to the School of American Ballet.

“I love New York’s diversity and ability to step from one world into its total antithesis in just a matter of minutes. Aesthetically and culturally, each neighborhood has its own unique character that makes it so special. There is nothing else like New York” says Frances.

When did your career start in Real Estate and what inspired you toward this path?

I started in real estate in 2006. My family was very successful in design and architecture. I had watched my family buy and flip both in Australia and New York, and thought that being able to bring that together on behalf of a client would be something I loved doing. Being able to create a business that melded design, space, and value upon resale really excited me.

What is a deal you did in 2021 that makes you proud?

During one of the most protracted times globally, I was able to achieve the highest sale ever on behalf of a co-op on the Upper West Side that year, against all the odds. The apartment right above our unit was listed for $6 million cheaper than our listing, and we were essentially identical spaces. At the same time, COVID was rampant, newspapers were hyping up how bad the City’s real estate market was, and there were very big concerns about the negative headlines regarding the neighborhood, given some of the political moves made by the mayor. I ended up selling the unit for $18 million, setting a record for the highest sale ever in the building.

As an entrepreneur, what do you believe is your biggest strength?  

Drive. Regardless of what I have achieved, I am endlessly motivated to continue to serve my clients the best I can.

Who has been your inspiration?

I’m inspired by people who do things from a place of passion and a sense of selflessness, versus people who are on the take.

What is the most important lesson you learned from a mistake?

The art of not reacting in real-time.

Is there a special piece of advice you received that you keep in mind?

Stop talking and listen.

Is there a personal habit that contributes the most to your success?

Not settling and operating from a place of integrity. When you do, you complete things much more fully and to the level that clients expect and deserve.

What book had a key impact on your life?

George Orwell’s “Down and Out in Paris and London”

Are there trends in design and features you see forward-thinking developers implementing?

Integrating wellness features into the day-to-day amenities, such as air purification and green-walls. People are spending more time at home than ever before, and innovative developers are thinking about how to create a lifestyle more conducive for health and well-being, not just a good-looking doorknob.

How do you think the market will change in 2022?

I think amongst all the recent “gloom and doom” talk, what emerges is a pendulum swing. This drives the market back into real estate by simple virtue that as rates have crept up and inflation continues to play out, real estate will capitulate. Thus, prices will reduce, making the buyers very attracted to re-entry—irrespective of rate hikes and adjustments—by the simple fact that it is still historically lower than rates have been in years past. With that comes a new drive by the buyer to get in on “value,” especially against a 40% increase YOY in rentals forcing people to really want to get out of the current rental market.

How has social media contributed to your success as a realtor?

As a marketing tool, social media has allowed me to reach people from across the world. It keeps us relevant in real-time, and it is a great networking tool, in tandem with creating an additional set of eyeballs to help grow our properties and their visibility. We recently had a client who viewed one of our property listings posts on Instagram, ended up pursuing the property and closing on this $2 million duplex virtually.

Is there a non-profit or cause that is close to your heart? 

As a fellow South African and Australian, and mother, I am incredibly protective of our environment and planet as a general matter for generations to come. The only way to make this difference is to model it, and one of the ways that I have sought to make a difference is to support causes that touch our next generation. One that I am incredibly connected to is One Tree Planted. For every dollar that is donated, one tree is planted. I am also a supporter of Coalition for the Homeless. As a parent, it is very hard to explain to your children why people are living on the streets and why we are not doing more to help the homeless. This is an issue that is so rampant in our city, and supporting them is one way for me to do my part in helping fellow New Yorkers that have had a rough time recently.

What is the most memorable experience in your career?

There is nothing more gratifying than seeing someone who has put the sweat equity into their job and now, as a result, are in the position to buy something that is concrete and is such a departure from everything that they have had in their past. It really is “that moment” of arriving into their financial freedom and of owning something really beautiful. Watching their faces get emotional about this realization is pretty awesome.

Favorite apps that you could not live without:

Online banking apps and Drybar!

What neighborhoods do you specialize in?

I don’t, I sell in every neighborhood in Manhattan!

Top 3 places to take friends or clients to experience in NYC:

1 – SUMMIT One Vanderbilt pretty much epitomizes what the Big Apple is about
2 – The Metropolitan Museum of Art
3 – Sheep Meadow in Central Park

Who is your favorite architect?

Jeffrey Beers, Thierry Despont and Paris Forino

What is a significant mistake you have seen luxury buyers make when purchasing a residential property?

Buying at the height of the market and then trying to sell their product at the low of the market – after having paid the sugar high price. Buying a primary residence in a neighborhood they have never lived in before but thought they would like – rather than renting and seeing if this neighborhood bodes well with what they need.

Are you seeing more local or out-of-town buyers?

Currently we are seeing an influx of foreign buyers. Also domestic buyers are now visiting and allocating to the NYC property market.

What is your favorite property currently on the market?

My listing 157 Spring Street #PH6 is exquisite and has everything you could want in a NYC residence, location, space, design and a rooftop terrace.

If you were not working in Real Estate, what would you most likely be doing?

I would likely be a photographer for National Geographic.

Highest recent sale:

11 East 68th Street, #9East for $22.95 million.
Name an agent you closed a deal with that was incredible to work with? (we want to recognize the highest quality people in our industry)
Alexa Lambert – she is transparent, consistent, professional and effective.

Connect with Frances!

Instagram: @franceskatzen @thekatzenteam

thekatzenreport.com