Brennan Real Estate, LLC, is a full-service residential real estate company focusing on rehabbing, maintaining and investing in multi-family properties in and around historic Brooklyn neighborhoods. Donald Brennan, BRE’s principal, is a 24-year veteran of all aspects of the real estate business, with experience as an architect, appraiser, developer and broker. BRE’s services range from property advisory, development, management and investment.
Donald Brennan, founder
Donald has a fine appreciation of real estate from design, financing and construction perspectives, making him extremely effective at both identifying potential redevelopment opportunities and orchestrating successful deals.
A native New Yorker and longtime resident of Brooklyn Heights, Donald first became intrigued with historic and distinctive properties from an architect’s perspective. After his undergraduate studies in the field, he spent two years at an architectural firm in Ireland, then returned to the States to earn his Masters of Architecture from the University of Michigan, College of Architecture and Urban Planning. Donald’s subsequent years as a practicing architect with his own firm set the stage for other positions that would further fuel his market expertise. Over the next few years, he served as an analyst at a major NYC commercial real estate appraisal firm, and as a financial analyst in a high-profile investment banking environment where he was responsible for the acquisition, development and management of multi-million-dollar property portfolios for the nation’s largest investment manager of pension fund assets.
All the while, Donald simultaneously developed a passion for buying, rehabilitating, selling and managing buildings in both Manhattan and in Brooklyn. By witnessing his own investments appreciate in value, he felt compelled to provide his expert knowledge and results to clients who share his same pride and vision. Donald additionally obtained his MBA in Finance from New York University, Leonard N. Stern School of Business to optimize his financial savvy.
As principal of Brennan Real Estate, LLC, Donald combines his unique assembly of skills that have distinguished him as a highly proficient practitioner in his field. Complementing his keen understanding of how properties are acquired and rehabilitated is an in-depth knowledge of the process of reconstructing buildings, of the financing that comes into play, and of the intricate measures involved to ensure approval from such governing entities as neighborhood associations, community boards and the Landmarks Preservation Commission.
Since founding Brennan Real Estate, LLC, a full-service real estate development company that specializes in acquiring and rehabilitating properties that are in or adjacent to landmark districts, Donald has served a diverse and select clientele of property investors and owners in the purchase, renovation and management of their prized real estate assets.
Betsy Hoffman, broker
Betsy has sold and rented properties throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn, with an insider’s knowledge of the “stats” on every street, building, even unit throughout her territory. She has a genuine passion for real estate, and for finding the right home for the right person. A Native New Yorker, Betsy spends her free time moonlighting in the world of sketch comedy. Before teaming up with Donald Brennan, she successfully ran and marketed a placemat company.
Catherine Barnes-Domotor, research
Kate double-majored in Government and Urban Planning Perspectives at Connecticut College in New London, then earned her Masters of Science in Urban Planning from Columbia University. A Brooklyn Heights resident for several years, Kate has worked with Brennan Real Estate conducting in-depth research and analysis of Brooklyn and Manhattan markets; data compilation of properties; land, price histories and comparisons; marketing’ and helping to organize portfolios of properties for prospective investors.
Virgina Sobol, marketing and public relations director
Virginia Sobol served as Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations for Mack-Cali Realty Corporation, a commercial real estate developer, owner and manager, and a publicly traded REIT. She headed all communications–including marketing, PR, advertising, investor communications, and Web and online initiatives–as the company transitioned from private to public ownership and experienced tremendous growth. Projects included the development and recent redevelopment of Mack-Cali’s Web site, www.mack-cali.com; annual reports to shareholders; marketing literature; and press materials.
Virginia also has deep Brooklyn roots, having resided in Park Slope, Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill.
Lisa Selin Davis, editor
Lisa studied Urban Planning at Hunter College and Environmental Psychology at the CUNY Graduate Center, and has written about architecture and real estate for the New York Times, Time, New York, and many other publications. She is a longtime resident of Park Slope.
Welcome to Brennan Real Estate
Brennan Real Estate, LLC, is a full-service residential real estate company focusing on rehabbing, maintaining and investing in multi-family properties in and around historic Brooklyn neighborhoods. Donald Brennan, BRE’s principal, is a 24-year veteran of all aspects of the real estate business, with experience as an architect, appraiser, developer and broker. BRE’s services range from property advisory, development, management and investment.
Donald has a fine appreciation of real estate from design, financing and construction perspectives, making him extremely effective at both identifying potential redevelopment opportunities and orchestrating successful deals.
A native New Yorker and longtime resident of Brooklyn Heights, Donald first became intrigued with historic and distinctive properties from an architect’s perspective. After his undergraduate studies in the field, he spent two years at an architectural firm in Ireland, then returned to the States to earn his Masters of Architecture from the University of Michigan, College of Architecture and Urban Planning. Donald’s subsequent years as a practicing architect with his own firm set the stage for other positions that would further fuel his market expertise. Over the next few years, he served as an analyst at a major NYC commercial real estate appraisal firm, and as a financial analyst in a high-profile investment banking environment where he was responsible for the acquisition, development and management of multi-million-dollar property portfolios for the nation’s largest investment manager of pension fund assets.
All the while, Donald simultaneously developed a passion for buying, rehabilitating, selling and managing buildings in both Manhattan and in Brooklyn. By witnessing his own investments appreciate in value, he felt compelled to provide his expert knowledge and results to clients who share his same pride and vision. Donald additionally obtained his MBA in Finance from New York University, Leonard N. Stern School of Business to optimize his financial savvy.
As principal of Brennan Real Estate, LLC, Donald combines his unique assembly of skills that have distinguished him as a highly proficient practitioner in his field. Complementing his keen understanding of how properties are acquired and rehabilitated is an in-depth knowledge of the process of reconstructing buildings, of the financing that comes into play, and of the intricate measures involved to ensure approval from such governing entities as neighborhood associations, community boards and the Landmarks Preservation Commission.
Since founding Brennan Real Estate, LLC, a full-service real estate development company that specializes in acquiring and rehabilitating properties that are in or adjacent to landmark districts, Donald has served a diverse and select clientele of property investors and owners in the purchase, renovation and management of their prized real estate assets.
Betsy has sold and rented properties throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn, with an insider’s knowledge of the “stats” on every street, building, even unit throughout her territory. She has a genuine passion for real estate, and for finding the right home for the right person. A Native New Yorker, Betsy spends her free time moonlighting in the world of sketch comedy. Before teaming up with Donald Brennan, she successfully ran and marketed a placemat company.
Kate double-majored in Government and Urban Planning Perspectives at Connecticut College in New London, then earned her Masters of Science in Urban Planning from Columbia University. A Brooklyn Heights resident for several years, Kate has worked with Brennan Real Estate conducting in-depth research and analysis of Brooklyn and Manhattan markets; data compilation of properties; land, price histories and comparisons; marketing’ and helping to organize portfolios of properties for prospective investors.
Virgina Sobol, marketing and public relations director
Virginia Sobol served as Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations for Mack-Cali Realty Corporation, a commercial real estate developer, owner and manager, and a publicly traded REIT. She headed all communications–including marketing, PR, advertising, investor communications, and Web and online initiatives–as the company transitioned from private to public ownership and experienced tremendous growth. Projects included the development and recent redevelopment of Mack-Cali’s Web site, www.mack-cali.com; annual reports to shareholders; marketing literature; and press materials.
Virginia also has deep Brooklyn roots, having resided in Park Slope, Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill.
Lisa studied Urban Planning at Hunter College and Environmental Psychology at the CUNY Graduate Center, and has written about architecture and real estate for the New York Times, Time, New York, and many other publications. She is a longtime resident of Park Slope.