Custom Brokers

Jason Bauer is dedicated to personal attention and understanding the individual needs of each of his clients. Born and raised in West Hartford, Connecticut, he graduated from Tufts University with degrees in Archaeology and Economics. The seven summers spent working on an Etruscan excavation in Tuscany have given him an appreciation of travel, fine food and wine, and the Italian language. Jason has helped many foreign clients, who value his understanding of European living and his intimate knowledge of New York City. When he is not working, Jason can be found surrounded by food – either in one of Manhattan’s many restaurants, or cooking a new recipe for friends.

Tom Bohan graduated from Fordham University with a major in economics. Born in New York, Tom has 14 years of experience in the NYC real estate market. He is well-known throughout the real estate community for his many years of experience in sales and rentals as a broker and manager. His professionalism, strong ethics and high standards continue to inspire his top sales people.

Peter-Charles Bright is a native New Yorker, Phillips Exeter Academy Alum, and Harvard Graduate. Working in the real estate industry for over 3 years, he specializes in loft and townhouse rentals but has found homes for clients throughout the city. Peter-Charles is fluent in French, proficient in Spanish, and speaks un po d'Italiano. His customers are impressed by his market knowledge, positive attitude, and pleasant dedication. Peter-Charles believes communication is key to a successful apartment search and is both capable of actively listening to client needs while suggesting strategic courses of action.

Mary Combs is grateful to work with the amazing folks at Custom Brokers! Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Mary applies all her education (BA, UC Santa Cruz and MA, Boston University) and work experience in international education, corporate marketing, and systems management to assisting clients in finding the perfect environment in which to thrive and prosper. She brings a unique knowledge of the "little villages" that make up both Manhattan and Brooklyn and relies upon diligent research and communications - as well as a positive outlook - to provide superior customer service to her clients. An aspiring artist and writer, she, her husband and their 3 sons have been active participants in the downtown community for over 15 years.

Linda Cook Mann has been a New Yorker since 1974. She is well-known throughout the real estate community as an experienced professional, and a caring person. She specializes in working with celebrities and relocations, especially for the many diplomatic missions to the UN. She has made sales from Fifth Avenue's posh co-ops to condos in Hell's Kitchen and Brooklyn. She prides herself on the fact that most of her customers are returns or referrals and says," My greatest joy in real estate is to find the home that truly makes you feel at home".

Having grown up in the hotel/restaurant business, Brian Cooney learned the importance of personalized service at an early age. Brian earned a B.A. in Business Management from North Carolina State University in 1990. After working coast to coast, he's proud to call New York City his home and real estate his career. He continues to provide professional service to his clients all throughout New York City.

As the daughter of Suzanne Brose, Karen Donica was fortunate to have been exposed to the real estate industry for most of her young life. Arriving in the city after after Art School she called her Real Estate mom and convinced her to come to NY and open up an office! Karen loved downtown because of the galleries and her mother wisely saw investment opportunities in Tribeca.  As an early loft owner and then buying subsequent apartments she has always believed in real estate investment and understands first hand the complex world of coop boards, lofts and NYC property ownership which makes her reliable and knowledgble to advise her customers. Educated at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, the oldest art school in the nation and housed in a Frank Furness building, she has always loved historic buildings and the history of cities. She enjoys finding just the right place for her customers whether they have just arrived in the city and aren't sure about where to live or are veteran New Yorkers. She takes the time to get to know them and help them with their search. Her customers come back as their needs change and or call for advice about buying versus selling or news on this changing market. Real Estate is a fun business and one which keeps her always on the go! When she isn't busy closing deals she is in her studio painting. 

Al has an M.B.A. in real estate finance from the University of Texas, McCombs School of Business and a B.S. in hotel, restaurant and institutional management from Penn State University. He has extensive experience in the hospitality industry where he held the titles of Director and Managing Partner. As a real estate professional Al was an advisor to corporate clientele in the CMBS market as well as a consultant to non-profit development projects. He is a former collegiate soccer player and his hobbies include travel, surfing and skiing. Al is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese and speaks some French and Italian as well. 

Gerry is happy to have been calling himself a New Yorker for the past four years. An avid fan of the theater, as well as independent film and music, he in constantly immersed in the best New York has to offer. Having spent the last ten years within the banking and financial services industry, Gerry knows how invaluable strong, personalized service is to his clients.  Gerry firmly believes that every client's favorite place should be their home and will go the extra mile to put his clients into the perfect place.

Although born and raised in a small town in Connecticut and educated in the rolling hills of Vermont, Lauren Kiel has always been a Manhattan girl at heart. As a graduate of Middlebury College, Lauren approaches her work with a fresh energy and with a strong work ethic. Some may consider Lauren the ultimate testimonial for the integrity and efficiency of Custom Brokers as a company because it was her experience first as their client that inspired her to pursue a career in real estate with them. It is Lauren's mission to give all of her clients the same honest, caring, and seamless experience that she had with her broker. Now a fulltime real estate agent as well as an New York actress, Lauren has found Custom Brokers to be her ever growing New York family.

Elzbieta Kielar has been involved in New York Real Estate for over two decades, where she has  specializes in SoHo rentals and sales. She is especially familiar with the neighborhood, which she has called home since 1977, the year she arrived to New York from her native Poland. As the President of her Co-op, Elzbieta knows the ins and outs of boards, and has personal connections across the neighborhood, which has served clients well.     

Licenced since 1999, during the hay days of the real estate market boom, and specializing in the downtown market, Emmanuel has generated countless real estate transactions in the spawn of the last decade. A French Native and fluent in three languages, he specializes in catering to the needs of a vast array of clients, from the perennial New Yorker to the European sophisticated investor. Emmanuel also provides the guidance and special attention demanded by more and more new expatriates from all corners of the world. Using his special connections to the key players, management companies, landlords and fellow brokers, coupled with an intricate knowledge of an ever changing market and an unbreakable ethical bond, Emmanuel has proven to be a true asset to the downtown community and an active part of its development. If you wish to experience the best that a Manhattan broker has to offer, call Emmanuel today and let him known what your real estate needs are, there is a big chance he will come through as a true Custom Broker should.

Bill Massof, originally from Minneapolis, moved to New York City in 1983.  An actor and model with an M.A. in philosophy, Bill has the focused ability to listen and respond to the unique needs of his customers.  With a keen interest in the city and its various neighborhoods, he enjoys the challenge of matching people to their perfect home.

Sheilisa McNeal is a professional communicator with many irons in the fire including a successful career in public relations, marketing and communications for 10+ years prior to her foray into the real estate market. A native New Yorker with a natural love affair with the city, she added the title "real estate broker" to her resume in 2004. Finding the perfect place for her customers and the best price for her clients is her #1 priority and explains why 95% of her business comes from personal referrals. When she is not working her real estate magic, she can be found in the classroom at New York University's School of Continuing and Professional studies where she is an Adjunct Instructor teaching Writing for Marketing Communications. Sheilisa believes that the ability to communicate through varied mediums is the key to success in any field. So, if you're looking for a knowledgeable broker, with a realistic grasp of the market and a sense of caring and compassion, then Sheilisa is the broker for you!

 Sandra has been an active member of the real estate community for the past nine years, and is dedicated to providing the finest support and service available in the Industry. Fluent in Spanish and English, she is hailed as a professional who understands the complexities and sophistication of the ever changing market. Sandra goes the extra mile to help all of her customers achieve their goals.  

Noah Sferra is an award winning broker with over a decade of experience in Real Estate, Property Management and Construction Project management.  His industry commentary has been featured in the New York Times, Financial Times and The Real Deal. Noah is a graduate of both the School of Engineering & Applied Science, and the School of Arts & Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania.

Michelle has worked in NYC for 37 years and has lived in many of the most popular neighborhoods such as Manhattan’s Upper West Side, the West Village, the Lower East Side, Brooklyn’s Park Slope, and Victorian Flatbush, where she now lives and co-owns a recording studio, Park West Studios, with her husband. Her familiarity with all the up and coming neighborhoods in Brooklyn have given her a loyal customer base and great rapport with buyers and sellers alike.
            An alumni of The Manhattan School of Music, Michelle has written music for film and CD’s; many of which have been recorded by some of the worlds finest musicians. Because of these experiences, she is completely at ease in any style of real estate transaction.

Rachel Styne showed an early instinct for NYC's real estate market when she purchased her first loft downtown Manhattan at the young age of 21. Since then, she has used her gifted financial skills and knowledge to buy and sell various properties. Rachel works with many young professionals, couples and families, and uses her intuitive gifts to match them with a property that suits their short-term needs and long-term lifestyle goals.

Bio coming soon...

Renée E. Warren's love of NY Real Estate comes from her love of the City and great architecture. As a young girl, she worked in her father's real estate development company in Norfolk, VA and says working beside her father early on created her foundation and appreciation of great buildings.
After moving to NYC and working for Dow Jones Inc., CNBC, co-founding Noelle-Elaine Media, Inc., and later creating Arielle-Wren, Inc., a boutique agency that incorporates all of her passions (i.e. teaching, media and real estate). Renée decided to join Custom Brokers to assist New Yorkers in finding the perfect home.
A true Manhattanite, Renée has lived in nearly every neighborhood in the City, from the Upper West Side, to Times Square, to Chelsea to Wall Street to Harlem. Her reputation for quality service and keen negotiation makes her the “go to” agent. She says her business is built on honesty, communication and finding the "perfect match" for both the buyer and seller.
She received her B.S from Old Dominion University in Virginia and her M.A. from Columbia University. She is the co-author of “You Buy the Peanut Butter, I’ll Get the Bread ...”

Robert Wilson has been involved in NYC Real Estate since 1974, as a sales broker, property manager, real estate consultant and building renovator. For years he ran an advertising, graphic and gift design firm, Blue Hen Graphics. He is a graduate of The University of Delaware's Media Arts Program and NYU's Real Estate Property Management School. In addition to sales brokerage experience, he brings extensive knowledge of building systems/mechanics and marketing to each client. Robert was awarded Property Manager of The Year by Cooperator Magazine in 2001. He has an investment portfolio of properties in the Pocono Mountains also. Robert is also a collector and an avid painter and member of the Salmagundi Art Club.