Ep.14 - New York Real Estate as a Civic Partner: Policy, Sustainability, & Innovation with Sandhya Espitia
We sit down with Sandhya Espitia, COO of REBNY, to explore how the $1.4 trillion industry is reshaping New York. From Local Law 97 and retrofits to debunking the “developer as villain” myth, Sandhya highlights real estate’s role as a civic partner in keeping NYC livable and competitive. We cover her journey from Colombia to COO, why most real estate tech companies fail in NYC, and how she balances tradition with diversity, innovation, and public trust. Whether you’re navigating sustainability mandates, curious about policy, or figuring out how to break into NYC real estate, this conversation is a crash course in how the city really works.
Show Notes:
0:10: Ryan goes suburban, Nadine goes nomadic
2:42: Taking our show to Blueprint!
3:40: NYC’s complex real estate landscape
5:25: Sandhya’s path from Colombia to powering REBNY
10:48: REBNY’s commitment to housing, sustainability, and safety
13:10: Reviving REBNY’s 1980s ties with NYC Government
15:45: The Impact of the FARE ACT
21:10: How to overcome challenges of adopting tech in NYC
34:10: Advancing Sustainability through NYC’s LL97
39:46: Honoring heritage, embracing diversity
48:20: Biggest Threat to NYC Real Estate?
53:44: Sandhya’s Panel at Blueprint!
55:56: How does Sandhya unplug?
1:00:39: Nadine & Ryan’s Takeaways
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