The luxury real estate scene in New York City is by far one of the most coveted markets in the eyes of aspiring homeowners, investors, and agents alike. Compass real estate broker Kate Meckler has established herself at the top of this niche, closing multimillion-dollar deals and scoring listings that most agents can only dream of representing.
So, how did Meckler get to the top of this remarkably competitive heap?
A native New Yorker, Kate Meckler was born and raised in Manhattan. Her career journey started in 1997 when she graduated from New York University’s Gallatin School. Through a unique program that allowed her to design her own major, Meckler took on several internships, dipping her toes into a bit of everything. From interning at Good Morning America and Merrill Lynch to trying her hand at teaching at a nursery school, she gained a wealth of knowledge and real-world experience.
After college, Meckler’s next adventure was in event planning. With the boldness that only a New Yorker could muster, she cold-called her way into a job at Bear Stearns investment bank as a conference and event planner. But despite the excitement of landing her first postgrad job, Meckler found that there wasn’t much room for advancement and craved something more fulfilling. After a year at Bear Stearns, she hit the classifieds. This led her to a marketing role at Estée Lauder under its Prescriptives brand, but she still found herself yearning for a deeper connection to her work. She resumed her job search yet again.
The Nursery School Epiphany
The turning point came at the most unexpected place — a nursery school. After spotting an ad in The New York Times, Meckler decided to take a job as a full-time teacher at a prestigious Upper West Side institution. Part of her job involved conducting home visits before the children started school for the year. Through those visits, she got a glimpse into numerous homes across the city.
Meckler was captivated by the various layouts and architectural charm of Big Apple apartments. It was an aha moment; she realized her love for the city’s real estate and decided to turn her passion into a career. “Something just clicked,” she recalls. “I know apartments, I love layouts. So I got my [real estate] license and just went right into it.”
Mentorship and Sweat Equity
Joining the real estate industry as a young agent was a bold move, especially in a field dominated by seasoned professionals. Starting at a boutique brokerage, she sought out top-producing mentors to show her the ropes. “People that were successful wanted an assistant or someone to help out. And that’s how I learned. They give me 25% of the deal [and] I would do most of the work,” she says. “I worked with a couple of different senior brokers, and then just sort of took off and was a top producer for many years.”
Meckler has worked with numerous high-profile clients, but out of respect for their privacy, she remains tight-lipped about their identities and transactions.
She never divulges details about her clients or their property interests unless given explicit permission.
One of Kate Meckler’s most buzz-worthy deals was the sale of a stunning six-story town house on the Upper East Side to media personality Donny Deutsch for $21 million. While Deutsch’s offer was outbid by another buyer, the seller chose to sell the property to him because he preferred working with Meckler. It was a perfect example of the phrase, “Who you work with matters.”
Kate Meckler has navigated her career with professionalism, a strong work ethic, and a whole lot of heart. Her hard work has paid off and today, she’s a trusted name in New York City real estate. The best part? The repeat business that keeps coming her way. “I actually just got a call recently from someone I sold to in 2008. Luckily, he kept my information. I’m going to list his apartment shortly. So it’s really nice to have repeat [business]. And people that I do keep in touch with, I’ve bought and resold their apartments.” It’s clear that her clients value her expertise and trust her to handle their real estate needs time and again.
Kate Meckler’s Keys to Success
When she’s not busy closing deals throughout the city, Meckler enjoys spending quality time with her son and their cockapoo. She also loves tackling jigsaw puzzles, playing tennis, and traveling.
But work is never far from her mind. Meckler’s secret sauce for success? She doesn’t drive business by being pushy or overly salesy; instead, she focuses on developing genuine relationships with her clients. “I’m good with people,” she shares. “And people [say], ‘You’re a real estate agent?’ [They] can’t believe it because I’m not a pushy agent. I’m not the typical [agent], and I think people like that. I really become friends with most of the people I sell and buy with. My business [comes from] referrals, so I really don’t do much marketing.”
One old-school marketing practice that Kate Meckler does stand by is cold-calling. While most real estate agents dread this method, known for its high rejection rates, Meckler leans into it with the same enthusiasm that landed her the job at Bear Stearns. “I have no fear of coldly contacting someone and suggesting a property to them,” she confidently states. “The worst thing is they say no or not respond.”
On the flip side, she’s not sold on all traditional methods. Meckler reveals her doubts about sending mailers, a popular marketing technique. “I’ve always been skeptical about the effectiveness of traditional mailings for generating business,” she says. “I find they rarely yield the desired results. I’m sure some people have had success, otherwise they wouldn’t be doing it, but it’s not one of my strategies.”
Most importantly, she stresses the need for a customer relationship management system to keep track of the names and contact information of past and current clients. “One of my biggest mistakes is that I never created a [CRM], and it’s ridiculous,” she admits. “I will walk by buildings and think, ‘I have no idea who the person was that I sold to there, but I know I did a deal there 20 years ago,’ and wish that I had that [information. I’m creating one now.”
