Report: Luxury Home Sales in Markets North of NYC Increased by Double Digits in the Third Quarter
The growing number of closed sales is concentrated in the lower end of the luxury market.
Emran Bhuiyan is a rising young star with Exit Realty Premium in the Bronx. At 27 and with only four years in the business, he is a Gold and Silver Award winner, the Director of Sales, and a new HGAR Director as of January 2023.
It’s hard to imagine that 10 years ago he was a teenager who just moved to the U.S. from Bangladesh. “It was an exciting moment,” he recalled. “It was like a dream when we heard we were going to America. This meant not only a better education, but a better life. Here we have the freedom to do whatever we want.”
Bhuiyan’s father had owned grocery stores in Bangladesh, and with the help of relatives already living in New York, the family moved to Parkchester in 2013. Bhuiyan attended high school in Manhattan, followed by the Bronx Community College where he studied information systems and programming. “I didn’t really like it, but I had started to watch YouTube videos of people making money in real estate and that got me excited,” he said.
In 2018, the family purchased a two-family home in Parkchester and Bhuiyan was able to experience the entire real estate process. He worked with a real estate agent, found the house and helped handle the transactions. “I thought – maybe I can do that, so let me get my license,” he said. “At first I wasn’t thinking about it as a full-time career—I just wanted to earn some extra cash.” But after helping a couple of friends find homes, the word began to spread throughout the local community.
Growing up speaking Bengali, Bhuiyan has helped many others from Bangladesh and India secure homes in the area. “Buying a home in America is a huge achievement—especially for immigrants,” he noted. “Speaking two languages has really expanded my business.”
Like many immigrants, Bhuiyan had to learn English when he arrived in the U.S. “I knew a little bit, but I wasn’t that good at it then,” he admitted. “I started picking up more English in high school, and I’m still always learning.”
One of his specialties is helping first-time homebuyers in the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn and lower Westchester. “I try to guide them from day one with things like how much they need to qualify for a loan, where to buy and the whole process from showings to closing,” he said. “I’m not just a salesperson—I want to become their friend and get them excited about the purchase.”
After 10 years of settling into a U.S. lifestyle, Bhuiyan notes it’s much easier to secure a home here than in Bangladesh, touting government-assisted loan options like FHA loans with lower interest payments. While rising rents throughout the New York metro area are making it more difficult to save for purchasing a home, Bhuiyan believes in the old adage, “If there’s a will, there’s a way.”
“Nothing is impossible,” he said. “If you put your mind to it and have a goal, you can do it.”
Bhuiyan is also enjoying his first year as an HGAR Director. As someone who has been involved in association events from the start of his career, he jumped at the opportunity to be part of HGAR’s Leadership Accelerator Program last year. “The more people I know, the better it is for me and the more knowledge I gain,” he said. “I wanted to be part of the Board of Directors to get a better idea of what’s happening in this industry, as well as keeping on top of the Fair Housing laws.”
Now one of Exit Premium’s top salespeople and the brokerage’s sales director, Bhuiyan is always busy. “I know sometimes this industry can be very frustrating,” he admitted. Just prior to COVID, he had six deals ready to go into contract and then lost all of them. “It was a terrible situation, and I was even reconsidering real estate, but it taught me a lesson—you can’t control everything. All I could do was be my best to help my clients and also grow my business.”
Never one to give up easily, Bhuiyan relied on social media marketing to help keep his name in front of everyone. He used education and information instead of trying to sell them on properties, creating a steady source of referrals. “The moment you start thinking about the money is when you lose the momentum,” he added. “Just focus on your service.”
Bhuiyan also credits Broker/Owner Anthony Domathoti with mentoring him over the past four years. “He really helped me and I’m trying to pass this on to other agents,” he noted.
Currently, you’ll find Bhuiyan working seven days a week, but he does spend some free time hanging out with friends and playing video games. Last year, he and his family returned to Bangladesh for his brother’s wedding.
One of his passions is to travel throughout the U.S., but for now, he’s planted firmly in the Bronx, building his career. “I can’t think of doing anything else,” he said. “My goal is to change the attitude about Realtors and help my clients, and I know the money will come. The main thing is to always remain positive.”
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