RISMEDIA, January 22, 2009-(MCT)-It may seem counterintuitive to launch a real estate firm during a recession that has sent home sales and values falling, but the founders of Rosner Doherty Realty in New Haven, Conn. say the challenging market added to the allure of starting the company.
“It gave us an opportunity to get involved when other people would either be leaving the market or shying away,” said Merrick Rosner, a managing agent at the company.
Rosner, 29, his brother, Jeremy Rosner, 32, and Kieran Doherty, 30, started the company in September with Jeffrey Rosner, 58.
The younger Rosners and Doherty are managing agents. Jeffrey Rosner, who is Merrick and Jeremy’s father, is the company’s broker. He previously owned Ross Realty, a local firm now run by his mother, Pearle Rosner.
The company specializes in residential and commercial real estate sales and leasing, as well as investment properties, along most of the New Haven Shoreline area.
Doherty said agents who have been in the business longer may be frustrated in this market, having witnessed prior real estate booms, but the managers at this company have a “fresh” perspective.
“We don’t know any better,” he said, referring to the current market’s struggles. “Even though times are bad, we’re excited every day to come to work.”
The real estate market has been hit hard in this economy.
“I don’t know of anyone else who’s opening a real estate company these days,” said Anthony Rescigno, president of the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce. “Frankly, we teased them a little bit about opening up a real estate business. (But) they’re looking long term; they’re not concerned with what’s happening here the next six months to a year. I’m very impressed with these young guys.”
Market downturns tend to present opportunities to entrepreneurs in the industry, according to Linda St. Peter, president of the Connecticut Association of Realtors.
“The economy, as challenged as it may be, has not stopped the entrepreneurial spirit in real estate. Companies continue to be formed, bought, sold and merged,” she said.
The founding of Rosner Doherty marks a homecoming for the Rosner brothers and Doherty, who all graduated from Hopkins School. The Rosners grew up in New Haven; Doherty is from Madison, Conn.
Prior to starting the company, Merrick Rosner was a research analyst for Thomson Financial, a senior event manager at Gabel Entertainment in New York City and a senior district sales manager for Office Depot.
Jeremy Rosner was a pharmaceutical specialist in Connecticut, a medical sales specialist in New York and New Jersey, and began his real estate career at NY Commercial Realty Services LLC.
Doherty was a sales and trading assistant at First Albany Capital in New York City and later worked in sales at Janney Montgomery Scott and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., both in Philadelphia.
The three returned to Greater New Haven to form the new company. They plan to eventually expand it, adding both staff members and offices.
“We all love the community,” said Jeremy Rosner, adding they are eager to establish additional ties in the Shoreline. They recently started the Greater New Haven Breakfast Club, a networking group that meets weekly.
Jeffrey Rosner, who ran Ross Realty for more than 30 years, said his counterparts at the firm join a growing number of young professionals in the region who have an innovative business outlook. “They have a whole different approach,” he said.
For more information, visit www.RosnerDoherty.com.
Copyright © 2009, New Haven Register, Conn.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
