There are few names in New York City Real Estate that bear significance comparable to that of Clark Halstead’s. Upon the passing of the late co-founder of Sotheby’s International Realty and his namesake, Halstead Property, his immeasurable impact is felt across the industry.

“Clark was a remarkable individual whose career was marked by excellence, innovation, and a genuine passion for his work,” Brown Harris Stevens CEO Bess Freedman remarked.

“Clark Halstead was a true pioneer of the new residential brokerage model where property management and brokerage were no longer connected. Clark belongs with the group of founders including Alice Mason, Edward Lee Cave, and Barbara Corcoran,” said multi-generational real estate developer and co-founder of BHS, William Zeckendorf.

A revered pioneer in real estate, Clark Halstead co-founded Halstead Property alongside its longtime president, later appointed Chairman and CEO, Diane Ramirez, in 1984. The loss of Halstead, as shared by Ramirez herself, is incalculable.

“He was a legend and trail blazer in our residential real estate industry. His illustrious career was renowned, and he helped to bring us into the 21st Century through his sales and marketing acumen,” said Ramirez.

The idea for the Halstead Property firm, Clark told his friend and BHS Controller Al Hughes, was written "...on the back of a bar napkin and pitched to the head of an investment group over lunch." Following their investment, Halstead was able to open the very first office on Madison Avenue, expanding to the West Side and SoHo in the years that followed.

The firm would go on to achieve widespread success, earning a coveted top spot among the residential real estate firms in the New York metropolitan area.

Halstead’s legacy is synonymous with the progressive and groundbreaking approach to real estate that he implemented throughout his career. Attesting to this, industry executive and former Halstead President, Richard Grossman, remarked that “...he was a visionary about what a real estate company could be in New York, using marketing, technology, [and putting] local storefront offices on major avenue. [This] was well known.”

As noted by President of Brown Harris Stevens, Hall Willkie, Halstead was “... beyond important in our industry... he built a great company which is now a welcomed and integral part of BHS.

After years of success in residential real estate, Halstead sold his firm to Terra Holdings in 2001, subsequently taking on the role of Founder and Chairman Emeritus while passing the day-to-day leadership responsibilities to CEO Diane Ramirez. Ramirez led the firm until 2020, when Halstead Property merged with industry-leading firm Brown Harris Stevens. The consolidation of the two made it one of the largest privately held real estate companies in the country.

“He introduced us to computers, marketing, and dressing for success. He was our mentor, with a great sense of humor, honesty, and kindness. His goal was to grow the company and under his guidance we broke all records,” Maria Pashby, Former Sales Director at Halstead and BHS East Side agent, shared.

The widespread success and milestones achieved by Halstead Property is a testament to Clark's unparalleled leadership, known as a visionary who paved the way for countless industry leaders and the agents that they represent. Better put by BHS West Side agent, Joseph Truglio, “Clark was a legend and was a leader that changed NYC Real Estate forever.” Truglio has been with Halstead, now Brown Harris Stevens, for nearly 40 years, attesting to the loyal and family-like environment that he credited Halstead in single-handedly creating.

Aside from his significant career endeavors in residential real estate, he was “... a true mentor, role model, and most importantly, friend.” A sentiment not only felt by Executive Sales Director of BHS Connecticut and Nephew, Chris Halstead, but by the countless individuals that had the pleasure of knowing him both personally and professionally over the years.

Halstead was known as an approachable, down to earth man, and meant much more to his agents than merely serving the role as their boss. Exemplified by West Side Agent, Amelia Gewirtz, "‘The house that Clark built’ at Halstead felt more like a family than a firm... he spent a lot of personal time with us.”

To former Managing Director of Sales, John Wollberg, Halstead “...had a warmth of human spirit and creativity not many people have,” and the person that many would turn to “...if you wanted to know anything about your deal or Residential Real Estate,” as noted by Brown Harris Stevens COO, CFO, and Executive Vice President, Alan Kersner.

The common sentiment shared among close friends, family, and colleagues, is that Halstead embodied a true sense of passion for his work, with the utmost professionalism and class. The way that Halstead lived his life both personally and professionally, was done with humility and authenticity. As noted by BHS New Jersey President, Eugene Cordano, he was “...a trailblazer who inspired everyone to be their best.”

A mentor to many but a friend to all that knew him, Halstead “...led with compassion, honesty, ethics, and morals that created a culture of family in a large company unlike any brokerage firm in the city,” said BHS Development Marketing President, Steve Kliegerman.

“Although his name was on the door, it was never about him...he was about family. He was self-deprecating. He never took himself too seriously. He took the company seriously because it was supported by so many... he made us better. He left us with a drive to care and be better,” reflected West Side Managing Consultant, Michael Goldenberg.

Halstead found incredible value in building strong relationships with the agents that represented his beloved firm, often seen eating lunch with new brokers, in an effort to get to know them on a personal level. These friendly gestures made a significant impact on the attitudes of Halstead's agents, maintaining a strong sense of passion and pride throughout their careers in real estate, like West Side agent Andrew Phillips, who remarked that “...any leader running a large business who took time out of [their] day like that, signaled class,” and was a sign of “...a true leader.”

Whether it be from his firm’s widespread success in the real estate industry and the impact of his innovative approach, or the genuine connections that he made with all that had the honor of knowing him, Clark Halstead played a significant role in countless lives throughout his life.

Exemplified by the words of East Side Agent, Monica Podell, “He was a great leader who built a company with his mentorship, praise, and opportunity,” who although, upon his passing, has left an immeasurable hole in the industry, will forever be remembered through the memories so cherished by the individuals he left an invaluable impression on.