Behind the unraveling of Nir Meir; Meet the stars of #RETwit ... and more

The best national real estate stories from The Real Deal. Apr 06, 2024 [View in Browser]( | [$1 for 1 Month]( [The Real Deal Logo](   [The National Logo](   In today’s newsletter, we look at [Nir Meir’s expeditious downfall](, and how it was always his destiny. Plus, a rundown of [real estate’s social media stars](, why Dan Brodsky was [made to save the Flatiron](, and the [winners and losers]( of NAR’s historic settlement. These stories and more below.   [Behind the unraveling of Nir Meir]( In an industry filled with big personalities and charismatic dealmakers, few have crashed and burned as hard as Nir Meir. For better or worse, Meir was always a hustler. The man displayed a unique ability to make things happen. But he also showed a remarkable ability — and tendency — to deceive. He did so without prejudice, lying to reporters (including one at The Real Deal), lenders, and the U.S. government. Amidst the opulent backdrop of Miami's elite social scene, Meir's presence was ubiquitous. He was known for throwing extravagant parties, spending millions on wine, and frequenting strip clubs. He continued to do so long after his legal and financial troubles began to mount. But as the layers of his carefully constructed persona have been peeled away, a darker truth has emerged. Allegations of fraud, forgery, and embezzlement paint a portrait of a man willing to do whatever it took to maintain his grip on power and wealth. In 2020, Meir was forced out of HFZ, where he had worked for 15 years. Shortly after, HFZ lost control of its marquee project, the XI, a luxury condo development in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood. Then, in February, Meir was arrested for allegedly masterminding an $86 million fraud scheme tied to the project. Now that he’s sitting behind bars on Rikers Island, the lies and deception have been placed on pause. But, with his trial on the horizon, they could be set to resume.   Advertisement   [I'm an image]( [Meet the stars of #RETwit]( Many of real estate’s biggest stars were made in the boardroom or at project sites. But a select few made their bones on X. The best of the best use the platform for deal-making, networking, and to share their best bits of advice. [I'm an image]( [How Dan Brodsky’s reputation and status secured the Flatiron building]( After a series of fiascoes, the Flatiron Building needed a stabilizing force to move the project forward. Dan Brodksy was the perfect man for the job. [I'm an image]( [The winners and losers in NAR’s historic settlementÂ]( Every deal has winners and losers. For NAR’s $418 million settlement, home sellers and buyers will celebrate the victory, along with Compass and Redfin. But plenty of other brokerages — and NAR itself — might have taken an L.   Advertisement   [I'm an image]( [Brand Studio From Vision to Reality: TRD Brand Studio Videos Amplify Your Real Estate Storytelling]( [I'm an image]( [‘Day of reckoning’: South Florida multifamily Investors feel sting of rising interest rates, insurance]( Multifamily investors across the country are feeling the pain of high interest rates. But, in South Florida, that pain is compounded by slowing rent growth and sky high insurance costs. [I'm an image]( [A year into Measure ULA, a stiff real estate market in the city]( One year into the Measure ULA transfer tax, Los Angeles’s real estate industry is practically at a standstill. The tax has especially hurt commercial sales. But residential brokers say [home buyers are fleeing town](. [I'm an image]( [Jeff Bezos buys third South Florida estate for $90M]( Indian Creek is a small village in South Florida, and Jeff Bezos is a big fan. The Amazon founder paid $90 million for an estate there, marking his third purchase there in recent years. Bezos isn’t the only billionaire with a favorite South Florida town, though. For NBA legend Michael Jordan, it’s Jupiter, where he recently [purchased his second home]( for $17 million. [I'm an image]( [Sponsored Rock Solid Builders & The Taylor Lucyk Group at Christie’s International Real Estate Group Sell-Out Haworth’s First Luxury Townhome Community]( [I'm an image]( [After $1B default, Veritas’ CEO and founder Yat-Pang Au plans a comeback]( Veritas was San Francisco’s biggest residential landlord. Then, it lost a third of its portfolio. But, even as the firm loses properties to distress, its CEO, Yat-Pang Au, is looking to take advantage of that distress. [I'm an image]( [How the real estate lobby defeated Chicago’s transfer tax]( After months of battles, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s transfer tax referendum was defeated last month. The fight included false victories and false defeats for both sides, but ended in a resounding win for the real estate industry.     [The Real Deal Logo]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [LinkedIn]( [YouTube]( [Manage Newsletters](link.therealdeal.com/manage/61n/preferences?email={EMAIL}&hash=c3ef811325e0489c79ef984bae8ea606) | [Unsubscribe](list=National Weekly) | [Privacy Policy]( | [Subscribe]( | [Advertise]( The Real Deal 450 West 31st Street, New York, NY 10001 ©2024 TheRealDeal. All rights reserved. [View Online](