Agent Profile: Ellen Gottlieb of Brooklyn Bridge Realty

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It’s hard to believe that Ellen Gottlieb hasn’t always lived in Brooklyn.

The self-described “Long Island girl” lived in Manhattan and Chicago before finally settling in Brooklyn a little over a decade ago. She found a parlor-level apartment in Cobble Hill and fell in love with the neighborhood. Her career at that point included stints in foreign exchange trading and advertising sales. Realizing that she was a natural born salesperson, she chose to use her sales experience in the real estate market.

Since then Ellen has become one of the top brokers in all of Brooklyn. She takes her sales craft very seriously. Ellen has a reputation for being able to close deals at the seller’s asking price, and in many cases, even more. She has assisted developers with their projects from the ground up, advising them on everything from winning floor plans to marketing and selling their condo developments. Ellen was the lead broker at 52 Dean Street, The Absolute, and the Landmark at Strong Place, as well as other prestigious properties.

Ellen Gottlieb is a busy woman — when not matching people with their dream homes, you can find her at the Brooklyn Arts Council, or singing soprano in the West Village Chorale. We did, however, get her on the phone long enough to ask her a few questions about her passion for Brooklyn real estate. 

How did you get started?

Believe it or not, I sold yellow pages advertising. I gained sales training experience and put it into a field where I could run my own business. And that’s [exactly] what I’ve been doing as an associate broker for 12 years at Brooklyn Bridge Realty, a boutique agency in Cobble Hill.

What’s your territory?

I cover most of Brooklyn. When I first started, it was in my own neighborhood: Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn Heights, Boerum Hill, Park Slope. But as you know, Brooklyn is exploding. I would say in the last four to five years I’ve expanded to most of Brooklyn. I occasionally sell in Manhattan as well, and Queens.

Is there a neighborhood you find particularly exciting right now?

There are many, starting with Crown Heights, Bed-Stuy, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Victorian Flatbush, and Sunset Park. All of these neighborhoods have really evolved over the past couple of years.

What do you like most about your job?

I like walking people through the process of selling and buying their homes. It can be a stressful process, but I work to make it as easy as possible.

And that’s part of being a natural-born salesperson. It’s not really selling someone the Brooklyn Bridge, right? It’s about listening, and giving people what they want.

When you’re not working, what do you enjoy doing?

I like spending time with my husband and stepson. I’m a soprano in the West Village Chorale and on the board of the Brooklyn Arts Council.

How long have you been doing that?

I have been singing for 15 years and joined the board at the Brooklyn Arts Council (BAC) three years ago. It’s a service organization. We give out grants; employ hundreds of artists and arts organizations in schools, senior centers and community facilities; we work in underserved neighborhoods like East New York and Brownsville; and we work with Folk Artists in many different cultural communities. In all, we provide about one million dollars a year in assistance to artists and arts organizations.

What would be your advice for a new real estate agent?

Listen to your clients. People tell you what they want. This is a skill that I work on everyday.

What are you most proud of?

More than anything? I’m proud of getting people the price their house deserves. I’m really good at what I do! I’ve successfully sold out condo developments for developers, every unit, even in a down market. I find out what people are looking for in a home, and I give them what they want. The buyer is happy, the seller is happy… what could be better than that?

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To learn more about Ellen Gottlieb and see her current listings, check out her page on the Brooklyn Bridge Realty website. View her sold listings here.