Donald Brennan – Engel & Völkers

For over 30 years, Donald has built a career founded on his expertise in architecture, experience as a New York City developer, and his in-depth understanding of the real estate landscape — bolstered by his dedication to the community, historic buildings and the future of the city’s neighborhoods.

A New York City native, Donald has walked through every brownstone Brooklyn neighborhood, exploring and absorbing how the architecture and housing stock would change from neighborhood to neighborhood and sometimes block to block. “Many years ago, I fell in love with the low-density row houses of brownstone Brooklyn and have grown to love and appreciate them even more as I continue to live, work, raise a family and enjoy a walkable urban lifestyle.”

In 1992, Donald and his wife chose Brooklyn Heights to raise their family, and where to this day he is heavily invested in the community.

A former board member of the Dodge YMCA, Donald chaired the Strong Kids Campaign and was responsible for raising more than $300,000 during his tenure. He was also a board member of the Brooklyn Heights Association, where he served on the executive committee and chaired its landmarks committee for many years. He is an advisor to the Historic Districts Council of New York and teaches urban planning in New York City high schools.

“My innate skills, combined with my formal education and experience as an architect, provide me with a unique and invaluable skill set to deal with both development and brokerage effectively and successfully. I started our brokerage business after realizing that the efforts and investment we made in our development product weren’t being relayed to the buying public correctly by the outside agents we were using to sell our developments. Employing my own agents solved this problem.”

Brennan’s brokerage services initially focused on low-rise, brownstone Brooklyn neighborhoods — primarily townhouses — but it has expanded into the other boroughs and now covers all types of housing.

Sellers appreciate Engel & Völkers polished and professional marketing materials, extensive network, knowledgeable salespeople and successful pricing strategies. Buyers often come to Donald and his team for their in-depth knowledge of the neighborhoods and property types, and their ability to uncover untapped buying opportunities the average broker isn’t able to see.

“Our clients come to us looking for better service to fulfill their real estate needs. I am never satisfied with delivering a product or providing a service that meets with minimum expectations. I, and my advisors, do not aim to be average. We do not follow the herd. The business opportunity to me is based on the belief that we can do better for our clients. And that our clients deserve better.”

When a client employs Donald as their trusted advisor, they are getting not only an agent that is trustworthy, capable and successful, but a firm that backs up that advisor with every possible resource, virtually guaranteeing delivery of the best deal possible.