Zolan Rossiter Real Estate Team Navigates Volatile Market, Buyer Anxiety, Hurricanes for Clients

Sponsored By The Zolan Rossiter Team at Compass

Compass' Zolan Rossiter is a woman-led team with 30-plus years experience and $450 million in career sales.

Created By Brownstoner

Working across all of New York City but with a focus in Brooklyn, the real estate team of Debbie Zolan and Jacquelynn Rossiter is well equipped to help clients in all manner of ways — including the nuts and bolts of buying and selling, dealing with the emotional aspect of a pending move, and with their unwavering client commitment.

The foundation of the two founders’ business is their responsiveness and ability to close deals within a tight deadline and under challenging conditions — a sure-handedness that comes with a combined 30 years of experience.

“Pricing is key,” said Rossiter. When working with a seller, the team considers many factors — comps, mortgage rates, the financial markets, even the geopolitical environment — to arrive at a recommendation for their seller. “We always look to get the best price for a seller, and we want to get inquiries, appointments, and offers within the first seven to 10 days. When a property is overpriced, it lingers on the market and a price reduction (or two) is necessary. Once buyers see the price adjustments, they tend to come in lower — thinking the seller is desperate — and sellers end up losing leverage. It’s better to price appropriately from the start in order to garner the highest price for the sellers.”

A sales volume of $52 million in 2022 attests to their ability.

While pricing expertise is one of the more obvious indications of an agent’s ability, there are other skills that are less tangible — namely, dedication and commitment.

To what lengths will the team go to make sure their clients are taken care of? Here’s one example:

Because her client was living out of the country during the time that she listed her penthouse apartment for sale, Zolan offered to help should there be any issues.

One night a hurricane came through. “I couldn’t sleep because I was worried about the penthouse,” said Zolan.

In the middle of the night, high winds and sideways rain were no deterrent as she ran to the property, about 10 blocks away, and cleared leaves from the rooftop drains and made sure the new skylight wasn’t leaking.

“I went back first thing in the morning to ensure that all was ok. As is often the case, gorgeous sunny days follow terrible storms so it was a beautiful thing to see the apartment dry and bright.”

Such hand-holding takes a different form for buyers. When Rossiter worked with an engaged couple who were first-time home buyers and talking about starting a family, she sensed that they needed emotional support to quell their anxiety.

“They were living in a studio but wanted more space,” she said. “I talked them through the purchase process and told them they needed to identify what was most important to them — a wish list. They needed to ask themselves ‘What are your non-negotiables?’”

They wanted private outdoor space but could settle for common space or proximity to a park; they preferred an in-unit washer/dryer but could settle for laundry in the building. The non-negotiables were (1) a newly renovated home with (2) a floor plan that could accommodate a conversion to another bedroom, and (3) parking.

“Once we get to the point where we have clarity to the search, I find that it actually builds confidence in their decision and reduces the purchase anxiety when they make an offer,” said Rossiter.

Everyone’s real estate journey is different and challenging in its own way. While relentless in their pursuit to secure the best deals for their clients, the team is also personable and fun, making an often stressful process an enjoyable experience.

“Most important, we know the decision to buy real estate is an extremely personal one, and you need a calm voice of reason,” said Zolan. Rossiter agreed, adding, “And you need someone who is always in your corner every step of the way.”

Whether interest rates are high or low, or it’s a buyer’s or seller’s market, Zolan and Rossiter approach the situation with a steady calm and uncommon sense of duty — making them the ideal partners for any residential real estate transaction.

For more information, visit the Zolan Rossiter website.