The Broker Brunch

#31 Shaun Riney - Inside the Mind of NYC’s Top Multifamily Broker

With Brian Whelan and Mitchel Flaherty

Check out our current listings here: https://www.ripcony.com/property-listings/?broker=Brian%20Whelan%2C%20Mitchel%20Flaherty


In this episode of Broker Brunch, we sit down with Shaun Riney, Partner & Managing Director at Marcus & Millichap and one of the top-performing brokers in NYC. 


With over $4 billion in closed deals, Shaun breaks down exactly how he built a real estate empire from scratch - without connections, without capital, and in one of the toughest markets in the world.


If you're a real estate broker, investor, or aspiring dealmaker, this is your playbook for building a lasting career in high-stakes markets.



Connect with Shaun: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaun-riney-9a9b7711/


Connect with us on LinkedIn

Brian Whelan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-whelan-43155850/

Mitchel Flaherty: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchel-flaherty-7b4b1064/



(00:00) Preview and Introduction

(03:46) Early Lessons & First Taste of Deal-Making  

(05:11) Breaking Into Brokerage During the Financial Crisis  

(07:09) The “Danger Zone” Most Brokers Don’t Survive  

(11:51) Shaun’s Operating Philosophy  

(17:05) The Real Value of Buyer Relationships  

(20:39) What the Danger Zone Looks Like (And How to Beat It)  

(27:26) The Power of Self-Reflection & Better Cold Calling  

(30:10) How to Become an Indispensable Broker

(33:56) How Investing Made Shaun a Better Broker  

(37:59) Why Credibility Matters More Than Price  

(38:15) Why 2025 Could Be a Buyer’s Market in NYC  

(45:16) Rent Stabilization Debate

(50:59) The Opportunity in Rent-Stabilized Assets  

(54:46) How Human Touch Can Unlock Hidden Value  

(58:01) The Case for Core Plus & Tax-Abated Deal