Get to Know the Broker: Kayla Lee of Serhant

You could call her the Queen of Long Island City, and, oh boy, is that title well earned. 

SERHANT’s Kayla Lee has a passion for Long Island City, where she lives and works on massive residential projects. One such project is the Paragon, an old paint factory from 1931 that has been converted into a 23-story, 182-unit luxury condominium property, where units range in price from $685,000 to $3.5 million. 

“Long Island City is a Queens neighborhood that feels like a small town,” Lee told Commercial Observer in June. “I’ve lived in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Long Island City; it’s got a very small town feel. You know everyone, but its proximity to Grand Central is just one stop on the 7 train.” 

Lee has been in the residential game for more than a decade and has sold over $1 billion in real estate across more than 850 units. 

Commercial Observer caught up with Lee in September for a series called “Get to Know the Broker,” where we connect with residential brokers to learn more about what makes them tick.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity. 

Commercial Observer: What has been the biggest deal of your career so far? 

Kayla Lee: Signing new development condo buildings is my specialty, so signing an exclusive agreement for an 117-unit condo with a $135 million sellout in Long Island City was the largest deal.

What is your career Everest? 

To build a personal brand that becomes synonymous with trust, expertise and excellence in New York luxury real estate. I’d like my success to be measured not just by the properties I’ve sold, but also by the key relationships I’ve built, and the people I’ve helped to become future leaders.

Who has been your biggest influence?  

My mother has been my biggest influence personally and professionally.  She not only taught me, but also showed me the importance of resilience, hard work, and treating people with integrity and respect. Those values have shaped how I approach both my career and all my relationships.

She is an extremely intelligent, resourceful and beautiful woman who did not get to realize her full potential due to language barriers and societal limitations, but who was instead truly focused on her children’s future and education.

Who is your favorite architect/designer of all time? 

I love Zaha Hadid’s use of light.  Her timeless, smooth, airy designs and signature curves are very distinct! Her extraordinary use of light and her ability to connect architecture with nature are truly amazing and beautiful. Her work proves that luxury/beauty does not have to be excessive, but rather just the right balance.

What is your funniest deal story?  

I was selling a property six years ago and confirmed with the owner that the unit was ready to show that morning. I took an executive from BET to see the luxurious three-bedroom penthouse, and when I opened the door, I noticed that shoes had been taken off inside and that keys were on the kitchen counter. 

I told the buyers to walk through the kitchen and living area while I turned on the lights, and I walked briskly through all of the three bedrooms and found a friend of the seller drunk and snoring, completely naked, surrounded by wine bottles and cushions!  

I closed the door but was nervous that he would walk out unexpectedly. I went to another bedroom and saw that the Murphy bed for guests, which had been used, had crumpled sheets and was a mess!  So I tried to quickly clean up and attempted to close the Murphy bed with all the linens and pillows inside. This was not a good idea as it wouldn’t fully close and kept slowly reopening, and I had to catch it with my shoulder and head right as the buyers were walking into the room. On top of this, I had to explain why we could not see the last bedroom.

It was a crazy tour and certainly memorable!

What TV show are you currently binging?  

I’m a big fan of “MobLand” but can’t watch all of it because I get queasy from violence. Ha!

What is your silliest pet peeve?

New York City is full of tourists, but this is for non-tourists too! 

I am almost always in a hurry throughout the day. So when I come across a ”sidewalk blocker,” it drives me insane.  People who suddenly stop dead in their tracks right in the middle of a busy walkway to look at their phone or look up at a building.

What’s on your Spotify playlist?  

Biggie, Drake, Billie Eilish, SZA and Dua Lipa. 

Amanda Schiavo can be reached at aschiavo@commercialobserver.com.