Kyle Sabath, 27

Can an analyst and underwriter be considered for one of Commercial Observer’s Young Professional spots?

Of course — so long as they can prove their value, so to speak.

Even if Kyle Sabath wasn’t the only analyst on Brandon Polakoff’s Avison Young team, he wouldn’t have to worry because he’s also notched an enviable sales record in his short time in a hybrid analyst/broker role.

Sabath came out of the University of Richmond and spent a couple of years in software sales. He then took an internship at JLL in 2018 before moving to Meridian and, finally, Avison Young.

As an analyst, the New Jersey native has underwritten more than $7 billion worth of New York City real estate assets. But in the 17 months since Sabath has taken on his second role as a broker, he has helped sell some $107 million of assets across nine transactions, and is currently in contract on another $84.9 million. One of those sales — 43-49 Bleecker Street, a vacant office building — crossed the finish line for $35 million and is currently a finalist for the Real Estate Board of New York’s Ingenious Deal of the Year award.

“When I was first brought into Avison Young, the first six months were purely analytical,” Sabath said. “It was, ‘First learn the numbers before learning anything else.’ ”

When transactions slowed considerably in early 2023, Sabath stayed an analyst before leaping into brokering. But it feels like the kind of tough basic training that makes a broker a serious player.

Indeed, that’s the way it worked out. When Sabath worked on his first sale — an estate sale for 250 West 91st Street and 224-228 Eighth Avenue from a landlord who died with no heirs — he was able to face “each piece of hair on the deal.”

When he got to 43-49 Bleecker, Sabath was able to examine the local zoning laws and put together a report on how the mixed-use building could possibly be converted without triggering affordable housing rules. “We probably created $10 million in value for the building,” Sabath said.