2026 Ones to Watch - Rising Stars: Brandon Serota, Arrow Real Estate Advisors

“Brandon stands out for his professionalism, strong work ethic, and ability to build lasting relationships. He approaches every opportunity with a client-first mindset and consistently delivers results. His growth in the industry has been impressive, and I have no doubt he has a bright future ahead.” 

Who has been a mentor or influential figure in your career, and what is the most valuable advice they have shared with you?

One of the most influential figures in my career has been Morris Betesh, who I’ve worked alongside for the past six years. His mentorship has played a major role in shaping both my business approach and growth in the industry. One lesson that has always stuck with me is his belief that successful brokers need both “likeability and capability.” Combined with the work ethic my father instilled in me growing up, those influences continue to shape how I approach relationships, transactions, and my career overall.

What accomplishment or project so far in your career are you most proud of?

One of the deals I’m most proud of was arranging a $69.7 million bridge loan for Targo Capital’s acquisition of a seven-property mixed-use portfolio across downtown Manhattan. As one of my earliest clients, it was rewarding to help them execute their largest transaction to date by providing real-time capital markets feedback and generating strong lender interest in a competitive environment. Helping clients grow and scale their platforms is one of the most fulfilling parts of what I do.

What inspired you to pursue a career in your industry, and what path brought you to your current role?

I’ve always been passionate about real estate, originally envisioning a career in residential sales before realizing I could apply my sales background to the commercial side. Starting in investment sales gave me a strong foundation in underwriting and market dynamics, while working alongside Morris Betesh helped guide me toward debt and equity finance. Over the past six years, I’ve developed a passion for helping developers and value-add investors structure and execute complex capital stacks.

What trends or opportunities do you see shaping the future of your industry?

One of the biggest trends shaping our industry is the office-to-residential conversion space, particularly in New York City. With elevated office vacancy and a continued housing shortage, there is a major opportunity to repurpose older office buildings into residential housing. NYC’s 467-m tax abatement has been a major catalyst, helping make many of these projects financially viable. This year, my team has worked on financings for projects including 80 Pine St., 5 Hanover Sq., and 770 Second Ave., while actively pursuing several other conversion opportunities across the market.