Decade Answers: Robert Knakal

Robert Knakal is the chairman at Massey Knakal Realty Services, New York, N.Y. What was one of your corporate or career highlights of the decade? "While my 1,000th sale was certainly a highlight of the 2000s, as an intermediary, the next transaction is always the most important one. That being said, I will always remember the 2000s for the amazing roller coaster ride that the decade was. We began in recession, had the greatest real estate bull market ever seen and then crashed. I'm not surprised that amusement park rides make people nauseous. It was a great reminder of the old real estate adage, 'Leverage is great during good times and extremely punishing during bad times'."