The Bob Knakal Show

How Andy Davidoff Built a Real Estate Empire from Nothing

Jun 3, 2025
Andy Davidoff, Chairman and CEO of Emmes Companies, shares his inspiring journey from college dropout to real estate titan. He reveals how he capitalized on key opportunities, including RTC auctions, and built a successful firm across NYC and beyond. Davidoff discusses the potential of converting office buildings amidst NYC's housing demand and highlights the transformative impact of investing in distressed properties. He also reflects on the joys of motorcycle escapes and fine dining, emphasizing the importance of relationships in business.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
ANECDOTE

Early Demo Job Sparked Career

  • Andy started in real estate at 15 by demoing cast iron bathtubs in an old apartment building.
  • This early experience ignited his passion and hands-on know-how in the construction side of the business.
ADVICE

Come to Work Willing to Be Fired

  • Come to work willing to be fired; it's essential for success.
  • Take initiative and express your career goals clearly to advance professionally.
INSIGHT

RTC Auctions Cleansed Market Fast

  • The RTC auction was a unique, transparent crisis opportunity that accelerated market recovery.
  • Selling troubled assets by sealed bid to highest cash bidder fast-tracked cleansing and resetting of real estate prices.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app