Stay in Your Lane

In the past two months, no fewer than three developers have confidently told me that their current project is going to be "the best residential building ever built."

It’s an ambitious claim. In real estate, defining "the best" is entirely subjective. No doubt, each of these developers truly believes their project is something special. But as I looked at their plans and designs, I kept asking myself: By what metric?

Then again—does it even matter? As a real estate agent, I’m always thrilled to have the opportunity to introduce clients to beautiful new homes. These developers aren’t just talking a big game; they’re earnestly trying to push boundaries and create something extraordinary.

Historically, building to this standard required vision, risk, and a knack for convincing investors that their money would yield greater returns. You had to assemble the right team, take the leap, and hope the market moved in your favor. If it did—you were rewarded.

Like most industries, true innovation often comes from the smaller players. Those with less to lose and more to gain take the biggest risks. Once they prove the concept, the industry giants follow, scaling the idea to new heights. Big companies take smaller risks, but once a formula is validated, they commit fully.

The market has been shaped by these bold innovators who set a new standard. Consider Iain Schrager with 40 Bond Street, Michael Stern with Walker Tower, or Savanna with 141 Fifth Avenue—projects that redefined what was possible. The industry titans took notice. The Zeckendorfs raised the stakes with 15 Central Park West. Related reshaped the skyline with the Time Warner Center. Vornado cemented its legacy with 220 Central Park South. The bar was set higher, and the market responded.

Today’s developers don’t just want to create the best in class—they have to. The new wave of buyers demands excellence. The days of sub-par developments surviving on the whims of an irrational market are over. We see it reflected in today’s inventory.

Ultimately, this is a win for the market and for progress. If I have one great skill, it’s knowing what projects will work, which won’t, and—most importantly—why. The next generation of housing is on the horizon, and it will require an insight that few developers seem to possess. Let’s be honest: they’re money men, not innovators. And that’s fine—every player has a role in the game. But once again, the smaller developers will be the next big winners. Then, as always, the big boys will scramble to catch up, and the cycle will repeat itself.

Smaller developers also tend to know what they’re good at. They stay in their lane. They trust the experts they hire to do what they do best. That might just be the greatest key to success in business, period.

It’s the difference between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys. Jeff Lurie knows he’s a great owner—so he lets Howie Roseman manage the team and Sirianni coach it. He stays in lane. Jerry Jones? He tries to be the owner, GM, and coach all at once. That’s why one team has been to the Super Bowl three times in the last seven years—and the other, well, hasn’t. And probably never will.

Sometimes, you have to learn to stay in your lane.?

Side Bar:

The next generation of developers will need to go deeper, push further, and redefine what’s possible. It won’t be easy. It will take vision, audacity, and an ability to see beyond the immediate. As Mark Twain wisely put it, “You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.”

Let's do this-

Shaun