There are two words that aptly describe the decision of a well-established and well-regarded real estate firm, with deep experience serving the needs of observant Jewish customers (and others), to set up a new office in your area—Good News.

There are three words to describe that same decision when the founder of that firm also grew up in your area, maintains strong ties with different families in town, and is quite familiar with the shuls, yeshivot, and businesses in the region—Very Good News.

Marc Stein is a real estate broker with broad experience, who has personally closed over 1,000 real estate transactions in his 20-year career. His success in the business, and his cooperative work with other agents, has helped him to become a much sought-after consultant and trainer who works with peers and company leaders across the nation on issues like strategic thinking, opening new offices, marketing, branding, and mergers.

In May 2013 Marc started Links Residential to serve the needs of buyers and sellers in Bergen, Hudson, and Passaic counties. Links now employs 15 full-time real estate agents who can provide clients with a full suite of marketing services to maximize their success in the real estate market. Drawing on Links’ four-person marketing staff, agents offer real estate photography, floor plans, advertising, social media outreach, and other forms of promotions.

In early 2020 Links Residential allied itself with EXP Realty, a national group with 10 years of experience that offers a spectrum of support services to real estate firms. EXP Realty provides training, compliance, and paperwork to Links staff, allowing Marc and his agents to focus more time and energy with their passion—matching clients to the homes of their dreams. Since its establishment, Links Residential has closed over $1 billion in real estate sales.

Links Residential is already a top team in New Jersey and looks to expand in their market.

The agents who work for Links Residential are fond of the firm because of the values it represents and the approach Marc takes. Nina Eizikovitz, an agent with over six years of experience who lives in Bergenfield with her family, said that Links real estate agents pride themselves on serving as project managers—not just listing properties and promoting them but also negotiating contracts effectively, providing clients with lists of professionals that offer ancillary services, advice on holding open houses, answering all real estate related questions, and more.

“At Links, we’re ethical, honest, and we want to get things done the right way,” said Nina. She praised Marc, stating that he is very supportive and has coached her, helping her become more productive in selling real estate. She reports that she can reach him at any hour and he responds with solid advice and guidance.

Marc brings considerable perspective to his role as manager of Links Residential. He is a much sought-after real estate coach for agents and brokers across the country to help them be more successful in their careers. He is a national real estate motivational speaker and sits on the board of directors for the Greater Bergen Realtors as well as the Executive Board for the New Jersey MLS.

While he built his real estate career, Marc never lost sight of his roots in Middlesex County or lost touch with different friends in the area. He fondly recalls his time as a student at RPRY (graduate, ’94), davening at AA and OE, attending Hillel Yeshiva in Deal, and enjoying the offerings at Deli King, Jerusalem Pizza, and Dairy Deluxe. He stays in touch with a few friends in the area and has helped a bunch of them, informally, with their real estate transactions.

So when he began to consider expanding his firm, it made a lot of sense to consider building a presence in Highland Park/Edison. And he identified a stellar agent to serve as the sales associate overseeing this hub—Rivky Greene.

Rivky has lived in the area since 2014 and worked as a real estate agent in Middlesex County since January 2019. As a parent with children in the local yeshiva, and a large family, she is well suited to understand the needs of observant Jewish families who are house shopping for the first time, looking to ‘trade up’ in size as their families grow, or downsize once the kids have all moved out. In talking with Marc, she found that her approach to real estate work dovetailed very well with the approach taken by Links Residential.

“I think that the partnership between the Links team and me is the perfect match to grow their HP/Edison presence. Marc approached me, we talked, and it seemed that this was very necessary in our area. He has great strategy and sales skills, and the Links suite of services made it a natural match. Our area is poised for growth, and in working with Links Residential we will expand on this potential.”

Echoing this sentiment, Marc commented: “With the shift of families moving out of cities into the suburbs, it seems only natural that Links and their agents should follow this migration and expand south. This allows Links agents to be a resource to families as they explore what communities best fit their needs.” Marc intends to assist the Links Residential Highland Park/Edison hub very actively, while maintaining his presence in North Jersey as well.

“I’ve been working with Marc since Links was established in 2012, and he is a real pleasure to work with,” said Michelle Wasserlauf, an agent with Links. “He has a lot of experience, he’s a great sounding board, and he has incredible knowledge of the field. He’s just an expert broker. Marc has gotten me to where I am today, and he helps me every day. I’m so pleased to see how we’ve become a household name in our region and how we’re now expanding to the Highland/Edison area. This is a win for all concerned!’

Local reactions to Links Residential’s plans to create a presence in the area have been very favorable.

“After seeing how many RPRY alumni Marc and his company have found homes for in North Jersey, I hope he and his crew can start helping the next wave of homebuyers ‘stay home’ and continue to grow our beautiful community,” said Ami Avraham of Edison. “They do impressive work!”

“Marc Stein and Links Residential are very well acquainted with our area,” said Dr. Arkady Broder of Edison. “I met him when he first started out in the real estate business and I’ve seen how patient and how honest he is, and the real estate group he built. I hope he can bring some of the dynamic growth we see in Jewish communities in Bergen County to the Jewish communities in our area.”

By Harry Glazer

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