Dubai — Speaking with host Toghruk Mehdiyev on Realcast by TM, Nile Lundgren — top broker at SERHANT., star of Netflix’s Owning Manhattan, and founder of the Lundgren Team — offered an unfiltered look into his career, work ethic, and insights on three of the world’s hottest luxury markets: New York, Miami, and Dubai.
Lundgren began by recounting his unlikely start in real estate in 2008, when he was living on an air mattress in Brooklyn with no money and no plan. “I was literally eating ramen noodles,” he said. “A friend’s broker asked if I wanted to work in real estate, and I just said yes.” His first deal — a $600 rental — sparked a relentless drive that turned into a multimillion-dollar career.
Within a few years, he opened his own brokerage, joined Compass during its early expansion, and eventually caught the attention of Ryan Serhant. “I told myself I wouldn’t call Ryan — he’d call me,” Lundgren recalled. “And one day, he did.”
That call led to a defining chapter. Within his first year at SERHANT., Lundgren sold $100 million in real estate. Today, he leads luxury deals across New York and South Florida, running a bi-coastal operation that mirrors Serhant’s national model. “Working with Ryan is like getting into a rocket ship,” he said. “You do more in a week than you used to do in a year.”
The conversation turned to Owning Manhattan, Netflix’s breakout luxury real estate series. Lundgren revealed that his television experience — and his comfort in front of the camera — helped him stand out. “It’s a game,” he said. “You have to know how to improvise, be quick, and embrace who you are. That’s why I shine.”
Global Market Insights: New York, Miami, and Dubai
In the second half of the episode, Mehdiyev and Lundgren compared global property markets.
New York, Lundgren explained, is defined by stability and scarcity. “It’s a blue-chip market — 75% rentals, 25% sales, mostly co-ops and condos. You buy for the long term,” he said.
Miami, by contrast, offers faster appreciation and greater volatility. “Miami is the sixth borough of New York,” he said. “It’s where my clients escape winter. The opportunity is in the villas and branded towers — Mercedes-Benz, Aston Martin, Bugatti — that’s where I like to play.”
And Dubai, he added, feels like a global blend of both. “Dubai has the energy of Miami with the scale of New York,” Lundgren said. “It’s business-friendly, safe, and has unlimited potential. This is the city of the future.”
A Relentless Drive
Now in his fifth year at SERHANT., Lundgren continues to balance high-stakes deals, television, and team growth. “I used to have a social life,” he laughed. “Now I’m managing showings in Manhattan, Miami, and Dubai all at once. But the sacrifices are worth it. My goal isn’t to be number two — it’s to win every time.”
The full Realcast by TM episode is available now on YouTube.
