Doug Perlson

Founder & CEO  —  Upper West Side

Doug has spent the past 10 years building online technology businesses - including About.com's Luna and Sprinks networks (acquired by Google in 2003), Seevast (parent company of Kanoodle, Pulse 360 and Moniker), and most recently, TargetSpot, the web's largest online radio advertising company.

Prior to his career in business, Doug had a legal career in government and private practice. An admitted attorney, he served as Counsel and Chief of Staff to a NYC Council Member and New York State Senator. Additionally, he served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of New York in the Investor Protection and Securities bureau. Doug started his career as a real estate lawyer with the firm Allison, Kaufman and Greenberg and is a licensed real estate broker. Despite being a lawyer, some people think he is an okay guy.

doug@realdirect.com (646) 783-8760

Kumar Laidley

Agent  —  Saint Albans

Kumar, a native to the concrete jungle that is New York, has over 5 years of real estate sales experience. He started out working with the real estate law firm of Hopkins Lawrence and Bailey, while attending St. John’s University. He’s such a real estate geek that he got his license while on spring break and hasn’t looked back since. From working with luxury rentals at the Property Management firm Stellar Management, to working with first time buyers and relocation clients at Coldwell Banker Hunt Kennedy, his vast knowledge of real estate is now yours to tap into.

And if you like Kumar, you'll love his friend Harold…

kumar@realdirect.com (347) 433-5603

Olga Alexander

Agent  —  Upper East Side

If you are from NYC and love it, as Olga does, you know that you can move to any part of the country and end up endlessly comparing it to Manhattan, only to find that there really is no place like home.

Home for Olga is the Upper East Side from which she can commute to anywhere in the city in about 20 minutes with coffee in hand from one of her favorite local java places.

When she is not scouting for real estate, Olga visits art galleries, paints, reads and does zumba. She grew up in Upper Manhattan via Hell’s Kitchen, got her B.A. from Berkeley, then ran an art gallery in Tennessee while obtaining her M.F.A. After that, she came back to NYC and is here to stay.

olga@realdirect.com (917) 443-1981

Leia Furer

Agent  —  Soho

Originally from Russia, Leia’s extensive world travel has proven invaluable: She has become perfectly fluent in three languages, earned a degree in software engineering, started her own import/export business, and co-founded a software firm. In 2003, drawn by the magic of Manhattan, she finally settled in New York.

Her enterprising mind and entrepreneurial spirit, along with her client-oriented mentality have made her a natural champion within the world’s most competitive real estate market. Her international background has helped her win the approval of clients from all over the world including Poland, Switzerland, Russia, Canada, and Australia.

Leia has worked for well known real estate firms in New York, but when it came time to sell her own apartment, she listed with RealDirect — she has never looked back. Leia is uniquely able to show you how RealDirect’s platform works best for the most important person in any real estate transaction: You.

leia@realdirect.com (917) 414-8240

Ari Martin

Agent  —  Chelsea

As a longtime music industry executive who holds a law degree, Ari Martin brings a unique combination of essential skills to the demanding world of Manhattan real estate. Formally a senior marketing executive at two major labels, he learned that even a great artist can't succeed without the proper marketing and promotion.

In applying that knowledge to real estate, Ari understands that an apartment won’t sell at its maximum value in a reasonable timeframe without a strong focus on optimal presentation and highly-targeted market awareness. So when listing a home for sale, Ari utilizes his marketing expertise to enhance its appeal, and achieve the widest possible exposure to the most receptive potential purchasers.

Ari is a graduate of Tufts University and Fordham Law School. In his spare time, he enjoys playing 70’s hits on the piano, and DVR’ing “House Hunters”.

ari@realdirect.com (917) 224-2370

Carol Jong Eun Hontz

Agent  —  Financial District

Carol Jong Eun Hontz is a native New Yorker who did a 7 year stint in Bermuda.

In her earlier years, Carol utilized her Finance degree working alongside Manhattan’s top traders to hone her analytical and market knowledge skills on Wall Street. Later, following her artistic passion, she received her degree in fine art and became an accomplished artist and curator sought out by galleries and private collectors in New York City and abroad. Carol has owned, renovated, and designed several properties in Manhattan as well New Jersey. Most recently Carol has also worked with one of the oldest NYC condo conversion development companies which gives her a wealth of knowledge in all types of real estate transactions. She combines her love of real estate with her background in business and art into an enviable ability to merge business acumen, artistic vision and real estate expertise into a cohesive whole.

Carol resides in the Financial District and in her spare time she paints commissioned portraits in her abstract style on canvas and volunteers with NY Cares.

carol@realdirect.com (917) 892-8475

Ailene Quan Brown

Agent  —  Lower East Side & East Village

Ailene moved to Newark, NJ from Guam, USA first, to be in proximity to Manhattan and second, to go to law school. Since she graduated from law school, she worked on an independent film, a short lived daily tv show on ESPN Classic, in service, retail and finally, to her mom’s surprise and relief became a bankruptcy attorney, specifically so she could afford to buy real estate in NY. She’s been stalking the real estate pages since she moved here.

Ailene has a great love for the east side of the city south of 14th street and can be found utilizing the bars and restaurants in the area. She is a self-proclaimed foodie and plays bass in a band.

ailene@realdirect.com (917) 243-9193

Ruth Reffkin

Agent  —  Upper West Side

Ruth has “been around the block more than a couple of times”. With nearly five decades of professional life she has accumulated a wealth of experiences and skills that allow her to serve clients well.

Ruth’s career has been varied and interesting but the one consistent theme is her love of people. Whether teaching children and supervising teachers as the Founder and Director of her own preschool, helping families with their financial decisions as a life Insurance agent, hiring and training financial planners, fundraising millions of dollars for educational programs or working as a real estate agent, she has sought to understand people and what matters most to them.

After being bi-coastal for many years, Ruth has resettled in her beloved Upper West Side, where she leverages her expertise of the neighborhood to help clients with their real estate needs. Her enthusiasm and warmth are infectious and she is looking forward to helping you find the perfect home or the perfect buyer to sell your home to.

ruth@realdirect.com (510) 540-5654