Bob Knakal CEO of BKREA Releases 41-Year Knakal Land Index, Offering Unprecedented Insight Into NYC Development Trends

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BK Real Estate Advisors (BKREA), led by Chairman and CEO Bob Knakal, has released the Knakal Land Index, a comprehensive 41-year analysis of Manhattan land sales dating back to 1984. Analyzing 2,444 development site transactions, the index provides one of the most detailed and methodologically consistent views ever assembled of how land values evolve across market cycles in New York City.

Key Findings and Strategic Value of the Knakal Land Index

Four Decades of Consistent Market Intelligence – The index applies the same analytical methodology used since 1984, allowing accurate comparisons across multiple real estate cycles with exceptional data integrity.
Coverage of Manhattan’s Most Competitive Geography – The study focuses on land sales south of 96th Street on the East Side and 110th Street on the West Side, the city’s most supply-constrained and development-intensive corridor.
2,444 Transactions Disaggregated by Property Type – Sales are segmented into residential rental, residential condominium, office, hotel, and institutional uses, avoiding misleading blended averages and revealing use-specific pricing behavior.
AI-Driven Analysis of Macroeconomic Drivers – Proprietary AI models evaluate which economic indicators are most predictive of future land value direction and the potential magnitude of change.
Insight Into Hidden Development Opportunities – The index reflects how Manhattan “creates land” through the redevelopment of underutilized buildings, assemblages, and density optimization rather than vacant parcels.
Actionable Intelligence for Market Participants – Developers, investors, lenders, and property owners gain a factual baseline that supports smarter pricing, timing, and entitlement strategies.

From Research to Real-World Application

A summary of the Knakal Land Index appears in The Ultimate Guide to Selling a Development Site for the Highest Possible Price, a 340-page coffee-table book published by BKREA. The book features:

A historical overview of Manhattan land sales
Detailed index findings
200+ development site case studies sold by Knakal
Client testimonials and deal insights
Before-and-after imagery illustrating NYC’s evolving skyline
A recap of Knakal’s two REBNY Most Ingenious Deal of the Year Awards

Industry Validation

Robert Lobel, President of Bellrock Development, described the index as “an old-school piece of research that lets the market go under the hood,” noting that it is rare to see four decades of structured data presented at this depth. According to Knakal, the research is not available anywhere else and is designed to give BKREA clients a measurable competitive advantage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is the Knakal Land Index?

‍ A proprietary 41-year study analyzing 2,444 Manhattan development site transactions using a consistent methodology dating back to 1984.

Q2: Why is this index different from other market reports?

‍ It avoids blended averages, segments transactions by use, applies identical calculations across decades, and integrates AI-driven macroeconomic analysis.

Q3: Who benefits most from the Knakal Land Index?

‍ Developers, investors, lenders, and property owners evaluating development, redevelopment, or density-driven opportunities in Manhattan.

Q4: What role does AI play in the analysis?

‍ AI models assess which macroeconomic variables historically correlate most strongly with land value movements and future market direction.

Q5: Why is Manhattan land analysis so complex?

‍ Most opportunities arise from underbuilt or obsolete properties rather than vacant land, requiring deep zoning, FAR, and entitlement expertise.

Q6: What is BKREA’s focus today?

‍ BKREA specializes in development, redevelopment, and user building investment sales. Over his career, Bob Knakal has sold 2,388+ properties totaling approximately $24 billion in value.

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