Upstart NY broker banks on technology

New York

KYLE Blackmon, the real estate agent who handled the most expensive apartment purchase completed in New York City, has joined Urban Compass Inc as the latest high-profile hire for the upstart brokerage. Mr Blackmon resigned on Friday from Brown Harris Stevens, where he arranged for more than US$1 billion in residential real estate transactions since 2003. He will be head of luxury sales at Urban Compass, founder Ori Allon said.

"He's a perfect fit for us," Mr Allon said. "He's young, he's savvy and he believes in technology."