Joe (Yossi) Berko is a nationally recognized, inspirational entrepreneur with over 25 years of success predicated on profitable investments, ethics, and generosity. A great believer in giving back, Joe serves on the board of several non-profit organizations and has been invited to speak at professional conferences.
Companies:
–Astor Realty Capital – Private Equity, Co-Founder and CEO.
–Berko & Associates – Real Estate Advisory, Founder and President.
–Urban Real Estate Center – Real Estate Education, Co-Founder, and Principal.
Joe Berko commenced his lifelong career in commercial real estate finance and investment banking in 1995.
By 2005, he had founded Berko & Associates, a New York-based multidisciplinary advisory firm specializing in investment sales, structured finance, and syndication. Joe’s creative methodologies in securing and closing large commercial transactions have earned him multiple prestigious awards, including “Power Broker” by Co-Star and “NY Signature Broker” by Globe Street.
Four years later, in 2009, Yossi was appointed by New York State Governor, David Paterson, to serve as an advisor for the State’s Real Estate Board. The nomination continued with Governor Andrew Cuomo for a total of nine years.
In 2015, Joe launched Astor Realty Capital with two of Berko & Associates directors. For a strategic foothold in key Metropolitan Statistical Areas, the company decided for the headquarters to be in New York, with offices in Miami and Phoenix. By 2018, Mr. Berko moved to permanently reside with his wife and children in Miami, Florida.
New opportunities were underway when Astor Realty Capital signed a programmatic joint venture partnership with an Israeli publicly-traded company in 2017.
In 2020, Joe partnered with an offshore media outfit to create Urban Real Estate. It was an established education platform, disrupting traditional learning with its popular course: The Real Estate Master Class. The programs featured leaders of the industry, such as Sam Zell of Equity Residential and Ethan Panner of Mosaic, sharing experiences and insight into current industry topics.
By 2022, Astor’s growing real estate portfolio spanned over 3.5 million square feet (Q3, 2022) and included investments in residential projects, logistic centers, (medical) offices, hospitality, and urban retail.