Curtis Jackson ’78

Member of Adelphi University’s Profiles in Success program.

Senior Vice President and Director, Brown Harris Stevens
Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker 

Success Up and Down the Block

Stroll down any street on New York’s Upper East or Upper West Side, and you will be walking in Curtis Jackson’s world.

Mr. Jackson not only knows what lies behind the thousands of windows that line Manhattan’s streets, he has also helped countless owners and residents find their ideal views through them. For over twenty years, Mr. Jackson has brought his vaunted work ethic and winning philosophy to New York’s often fiercely competitive real estate market.

When Mr. Jackson left Adelphi University in 1978 with his B.A. in business administration, and a broad liberal arts education that included voice and dramatic arts training, brokering real estate was far from his agenda.

He devoted himself instead to pursuing a career in showbusiness, while applying hidden talents like calligraphy to pay the rent for his first New York apartment. It wasn’t long before interests in architecture and property drew him to a small real estate firm, where strong mentorship guided him onto a new path.

Hooked on the satisfaction of his first few sales, Mr. Jackson pursued employment with a larger firm. He eventually joined the William B. May Company, where he would spend the next twenty-one years developing a portfolio and reputation to be envied.

In a narrow community, where most business comes through repeat customers and referrals, Mr. Jackson had to overcome initial disappointments through patience and dedication. Even today, as “Broker of the Year” awards grace his office walls, he firmly believes that down times merely mark the time “where you should work more.” In his lengthy tenure with William B. May, he grew his annual sales portfolio to over $40 million. Other highlights of this time include selling the same Park Avenue apartment twice within only a few months, each time for over $18 million, and a feature in New York magazine’s August 2003 listing of the twenty most influential New York real estate brokers.

In 2004, Mr. Jackson joined Brown Harris Stevens, one of New York’s oldest and most celebrated full service real estate firms, as a senior vice president. He continues to lead the booming Manhattan real estate market onward and upward, and his expertise and professional reputation have made him a fixture in this highly competitive industry. Mr. Jackson has worked continually with some clients for over seventeen years, and in his own words, finds the lasting relationships with clients, to be “the most gratifying experience.”

Today Mr. Jackson lives in Manhattan, and spends as much time as possible at his second home, a converted barn in Manchester, Vermont. His expertise is also apparent in the five metropolitan apartments and Manhattan brownstone that he has purchased and renovated over the years. He balances the stresses of life with daily yoga, as well as a passion for tennis and annual ski trips. He prides himself that even in the middle of a very busy career, he is “healthier today” than as an Adelphi student in his twenties. Mr. Jackson also remains close to many friends he has known since childhood, and devotes himself to his family, including his 103-year-old grandmother, and especially to his wonderful nieces.

Mr. Jackson’s advice: “Keep yourself healthy…lick your wounds and move on.” And always remember, “not everyone’s payoff is monetary; your payoff is what you achieve.” Mr. Jackson’s achievements speak for themselves.