James Nelson

Principal, Head of Tri-State Investment Sales

James Nelson is a Principal and Head of Tri-State Investment Sales in Avison Young’s New York City office.
Since Nelson’s start in the real estate industry 19 years ago, he has played an integral role in the New York City real estate market. He leads a team of professionals in a variety of client service offerings, including asset disposition, asset recapitalization, market research and financial analysis. His proficiency and capability is unmatched in all aspects of the acquisition and disposition of investment-grade real estate, as well as development and redevelopment transactions, on behalf of both institutional and private capital clients across all property types.

Prior to joining Avison Young, Nelson most recently served as Vice Chairman of Cushman & Wakefield, where he ran a successful investment sales team that marketed over $1 billion in deals in New York City and throughout the country over the past two years alone. He was also ranked as the number one Investment Sales broker at the firm nationwide in 2016. Prior to joining Cushman & Wakefield, Nelson was a partner and top producer for Massey Knakal for six of their last eight years and was named the company’s youngest partner in 2004. While at Massey Knakal, James was involved in the sale of over 400 properties and loans with an aggregate value of over $3.8 billion.

Professional Affiliations
Chairman of Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) Commercial Board of Directors
Board Member of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce
Founder of Real Estate Services Alliance
Founder of Rising Realty Stars
Mortgage Bankers Association of NY
Young Real Estate Professionals of New York

Awards and Recognition
Real Estate Forum’s 40 Under 40, 2014
Real Estate Forum’s Top Broker, 2012-2014
#1 Top NYC Deal Maker by LoopNet, 2011
Top 35 and Under NYC Real Estate Players by The Real Deal, 2011
Real Estate New York’s Commercial All Stars, 2009
Real Estate New York’s 40 Under 40, 2009
REBNY’s Most Promising Commercial Sales Person of the Year Award, 2002

Education
Colgate University – Bachelor of Arts, English