MONTCLAIR, NJ—Lauren Rose Federgreen wasn't concerned about striking out on her own when she left Colliers International in February to start Rose Real Estate.

“For me, it's always been a very independently oriented business structure,” Federgreen tells GlobeSt.com in an exclusive interview. “I'm working with a lot of clients I've worked with in the past, and also with new people I haven't contacted before.”

Since opening the firm's doors, Federgreen has brokered sales of two properties and has three more under contract. She's focusing on a smaller niche that she perceives as underserved in the market.

“Brokerage by its nature requires someone who is entrepreneurial,” she says.  “I was building my own relationships and wanted to be able to dedicate myself and allocate my time in the manner I sought best to build those relationships.  Essentially I wanted to be my own boss.”

In addition to her time with Colliers, she spend almost five years at Marcus & Millichap as a commercial real estate investment specialist. Between the two firms, she says she played a role in helping to close nearly $200 million in assets.

“Where I'm focusing is the five-to-50 unit range asset, I feel that there are a lot of properties and there is a void in that market, so I'd like to take advantage of all that inventory that is smaller, and focus on that,” she says. “A lot of people are getting priced out of bigger things or even medium sized deals, which creates a more competitive environment for the smaller assets.”

Her hopes for the firm's development? “I'd like it to become the go-to firm for the $400K-$10 million range,” Federgreen says. “It's a sector where I'd like to feel my company represents those clients the best.”

Most recently, Federgreen's firm closed the sale of Riverside Apartments, a 31-unit multifamily property at 145 Dock Street in Rahway, NJ. The property, owned by MM Rahway Associates, sold to Landmark Companies in just about two months for $2.42 million, above the listing price.

“Lauren not only quickly brought the deal to a meeting of the minds, she facilitated a smooth and orderly closing,” says Mark Scott, Landmark Companies. “Lauren got us over hurdles, around obstacles and to the finish line with our sanity intact. As the buyer we appreciated her work ethic and focus, as did the seller.”

Rose Real Estate also closed the sale of 69-71 Magnolia Street in Belleville in March for $645,000, nearly the full asking price.

“I'm a very hands-on person. I consider myself more of an advisor to my clients,” Federgreen says. “I do what's necessary to meet their personal objectives, I help them by showing them different scenarios and what they can do and cannot do based on the specific asset they're looking to address.”

Federgreen is philosophical about the challenges facing women in the male-dominated commercial brokerage industry.

“It might take an extra step to prove that I'm capable of doing the job,” she says. “It's an atypical position I'm in. There are not many female business owners and there are not that many women doing investment sales on the commercial side. But I think that once I have a conversation with people and build a relationship with them, they're very comfortable working with me.”