Sara Dai Freeland is a California-born, multi-award-winning New York City real estate agent for the De Niro Team at Douglas Elliman. Verve caught up with her to find out what she most loves about working and playing in the Big Apple, and what it takes to make it in the city that never sleeps.
“When I was a little girl, I dreamt of becoming a doctor, but my maiden name is Dai, pronounced ‘die’, and I’m pretty sure most people would not want to be greeted by a Dr Dai!” she chuckles. “Then I became interested in journalism and dreamt of becoming the next Jane Pauley who is a television anchor for a news magazine programme called Dateline NBC. I actually interned for Dateline during my senior year at university, and after graduating college I worked for the Fox News network. The hours were long, and I often got stuck working the crappy overnight shifts and between shows the crew would sometimes let me practise reading from the teleprompter on camera. I realised that I was terrible!”
Sara is the child of first-generation immigrant who arrived in the US, from Vietnam, with “literally nothing”.
“My parents put themselves through school while working and trying to raise my older brother and I so that we could have a better future,” she recalls. “My mom is a very determined and strong-willed woman. From her, I have learnt that hard work and persistence pays off, that if there is a will, there is a way. I very much live by that motto.”
Are there any other philosophies that you live and work by?
“I used to work hard-play hard, but that’s tough nowadays with two little ones. I am constantly juggling between mommy-ing and working—thankfully I have an uber-supportive husband—but regardless, in work or in my personal life, I am always honest and treat everyone with integrity and respect. I try to be thoughtful and caring and a good listener. I also believe in karma – what goes around comes around. Sometimes life can just dish you crap, but that’s okay, that’s life—the good and the bad. Accept it and carry on.”a
What first attracted you to real estate?
“In 2006, after having worked in the media, PR and even with the Miss Universe Organisation, I discovered that my dear friend Raphael De Niro was looking for an assistant. One thing led to another and we’ve been working together ever since. I didn’t know much about real estate, but there was a lot of opportunity to generate good income and meet people from every type of industry – when you think about it, everyone needs a roof over their head! I’m a people person and there is no better feeling when you are able to work with friends and family and also find them their dream home.”
Sara cites Raphael as among her most significant mentors, and, when asked what she most loves about the industry jokes that it’s all about “the money!”
“On a serious note, I do love that I get to work with so many interesting people from all walks of life,” she continues. “I also love interior design and architecture, which I obviously get to see a lot of. Every day is different which keeps things really fresh and interesting.”
And what do you most love about the city?
“The energy, the fast pace, and the mindset that anything is possible. It’s a gigantic melting pot of culture. Everything is at your fingertips. Plus, the food—the food is fantastic!”
And any gripes?
“That’s a tough one, I’ll have to come back to it!”
Sara responds that she doesn’t usually ‘kiss and tell’ (and even sometimes has to sign non-disclosure agreements when working with high net-worth or high-profile clients) when asked about her most memorable sales but reveals that purchasing her first apartment is one of her proudest moments.
“I was just about to turn 30 years old, had worked my ass off and saved all my pennies,” she goes on. “There were no spending splurges on shoes or handbags—which is very hard to do when living in the fashion capital—but it meant that I bought a sweet little two-bedroom flat with a garden in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Best of all, when I sold it six years later – I made a profit of over $1 million dollars, so I’m definitely proud of my investment skills!”
During the pandemic, Sara and her husband, bought a holiday house two hours north of the city to enjoy with their two young children, Phoebe and Alfie: “Our weekend escape, surrounded by the most gorgeous nature.” Aside from being with her family, Sara says that she’s happiest when basking in sunshine “on a beach and completely shut off from technology”. She misses travelling dearly and is looking forward to catching up with her parents in LA and husband’s family in the UK when things return to some kind of normality.
“This past year has solidified even more so that nothing is more important than your family and loved ones,” she concludes. “I feel so incredibly blessed to have spent so much time with my husband and children, watching Phoebe and Alfie develop the special bond that brothers and sisters have—it makes my heart melt. I used to be—and maybe still am—a little OCD. I can be very particular and meticulous about things. But now I try to not sweat the small stuff. I try to let things go.”
