V
ictor Sozio, a 42-year-old founding partner at Ariel Property Advisors, has seen his fair share of challenges in the commercial real estate industry. As one of the company's top brokers, he attributes his success to a phrase popularized during the Second Gulf War: "embrace the suck." This means being able to deal with adversity and uncertainty head-on.

    Sozio's background is rooted in military service. He enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserves after high school, where he rose to the rank of corporal. His time in Iraq gave him a broader perspective on life and taught him valuable lessons about resilience and adaptability. These skills have served him well in his 20-year career in commercial real estate.

    Ariel Property Advisors specializes in affordable housing, which accounts for over 75% of Sozio's inventory. The company is currently marketing almost 3,500 affordable units across 14 projects, including an 11-building portfolio and a 26-story tower in the Bronx. Both projects offer Article XI tax benefits for new construction or rehabilitation of affordable housing.

    Sozio's interest in multifamily real estate began early on, thanks to his friend's father who owned small commercial properties in Yonkers. He started doing odd jobs around the properties during high school and saw the appeal of the profession. However, it wasn't until he enlisted in the Marines that he found a true motivator.

    After leaving the military, Sozio attended Marist University and Manhattan University, graduating with a bachelor's degree in marketing. He began an internship at Massey Knakal in 2005 and became a full-time employee the following year. There, he bonded with partner Shimon Shkury, who shared his perspective on the importance of resilience in commercial real estate.

    Sozio and Shkury left Massey Knakal to form Ariel Property Advisors in 2011. The company has since arranged the sale of over 350 affordable buildings consisting of 18,000 units, totaling more than $3.4 billion. Sozio's expertise in affordable housing has been instrumental in the company's success.

    Ariel Property Advisors currently employs 62 full-time staff members, with 42 based in New York and 20 in a European office in Serbia. The company recently named two new partners, bringing the total to six. Sozio sees this as a sign of growth and evolution for the firm, and an opportunity to attract new talent.

    In addition to its work in affordable housing, Ariel Property Advisors is expanding its presence upstate, including deals on a senior housing building in Middletown and a tower in Albany. The company has also partnered with Global Real Estate Advisors (GREA) to build out a national affordable housing platform.

    Sozio notes that the current affordable housing sector is a stressful space for all participants, due to regulations and economic conditions. However, he remains optimistic about Ariel's future, citing the company's ability to adapt and overcome challenges as key to its success.