Irene Nickolai

Broker | Investor | Developer | Catskills Real Estate

A woman with wavy brown hair wearing a blue blazer and white shirt poses outside near a white building.

Irene Nickolai brings more than 25 years of New York real estate experience to the Catskills, combining the expertise of a seasoned broker with the hands-on perspective of a property owner, investor and developer.

Before making Sullivan County her home, Irene built her career in New York City commercial real estate, where she served as a Senior Broker and Division Manager at Douglas Elliman Commercial. During her tenure, she earned the firm's prestigious Gold Award and was recognized for her work in publications including The Real Deal, Crain's New York, Commercial Observer, Curbed, Brownstoner and Real Estate Weekly.

Today, as The Upstate Broker, Irene represents distinctive residential, commercial, mixed-use and investment properties throughout Sullivan County and the Western Catskills, with a particular focus on Callicoon, Narrowsburg, Livingston Manor, Roscoe, Jeffersonville, Bethel and the surrounding communities.

Her approach goes far beyond simply listing a property. Irene works closely with sellers to identify what makes each property unique, determine how it should be positioned and present it to the right audience. Professional photography, aerial imagery, thoughtful staging, strategic pricing and targeted marketing are all part of a customized approach designed to maximize exposure and value.

As an investor and developer herself, Irene understands real estate from an owner's perspective. She has restored, developed and repositioned historic and underutilized properties throughout Sullivan County, including the landmark 1852 Western Inn in Callicoon and a lakefront residential development on Lake Huntington.

That experience gives her an eye for potential and a practical understanding of what it takes to transform a property—an especially valuable perspective when representing historic homes, commercial buildings, investment opportunities and properties that require vision.

Irene's connection to the Catskills extends well beyond real estate. For years, she has played an active role in local economic development, historic preservation, tourism and community initiatives, working to strengthen Callicoon and the surrounding region while preserving the character that makes these communities special.

For Irene, real estate is about more than closing a transaction. It's about recognizing the potential of a property, understanding the character of a community and bringing the two together.

New York experience. Catskills expertise. A broker's perspective with an owner's eye.

Testimonials

  • The Yang Family

    “Thank you so much for taking the extra effort to make our first home purchase successful. You were there guiding us through all the crucial and important steps! You really listened to what we wanted in our home and you found exactly what we were looking for - at an amazing price! If we ever outgrow this home, we'll definitely be calling you!”

  • John and Rhonda Robinson

    “Thanks for all your help in making our "dream home" a reality. We really appreciated that you went the extra mile to get us the best price for our home. You are truly a professional.”

  • Daniel and Barb Northfield

    “In all our dealings with Realtors over the past ten years, we have never met anyone as helpful and energetic as you have been. Without hesitation, we would highly recommend your service to anyone who is looking for an experienced Realtor who cares about getting things done and doing them right! Thanks for taking such good care of us, we couldn't have done it without you!”