There’s a new agent in town.
Hope you’re hyped, squirrel friends–a brand new season of Million Dollar Listing: New York kicks off this Thursday, August 1st, at 9/8c on Bravo! Before our boys return with some of the most sickening homes you’ve ever seen, we caught up with Tyler Whitman, the fresh, new face on the Big Apple block.
With over a decade of real estate experience and a people-first approach to the industry, Tyler’s sure to shake things up on the circuit. After the jump, he spills all the tea on his craziest client story, finding love on the dance floor, and how his flavor sets him apart from the other agents in NYC.
What’s your favorite underwear brand?
So that is actually something that’s particularly interesting about me because I have–and I’m not just saying this–I have probably one of the most insane underwear collections you will ever see in your life. I have… probably 300 pairs, multiple drawers full, many of which are still in the wrapper and it’s almost like a fetish of mine. But they’re all for me, I don’t buy them for other people, but I have an insane underwear collection.
What are some of your favorite brands?
The brand that fits me the best and I feel like sexiest in is usually C-IN2. I think like their designs are cute without trying too hard and I have almost everything that they’ve ever made. Oh, and there’s also Jack Adams! That’s always a great go-to.
What’s your fave late night guilty snack?
If I’m fucked up on the way home, it could be 4:30 in the morning and it’s always a bacon, egg, and cheese on a croissant. I mean, it’s technically breakfast!
What’s your craziest client story?
When I first started in the industry and I’d just moved to New York from Alabama, I worked with a woman who was just… out to lunch. We’d go from apartment to apartment and she’d have a full-on meltdown in each one over how much she hated it. She didn’t have a great budget for New York City, so we weren’t looking at nice apartments.
And then, I kid you not, we’d have to stop at a bar between each apartment so she could take a shot and drink a full glass of wine. You know, I think it was my first exposure to true alcoholism. She’d have full anxiety and be like, “Can we go in here real quick?” And the first time, I thought it was cute and I was down, but then she wanted to after the next apartment… and the next apartment… So I just went down that ride with her and by the end of the tour, we were TANKED.
She never picked an apartment, by the way.
What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever seen in a house?
Every single time I went to show this one seller’s apartment, it became really clear that he had a bondage fetish. There would always be a leather collar with a chain and a whip sitting out on on public display in his bedroom, so I’d get there with a client and I’d have to hide it really quick. That was the first time I showed it, but I started to realize after a while that he was leaving it out strategically because he thought it was funny. It became a joke on my team that I’d always have to get there 5 minutes early to make sure it wasn’t sitting out. And don’t get me wrong, I’m a freak in the boudoir, but that’s not something I’m open with to the people trying to buy my apartment.
What’s been the biggest “pinch me” moment of your career?
Uh, getting cast on Million Dollar Listing: New York, obviously! It’s the craziest thing that’s ever happened in my life.
How’d you celebrate?
Which time? I’m still celebrating! When I officially found out and got the call, I was in my office in a rare moment where our whole team was there. When you see the show, our team is super close, so we all just had a full emotional breakdown. And thennn we got five bottles of Dom Perignon, one for each of us.
What’s the most fabulous gift you’ve ever given yourself?
Oh, I spoil myself a lot, but there’s two things that are just like, “Really, girl?” The first is this pair of Cartier sunglasses that I wear like, everyday, and they’re so ungodly expensive. I don’t care if you’re a billionaire, no one should spend that much on sunglasses. And then my car, it isn’t like a Porsche or anything, but no one in New York City has cars and I wasn’t even kind of thinking of getting one, but I was walking by a car place as saw this Audi in the window. This is completely unlike me, but it looked so sexy that I walked in and just got it!
What part of town do you live in?
Hell’s Kitchen! When I first moved here, I was SO poor, so I landed in Roosevelt Island. It’s mainly known for having had an insane asylum, but now they tore it down and made it a college campus. I guess I helped gentrify it!
Then I lived in the East Village for a bit, then DEEP in Brooklyn. Like, past the cool part of Brooklyn. Then I was in Harlem and Washington Heights for a bit, and those moves were all in my first two years here. I finally got a place in Hell’s Kitchen about 10 years ago and I’ve stayed put.
What’s your sign?
I’m a Libra! I’ve always lightly dabbled in Astrology, reading my horoscope and stuff, and I usually find it pretty interesting. My boyfriend, on the other hand, his career is basically Astrology. He’s right every single time within two minutes of meeting someone. On our first date, he was like, “Oh, you’re a Libra, aren’t you?” He asked me a few questions, basically had a heart attack, and was like “We’re gonna end up together! Your moon is in Scorpio and I always said I was going to marry a Libra whose moon is in Scorpio.” I knew he was the right kind of crazy for me.
A little crazy is essential.
Yeah, it doesn’t hurt either that he’s fucking gorgeous. I always said I need someone who’s a little bit psychotic and he fits the bill. Crazy and he’s hot.
Speaking of crazy, what’s the craziest date you’ve ever been on?
Hmm, it’s not really the CRAZIEST, but when we went on our second date, it wound up being this huge circuit party that we both happened to be going to. I’m not really a circuit party gay, so it was a really wild coincidence. I went with my whole gay NYC family, so they all got to meet him that night too and we just spend our date partying our asses off. I’ll spare you the details but… it was an exciting night!
What’re some of your house rules?
So I LOVE to entertain. I don’t run with like, a super wealthy friend circle and I’m probably the only one with an apartment set up for entertaining. I love to host and no one has to bring a thing, but my one rule is that you have to make yourself at home. The one thing I’m not gonna do is serve you all night! I hate when people ask, “Can I have this? Can I open this?” Like, yes, just take it! Use my dishes! Go in my fridge! You could probably steal all of my wine glasses and I wouldn’t care.
What’s your biggest accomplishment?
Well, I lost 200 pounds, which was unreal. But actually, starting my firm, Triplemint, and really building it into something from the ground up. We all had to do a lot of things we’d never done before and we’ve had some dark moments as a company, but this past year has been absolutely magical. We went from being in the trenches and overcoming some serious obstacles along the way to thriving and having this platform, which is just amazing.
Finally, without giving away too much, what’re you excited for people to see this season on Million Dollar Listing: New York?
My biggest a-ha moment in the whole experience was seeing how different I am from the rest of the top agents in the city. My style and my values are very unique and they’ve gotten me very far, but I think anyone who’s seen the show will be able to tell you that I’m a much different flavor. Hopefully, the audience loves it!
What makes your flavor different?
My heart. I think I’m much more focused on people. I lead with my heart and I’m very vulnerable, for better or worse, and I think people will see that. Even if it doesn’t always serve me well, it’s what’s most important to me. There are a lot of buyers and sellers who want to work with someone more sharky because there’s more money to be made there, but that just isn’t where I thrive. If you’re for everybody, you’re for nobody.
Don’t miss Tyler and the rest of the realtors return to the housing fray in the season premiere of Million Dollar Listing: New York this Thursday, August 1st, at 9/8c, only on Bravo!
