REBNY toasts brightest and best at annual 'Oscars'.

Dubbed the industry Oscars, this year's Real Estate Board of New York Residential Deal of the Year awards had all the ingredients of the annual Hollywood spectacular--and some.

The ladies dressed in their finest Dior and the men donned tuxedos to pay tribute to the most promising, most accomplished and most respected in the business at a gala event held in the Puck Building ballroom, where all talk was of the high drama surrounding the 2005 Deal of the Year.

Halstead Property broker Sandra M. Lauer found herself embroiled in a saga straight from a big screen blockbuster involving an FBI sting, money laundering and tabloid headlines. Over the course of 13 months, she worked diligently to sell a two-bedroom Manhattan co-op, for which her client misrepresented the true ownership. Despite this and several other serious setbacks, Lauer ultimately managed to consummate the deal.

She explained, "The deal involved a client selling a two-bedroom co-op which he transformed into a one-bedroom without Board approval.

"There was misrepresentation by the seller as to the true ownership of the property, which resulted in demand that the seller pay a five-figure donation to a charity to clear up stock certificate ownership issues. The deal ended up involving a much-publicized FBI sting for money laundering and my concern was that my conversations had been taped by the FBI and that I, an innocent broker, was being drawn into a series of federal investigations."

Despite two tailed bids on the property, Lauer's professionalism, expertise and perseverance ultimately enabled her to close the deal for which REBNY recognized her this year.

"You have to persevere and know you are doing things the right way, no matter what everyone else is doing," said Lauer after the ceremony.

"The most important thing to me has always has been my reputation and [to] do everything with integrity. That's the way I conducted myself in this transaction and I think that's why I was able close."

Despite the drama of the past year, Lauer admitted her moment in the spotlight made it all worthwhile.

"The event itself really was like the Oscars and winning the REBNY award is an extremely big honor. I know how many transactions occur in a year and to receive this kind of recognition truly humbles someone."

Two of Lauer's co-workers also stepped up to the podium that night to receive awards.

Halstead's senior vice president Christine O'Neal took home the second place award with Barbara Schwartz, of The Corcoran Group. The two co-brokered a deal that involved a labyrinthine series of events that ultimately led to a successfully brokered transaction.

And Halstead's Pasquale Strippoli won for Rental Deal of the Year for the successful negotiation of a deal that was actually two deals for the same apartment and involved a high ranking UN diplomat.

"The fact that Halstead made such a strong showing at REBNY's Deal of the Year Awards ceremony demonstrates our agents' command of the real estate market in New York City," stated Halstead president Diane Ramirez.

The third prize sales award went to Shel Joblin and C.B. Whyte, of Stribling & Associates, Ltd., and Carrie Chiang and Mark Baum, of The Corcoran Group.

Edward F. Johnston, III of Brown Harris Stevens Residential, LLC, received the Most Promising Rookie Salesperson of the Year Award and Jane Bayard, of Warburg Realty Partnership, Ltd., was presented with the Henry Forster Award.

Bayard joins an illustrious group of real estate's finest who have previously earned what is regarded as a lifetime achievement award, including Elizabeth Stribling, president of Stribling & Associates, Hall Wilkie, president of Brown Harris Stevens, and her colleague, Fred Peters, president of Walburg.

"What's nice about receiving this award is the respect it gains for the firm. Fred [Peters] won the award about 10 years ago, so I feel good about winning it, both for myself and for the firm," said Bayard, whose life is steeped in the real estate traditions of Manhattan.

Her father, Harold Uris, the well-known builder, was enormously generous in an effort to improve the quality of life for the city he felt gave him so much.

Bayard herself has been active in residential sales since 1976, and has sold almost every major co-op on the Upper East Side.

In 1991, she assumed her current position as partner and executive vice president at Warburg Realty Partnership and she continues her family tradition in real estate, as well as serving the city in the charitable fashion her family embraced.

Reflecting on her long and productive career, Bayard commented, "I think it's a very competitive industry and there are a lot of brokers who feel it's an easy way to make money, but they don't do their job properly and they clutter the industry. The good ones are very good, though, and it's a pleasure to do business with them."

In recent years, Bayard has allowed her sales career to take a back seat to her involvement with the management of Warburg, which has grown from two to five offices in the past year.

"We are hiring new brokers and working more with developers and it's very exciting to be involved with a company that is growing

"And I have to say, it's exciting to rub shoulders with people who are so well recognized in the industry."

Paying tribute to the 2005 award winners, Steven Spinola, president of the Real Estate Board of New York, said, "With the continued strong activity in the residential market, the selection of these awards becomes increasingly difficult each year.

"But that is to the credit of this year's recipients, who have stood apart as New York's top-performing brokers. Each of the winners deserves recognition for their hard work, ingenuity and creativity."

Spinola called Bayard "a true professional and role model to others in the industry."

"She built her career from the ground up, rising from a sales person to broker and then climbing the management ladder to become Executive Vice President of Warburg Realty.

"Jane has always been involved with REBNY, serving in many capacities for the last 15 years from the Education Committee to the Ethics Committee and beyond. She has a great reputation among brokers and is well known for her integrity and creativity. She is an ideal recipient for this award."

The proceeds raised at the gala will be donated to the American Cancer Society- Hope Lodge New York City, Project Find-Find for the Aged, Inc. and The REBNY Foundation--Katrina Relief Fund.

Proceeds also will benefit REBNY's Member In Need Fund, which was created in 1997 and has already helped nine member brokers overcome financial difficulties since its inception.

The black-tie award ceremony was attended by all major residential New York real estate firms and each award was submitted and judged anonymously by REBNY members.