Capital Behind the Curtain: Joey Columbo on New Development, Private Investment, and Stealth Strategy

In Episode 8 of BUILT DIFFERENT, Erin Sykes sits down with Joey Columbo, a top producing agent with Douglas Elliman in Palm Beach who understands that in luxury real estate, relationships are currency.

Recently featured in The Real Deal for selling 27 assembled units to billionaire developer Stephen Ross for a future development site, Joey shares the real story behind a high-risk condo buyout he began in 2021. Unit by unit, through discreet negotiations and LLCs, he built a 42% stake in a distressed building across from Mar-a-Lago.

The outcome was a 6x return. Along the way, there were moments when he thought he could lose everything.

This episode goes beyond the headline. Erin and Joey break down how high-level deals are actually constructed in Palm Beach and why broker-to-broker trust still determines outcomes in a market defined by access and reputation. They discuss how condo buyouts have evolved, the surge in branded ultra-luxury product, whether West Palm is overbuilding, and why $20 to $40 million condo sales are no longer shocking.

They also examine the bigger picture shaping the region. The Wall Street South narrative. The wealth effect from the stock market. The growing divide between true ultra-luxury and everything else. Erin shares her outlook on 2026 and why a flat market may be a healthier reset than another spike.

At its core, this is a conversation about conviction, timing, and knowing when to move while others hesitate.

Listen if you’re:

• A broker or developer who wants insight into assemblage strategy
• An investor evaluating condo buyouts or downtown land plays
• A luxury buyer or seller navigating Palm Beach or West Palm
• Curious whether AI can replace relationship-driven brokerage
• Watching the evolution of West Palm and separating signal from noise

Connect:

Joey Columbo: joeycolumbo26@gmail.com

BUILT DIFFERENT Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/built.different.pod

Erin’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sykesstyle

Email: erin@sykesproperties.com

BUILT DIFFERENT YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@built_different_pod

BUILT DIFFERENT Website: https://www.builtdifferentpod.com

BUILT DIFFERENT Community: https://connect.builtdifferentpod.com

BUILT DIFFERENT is recorded at PodPlus Studios in Jupiter, Florida.

Learn more: https://www.podplusstudios.com