Thursday, October 1, 2026
Before entering real estate, Vanessa Ambrosecchia worked in foreign exchange at the World Trade Center. After getting married and starting a family, she said she wanted a career that offered flexibility while still providing financial stability.
She began working in real estate in 1999, selling new construction properties for developers in Brooklyn and Queens. At the time, she was not yet licensed and worked directly through a development company, where she also saw foreclosure auctions and distressed properties moving through the courts.
“I didn’t want to be a 9-to-5 employee,” she said.
Ambrosecchia said those early experiences encouraged her to become licensed in 2003 and build on her background in finance.
Her partner and fiancé, Darab Kevin Lawyer, also entered the business with financial experience as a stockbroker. He said growing up around his mother’s house-flipping projects helped him learn how to work with contractors, building departments and attorneys involved in real estate transactions.
The pair have worked together for about 13 years, handling residential and commercial transactions in Oceanside, Rockville Centre, Brooklyn and other South Shore communities.
Between those periods, she said, foreclosures increased and some homeowners struggled with rising costs. Seeing those changes firsthand made her cautious about encouraging aggressive bidding, she said.
“I don’t like to see people get into bidding wars and then all of a sudden they’re in a situation where they are financially maxed out,” she said.
She said today’s market can still be unpredictable, with some homes continuing to sell above the asking price. In one recent example, she listed a home for $999,000 that sold for $70,000 over asking.
Even in competitive situations, Ambrosecchia said she encourages buyers to think about long-term affordability and monthly costs before completing a purchase.
Lawyer said some transactions require multiple site visits and estimates before a property can be properly prepared for sale, particularly when documentation or property conditions need to be addressed.
Some sales can take months to coordinate, Ambrosecchia said, depending on the situation of the home and the paperwork required before listing.
“It’s easy to sell a house,” she said. “But are you selling your house with the right agent to give you better client representation?”
In 2026, the team received The Herald Real Estate Achievement and Leadership Award for Power Team.
“We are deeply honored and will continue striving to exceed expectations for every client we represent,” Ambrosecchia and Lawyer said.
The Lawyer Team operates out of Douglas Elliman Real Estate at 304 Merrick Road in Rockville Centre and works with buyers, sellers and investors across Long Island and other parts of New York.
