A Record Year, a High-Risk Pregnancy, and a Landmark Deal at 80 Clarkson

Luxury agent Marina Bernshtein achieved her best year ever—while navigating a high-risk pregnancy.

Throughout the year, Bernshtein continued to manage complex, high-value transactions and demanding client relationships even when she faced thrice weekly testing for her and her unborn twin girls. Bernshtein discovered she was pregnant with twins at the age of 40, which came as a complete “shock.”

As Bernshtein told Inman News, her “doctors learned early on that her identical twins were receiving an unequal distribution of blood flow, a symptom that is often indicative of a rare condition called twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). The condition can cause life-threatening complications to each baby.” At one point, a concerning test result at 26 weeks nearly led to an emergency delivery before stabilizing. Ultimately, she delivered healthy twins at 34 weeks. 

Central to her standout year was her role in securing a $33 million residence at 80 Clarkson—one of Manhattan’s most closely watched new luxury developments. Working through her relationships and network, she connected her client directly to the opportunity, ultimately facilitating the first sale in the building, completed based solely on floor plans before the project was fully unveiled.

At the same time, Bernshtein was managing a complex commercial deal and remained actively engaged with clients—even participating in negotiations from the hospital shortly after giving birth. Her ability to maintain continuity across multiple high-stakes transactions speaks to a level of discipline and commitment that defines top performers in the luxury sector.

She continued to balance motherhood and work, even when it seemed impossible. When her babies went down for a nap, she did everything she could to stay productive. She took calls from European clients at all hours, and took on showings in the later evening hours when her husband could take over and watch the kids.

“Now that I think back, I’m like, ‘Why did I do that? That’s crazy,’” Bernshtein told Inman.. “But, with my clients, I always want to be available to them. It doesn’t matter how many great assistants you have working for you; you are still the business and the face of your own business, and many of them just want to deal with you.”

Resilience is a defining characteristic of the most successful agents, and Ms. Bernshtein is proof. The ability to stay focused, maintain perspective, and execute at a high level—regardless of external pressures—is what ultimately drives long-term success. Most importantly, Ms. Bernshtein and her beautiful twin girls are healthy!

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