Urban Igloo, LLC bridges the gap between renters and landlords in the DC area. It was founded and is managed by Rick Gersten, a Washington D.C. commercial real estate broker, owner, and developer who frequently traveled for business. Frustrated by the time-consuming process of finding housing in other cities, he decided to create a service to streamline and simplify the process for apartment-seekers in the DC area. Whether you're looking for an apartment in Dupont Circle, a house in Arlington, or a townhome in Bethesda, Urban Igloo makes the process easy and fun! We operate with the highest ethical standards by professionals with years of experience in Washington real estate. So relax, and let us take the stress out of the housing search!

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Rick Gersten, Founder and Managing Director

Rick Gersten has over 30 years of experience as a commercial real estate broker, owner, and developer in the Washington, D.C. area. Prior to founding Urban Igloo, Rick led Gersten Commercial Real Estate, an advisory firm for real estate owners and tenants. He also served as Deputy Director and Chief of the Real Estate Portfolio for D.C.'s Office of Property Management. Rick received his B.A. from Connecticut College.

Debbie Kaplan, Director of Marketing

Debbie has over 25 years experience in marketing, advertising, business development, and affiliate relations. She has contributed to the growth of companies such as MCI, Sprint and AOL as well as several startups.Debbie currently serves on the board of directors for the DC Ad Club.

Alex Baker

Alex is a rising young star in the DC real estate industry. Growing up he helped his family manage both commercial and multi-family space in the Southeastern Massachusetts area and later interned with a prominent full-service commercial real estate firm, where he worked in several capacities including leasing, property management, market research, and planning and development. Alex earned a B.B.A. from the George Washington University School of Business with a major in finance and continued his education in a commercial real estate certificate program at Boston University. Alex is a licensed real estate agent in the District of Columbia and is a member of the Institute of Real Estate Management.

Joel Schatz

Joel Schatz has been living in the Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia area for over ten years. His previous work in the fitness industry has brought him to every corner of the city, and he has extensive knowledge of DC's neighborhoods. Prior to moving to the area, Joel worked as a wild-land firefighter in the Pacific Northwest. Joel has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon.

Bryan Zupan

Bryan Zupan has over 12 years in commercial real estate development, retail leasing, and construction. Prior to Urban Igloo, Bryan was the Senior Manager, Retail Leasing for Lauth Property Group, LP. He also spent nearly 9 years at Simon Property Group, Inc. where he worked as a Senior Leasing Representative. Bryan attended Ohio University in Athens, OH.