David Young, born and raised in Central New York, is a dominant force in the real estate industry and one of the most accomplished brokers in the region. From an early age, David displayed an uncommon drive for sales, entrepreneurship, and winning. A graduate of Mynderse Academy in Seneca Falls, he went on to study business at Cayuga Community College and SUNY Potsdam, already focused on building something far bigger than himself.
David’s work ethic started early. The moment he turned 14, he went to work as a dishwasher at a local restaurant, determined to earn and save his own money. By 15 years old, through discipline and relentless effort, he had saved enough to take his family to Disney World using his hard-earned savings. That mindset of sacrifice, ambition, and leadership has defined him ever since.
That entrepreneurial fire began even earlier. At just nine years old, David launched his first business, “Dave’s Veggies,” selling produce from his family’s garden. What started as a childhood idea quickly became a true operation. David ran his vegetable stand for five seasons, building a loyal following where locals became regular customers year after year. Even then, he wasn’t playing entrepreneur. He was becoming one.
In 2001, while still attending college, David earned his Real Estate Salesperson license and immediately emerged as one of the youngest and most successful agents in the area. His rise was fast, but not accidental. David built his reputation on performance, precision, and a refusal to settle for average. In 2003, his career accelerated further when he joined a major commercial brokerage in Auburn under the mentorship of industry leader John Bouck. There, David mastered the complexities of commercial real estate, deal structure, valuation, and high-stakes negotiation, developing the skillset that would later make him one of the most formidable brokers in New York State.
Every success story comes with failure, and David’s is no exception. After nearly a decade as a top producer and a recognized fixture in the local real estate industry, David faced a defining moment in 2011. By his own admission, he was young, earning substantial income, and at times careless with the opportunities in front of him. When the market took a drastic turn, David made the difficult decision to step away from the industry and explore other paths.
Looking back, David considers that moment one of the best things that ever happened to him. The lessons he gained during that setback became the fundamentals that shaped his career, strengthened his discipline, and transformed his approach to business. Those hard-earned insights are the same principles he carries with him to this day, and the same lessons he now shares while mentoring and training the next generation of elite agents and brokers.
But his lifelong dream of entrepreneurship was never truly over.
David’s grandparents refused to let him walk away from what they knew he was built to do. They offered him whatever support he needed to open his own brokerage. Fully aware of the high failure rate in real estate startups, David didn’t ask for much. Just enough to rent a small, rundown office, purchase second-hand furniture, buy three real estate signs, and build a basic website.
That loan of only $3,000 was about to change his life.
What followed was not luck. It was relentless work. David poured everything into the business, working day and night until results finally came. That turning point led directly to the founding of The Young Agency, which has since become one of the most recognizable and respected independent real estate brands in the Finger Lakes.
Today, as the Founder, Owner, and Acting Principal Broker, David specializes in residential sales, complex commercial transactions, leasing, investment strategy, and high-level negotiations. He is widely recognized as the most awarded broker in the area, earning more than 20 Platinum Top Producer honors and achieving landmark success, including the largest industrial sale in New York State in 2015.
What truly separates David, however, is not just his personal production. It is his influence.
David is the broker behind the broker. He is the trusted mentor and trainer responsible for developing many of the area’s top-performing agents and rising industry leaders. He takes immense pride in pushing professionals beyond their limits, sharpening their abilities, and helping them reach the highest level of success in real estate. His leadership has shaped careers, elevated standards, and built a culture of dominance across the region.
Beyond brokerage, David is also a highly successful real estate investor with a diverse portfolio of residential and commercial assets. He has helped countless buyers, sellers, and investors build wealth through strategic acquisitions, smart positioning, and expert guidance.
Outside of business, David enjoys spending time outdoors, traveling the world, and sharing life with his beloved dog, Lacey. But whether in business or in life, his standard remains the same: operate at the top.
David Young is not simply another agent or broker. He is a market leader, a power negotiator, a mentor, and one of the most accomplished real estate professionals in New York State. His name represents results, credibility, and relentless success, and he continues to raise the bar for what real estate excellence looks like.