"We expect to ramp up quickly," Lisser tells GlobeSt.com. Hesitant to put a numeric goal on the endeavor, he did offer that the unit hopes to provide "$200 million over the next 18 months. We feel they will look to loan sales as an option."

Lisser says they've signed on for space in Midtown and will be hiring additional employees as well. Lisser and Nichols will both serve as managing directors and co-heads providing financial price discovery and liquidity for commercial real estate mortgage loan portfolios in the secondary market.

"There is a lot of cash out there chasing commercial loans, so it's really becoming a sellers market, thus making it the perfect time for banks and investors alike to optimize their portfolio returns through asset allocation sales, because they will get top bids," says Nichols.