Carlo Habet was hosted by Haute Media Group Cofounder Seth Semilof. Watch their conversation below.

The topics included Habet’s illustrious career with credible experience stemming from his business background, his leadership across various boards, and his eventual ascendancy in the Belize real estate market.

Carlo Habet is a third-generation entrepreneur whose family has had a rich history in Belize’s development. Seeing the opportunity for synergy with Brothers Habet’s own real estate developments, he decided to further his real estate education at Champions School of Real Estate in Plano, Texas. He then founded 4Realty in 2009 and has been able to develop a niche market selling commercial and luxury investments with a full-service company that provides boutique quality care to its clients. Currently the President of the Belize National Association of Real Estate, he has been lobbying diligently for the establishment of regulatory legislation in the Belizean real estate industry. Habet is the consummate businessman broker with an unparalleled network, unmatched communication, negotiation acumen, deep national knowledge across sectors, and a long and respected reputation for getting things done.

Here are some of the questions and answers from the exclusive interview with Habet.

Seth Semilof: Tell us a little about you growing up in Belize with the family business.

Carlo Habet: I honestly got into real estate sort of rowing the boat. It was not what I had really envisioned. I do not seem like the agent type. I am not like typical agents probably because of my background in more marketing, IP, and typical business processes. I know people in real estate tend to be seen kind of like salesmen. I went into it looking at it as a want to cultivate long-term relationships. Something that I have found a lot of success in has been referrals from happy customers, so a large sum of my business is actually referral-based.

SS: Tell us how you were able to survive tough times because that, to me, is what really makes a champion top agent. Anyone can be successful in the good times, but it is the bad times too.

CH: How I survived, I think, was specifically because I played my niche. I was lucky because I have two things going at the same time, which was a steady trickle of smaller residential lots and development companies. That kept me going, but as well, allowed me to spend a lot more time on bigger deals. I have been trying to convince people that there are some deals that you are chasing behind and following up for sometimes a year, but in the end, it is worth it because it closes. I was in a position with my network that I had a couple of these deals for a year. With proper financial planning, I was able to make that happen and with time, it only grew. Every year, I was doing better and better. At a certain point, I realized I have momentum that I do not think is going to go anywhere. I got over my fear of bringing in too many agents and losing focus.

SS: Tell us a little about your company 4realty. How many agents? Do you have offices? Tell us about your empire you built in Belize.

CH: It is not necessarily an empire, but I think we have got a lot done with a pretty tight team. We have currently five agents and the office is for members, mainly administration, and one marketing focal point. From there, what has been very key has been the network that I started with. Choosing the right agent has helped me to expand the network in meaningful ways to places that I did not touch before. We are seeing other agents in other parts of the country also step up, but it is a federal market and such a strong market. There are so many people from the U.S. and from Canada. The demand greatly outstrips supply, so the prices are very strong and very stable.

SS: Where do you see your business in the next five years?

CH: Because we recently expanded again, I think we want to make sure we get the most out of this new set of agents. What we are going to look at next within the next six to 12 months is strengthening our administrative staff. Organizationally, we can improve. You have to have relationships, but what I find the most interesting about real estate is it is really like every other business in that you have a back end and you have people that are also working really hard doing things that no one really knows about. Those things are as key to the success of the company as anything else, so what we are looking at right now is to consolidate our admin, marketing, and specifically to expand marketing a little bit.

SS: If you had to give some advice to someone [getting into real estate], what advice would you give?

CH: The landscape has changed a bit, so there are more established brokerages. There is this environment where if someone wants to be an agent, they can actually try to get a job with an agency first and then learn. I would recommend that. Basically, I would advise that people get the experience under people who know. Go to a brokerage and try and get a job, first and foremost.

For more information, please contact Carlo Habet at (501) 610-4186 or carlo@4realty.bz

To watch more real estate webinars curated by Haute Residence, visit http://dev.hauteresidence.com.

The post Chat With Haute Residence Leaders, Episode 16: Carlo Habet appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Robert Greenwood was hosted by Haute Media Group Cofounder Seth Semilof. Watch their conversation below.

The topics included Greenwood’s illustrious career with credible experience abroad building an understanding of his clientele, joining the highly esteemed Christie's International team, and his eventual ascendancy in the Turks & Caicos Islands luxury real estate market.

Robert Greenwood is on a Directors and Partner of Regency-Christie's International Real Estate, operating as one of the firm's Senior Brokers and Real Estate Advisors and a member of the Christie's Masters Circle. With veteran knowledge and proficiencies in high-value sales, resort management, development, and offshore investment, he has more than 35 years of personal work experience within the Turks and Caicos Islands. His extensive portfolio includes golf courses, condominiums, colleges, and hotel resort projects. Being affiliated with Christie's International Real Estate for almost a decade now, Greenwood has gained invaluable experience in the luxury real estate market guiding buyers with experience, professionalism, and trust.

Here are some of the questions and answers from the exclusive interview with Greenwood.

Seth Semilof: What exactly is a partner of the Regency Christie's International Real Estate and member of the Christie's Masters Circle?

Robert Greenwood: Christie's International Real Estate is one of the top luxury real estate brands in the world. We have been affiliated with Christie's for almost two decades now. With an investment angle, that has really helped us with our global exposure and the trust of the brand name. We have a fantastic team here at Christie's in the Turks and Caicos Islands with a breadth of knowledge. It is a great collaboration with Christie's and our team of 10 agents works very efficiently in the high-net-worth, high-value world of real estate.

SS: What made you want to get into real estate on the buy and sell side?

RG: It happened organically. At one point, I did the triad where I had a management company, a construction company, and a real estate company where one would feed the other. I did that for a long time, but I always gravitated towards real estate. I love the different styles of architecture. I really enjoy interacting with the people that we meet here. We get such a wide demographic of buyers from across the world, and you never know who you are actually dealing with everything from A-listers to captains of industry. The Turks is not just reserved for mega villas in the $20 million range. We are very price affordable in certain areas and certain condos, so I get to meet some incredible people.

SS: How was the island when you first launched the brokerage firm? What was your strategy?

RG: It was certainly very different than it is today. We did not have the technology that we have today. We did not have the inventory that we had today, but we also did not have the amount of brokerages. There are 16 brokerages within the Turks, but back then, it was three or four. It has always been very word of mouth in the Turks and Caicos Islands. It was slow-moving. Operating a real estate company was not aggressive at all and did not need to be. I do say quite often I have never really sold any real estate. The island already does that for me. My job is to simply guide you through the process.

SS: Tell us about who your mentor was or who helped mold you into where you are at today.

RG: I cannot mention his name, but he has an extensive background in commercial real estate in Canada. He was actually one of my first sales. The majority of my clients become my friends. You have to have the passion and the love of what you do. I love living in the Turks and Caicos Islands. I love what I do and love the people I meet. People see that and they recognize it is authentic. That is what makes the difference. You can read all the books you would like. You can have all the mentors you like. You can learn all the psychology of sales, but it really comes down to true authenticity. Make sure buyers get what they want. They will tell you everything you need to know.

SS: Who are the buyers? Where are they coming from?

RG: A lot of buyers are from the United States. It is a big demographic for us, and we are so easy to get to. It is a hop, skip, and a jump three and a half hours from New York. 90 minutes from Miami. We have direct flights from Charlotte, from Atlanta, and from Houston. Now, we are getting interest from new demographics in California and Vegas. Predominantly, U.S. buyers, but Europe is another big one and South America. The grand prize here is going to be exceptional, not just for real estate, but for tourism. They go parallel when you come down here. You fall in love on vacation, and we can offer you a condo from $290,000 to $68 million or $86 million. It has the full range.

For more information, please contact Robert Greenwood at (649) 432-7653 or robert@tcibrokers.com

To watch more real estate webinars curated by Haute Residence, visit http://dev.hauteresidence.com.

The post Chat With Haute Residence Leaders, Episode 13: Robert Greenwood appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Philip Weiser was hosted by Haute Media Group Cofounder Seth Semilof. Watch their conversation below.

The topics included Philip Weiser’s illustrious career from working in the hotel industry abroad, joining the highly esteemed Carlton International team, and his eventual ascendancy in French and international luxury real estate.

Philip Weiser has worked within the luxury hotel and hospitality industry for decades in London before transitioning to real estate when he and his young family settled in France. Weiser has held his French real estate license for over 40 years and assisted hundreds of buyers and sellers in the sale and acquisition of luxury homes and villas throughout the French Riviera. Launching Carlton International in 1995, the first of the Carlton International brands, Weiser and the Carlton International team collectively speak 14 languages to cater to an international clientele as a leading estate agent on the Cote d'Azur.

Here are some of the questions and answers from the exclusive interview with Weiser.

Seth Semilof: What made you think of moving to France and getting into real estate? Did you move to France first to do hotels, and then do real estate?

Philip Weiser: Not at all. My pre-Airbnb adventure was very successful. I sold the business and decided that I would move my family into a more international environment in the south of France where we have a good selection of schools with the English language. I was on a trip from Paris to Nice international airport and I sat next to a property developer who had opened the state agency in the town where I was living, and he was about to close the agency. Since I had nothing to do, I said, “I will be happy to see if I can make your agency run.” The Monday following, he forgot it, but he was as good as his word. He took me across the road, introduced me to my new boss, and suddenly I was a real estate. That was in 1982.

SS: Tell us how the business evolved from 1982. Where did you go from there?

PW: We were very successful as brokers as well buying, selling, renovating, and constructing. A lot of money was made at that time and I reinvested all the resources into other projects. The banks were throwing money at this time and in 1992, there was the first Gulf War when Iraq invaded Kuwait. Property prices around the world were heavily affected by that. In Europe, especially because we are closer to North Africa, prices dropped by 50% and interest rates were at 18.6%. I had 50% borrowings and 50% cash, but my properties all lost value of 50%, so I lost everything. It was the end of a glorious 10-year adventure.

SS: How is the real estate changed over the last 20 years? Are people building contemporary homes in the south of France?

PW: The architecture is sort of Mediterranean, with a lot of bay windows and tiled rooms like you have in California. That was the staple that together with traditional homes in the area are the two trends, but in the last five years, the word contemporary has become part of the local architecture dictionary. We never spoke of contemporary architecture. It was modern, but it was never contemporary. Now, we have some magnificent contemporary homes. It is very much the trend today. We must have, at least right now, 10 potential buyers looking for land to build a contemporary home or readymade contemporary homes designed by a local architect they can move straight into. There are very few standardized materials, so the cost of construction in spite of that it is clean, nice, and easy is that it is an expensive item here.

SS: What advice would you give to somebody getting into real estate to be successful?

PW: First is never believe anybody until you have proof of what they are saying is correct whether it is a buyer, seller, colleagues, or other brokers. The second is you need resilience because you have to have face the fact that you cannot win them all. The other self-discipline is being able to get up in the morning, go out, do the job, and stick with it. There is no day off. The last one is that when you are successful, do not spend the money. You may be successful this time. Ultimately, I tell everybody, you cannot sell a house. There are no sales in this job. It is understanding the needs of the buyer.

SS: Do you think your experience, training, and education in the hotel industry is what made you successful? Did you bring that to your real estate company?

PW: Certainly, that aspect played a very important role. A hotel is like a small town. You have lots of people of different nationalities and different characteristics. If you are managing, you have to move the people and the visitors first, not just the staff. All these people have their specific needs, their behaviors, and the way in which they react. If you go to have any peace and quiet managing, I will tell you to have to manage the staff and the guests with a lot of psychology, understanding, and great service.

For more information, please contact Philip Weiser at +33 6 14 34 13 14 or info@carlton-group.com

To watch more real estate webinars curated by Haute Residence, visit http://dev.hauteresidence.com.

The post Chat With Haute Residence Leaders, Episode 12: Philip Weiser appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Amy Land-de Wilde was hosted by Haute Media Group Cofounder Seth Semilof. Watch their conversation below.

The topics included Land-de Wilde’s illustrious career from moving to the Caribbean after a year abroad, strides towards opening then selling her own successful brokerage, and her eventual ascendancy as a leading specialist in luxury real estate.

In 1986, Amy Land-de Wilde became a licensed broker on St. Croix after a year abroad falling in love with colorful Caribbean diving, beautiful topography, the welcoming people, and the island lifestyle. She opened her own brokerage in 2001, which she sold to the Schmidt Family of Companies, Coldwell Banker’s largest affiliate operation, and happily remains a broker there leading the top-producing team. Land-de Wilde has received Coldwell Banker’s top production awards annually since joining forces decades ago. With a track record of representing the most significant properties on St. Croix, she keeps current with industry innovations, marketing trends, and all facets of real estate. Her clients benefit from her excellent negotiating skills, knowledge, and deep connections to the resources that benefit new and experienced Islanders alike.

Here are some of the questions and answers from the exclusive interview with Land-de Wilde.

Seth Semilof: You moved to the island. You were at the radio station for about five years and then you said, “I either want to come into the financial industry or the real estate industry.” Tell us about that.

Amy Land-de Wilde: I had a lot of good experience managing a radio station and starting in radio sales. If practice for any kind of sales job, you are dealing with an evaporating commodity. You have to have excellent not only people skills, but you have to be organized and follow up to develop good work habits. I really do credit that beginning as one of the reasons I started in 1986.

SS: When you started, things were hot. How long were they hot for? How long did it take you to get your first deal?

ALW: My story is unusual in a way because of what was happening in our market at the time. I had my first deal within a month and my first year was good. People always tell you and it is true that you have to be able to have the cash to support yourself for that period of time. I started doing a newsletter in 1986, which I still do today, so that consistency did not take that long.

SS: You built an amazing company and worked very hard to open it in 2001. Tell us a little about the reasoning behind selling it and when you made that sale.

ALW: I started the company in 2001 and at the time, it was just Land-de Wilde realty. Although Coldwell Banker had been talking to our company, which I finally did go to that larger company in another couple of years, I stayed at that company until she closed it. That is what started my company. Coldwell Banker continued, I continued, and that was the best decision ever, so I am very happy about that. When I sold in 2018, there were about 35 people, which is not huge for a company in the States, but I was eager to do that.

SS: How is St. Croix right now with the real estate market?

ALW: Real estate, strangely, was one of the businesses allowed to open since we managed other people's properties here from afar. It was very strict, but people were allowed to come see us to our island. People wanted to get out of their home, so we really benefited from a lot of people who came to visit and loved it who would never have.

SS: What advice would you give to somebody watching us, even a person that is in the business for six years and not as successful or someone having some success but not at that level? 

ALW: I would try to get brutal honesty from people they respect around them if they are not having the success that they feel they should be having. I would first definitely look within and say, “Am I doing my best? Am I spending the hours?” The flexibility does offer us benefits, but it is not 40 hours a week. Work-life balance is something that you need to create if you want to be successful in the confines of giving your all to your business.

For more information, please contact Amy Land-de Wilde at (340) 690-1213 or amydewilde@coldwellbankervi.com

To watch more real estate webinars curated by Haute Residence, visit http://dev.hauteresidence.com.

The post Chat With Haute Residence Leaders, Episode 11: Amy Land-de Wilde appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Darin Marques was hosted by Haute Media Group Cofounder Seth Semilof. Watch their conversation below.

The topics included Marques’ illustrious career from working in sales for a top subcontractor, his work in the Henderson community, and his eventual ascendancy in luxury real estate as a home specialist and founder of the Darin Marques Group at Huntington & Ellis.

After graduating from Bonanza High School, Marques pursued sales with the top fireplace and window subcontractor in the city. Within six months, he was the leading salesperson specializing in custom homes. This kicked off years as a successful executive in sales and development. Most recently, Marques was a luxury home specialist for 11 years with Ivan Sher Group, an affiliate of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Nevada Properties, where he held the role of sales manager for ASCAYA, a premier luxury home community in Henderson with 313 estate sites projected to be the greatest collection of Desert Contemporary architecture in the country upon its completion. As a thirty-year resident of Las Vegas with a deep knowledge of the valley, Marques has an eye for elevated living and a skill set that results in clients achieving the most value when purchasing and selling their homes.

Here are some of the questions and answers from the exclusive interview with Marques.

Seth Semilof: How was the movement [to creating your own company]? You moved around at the beginning of COVID.

Darin Marques: I left [Ivan Sher Group] in December of 2019 and moved over here to start my team. Then, we rolled around to March, and everything shuts down. I am thinking, “What did I do?” but everything worked out. There was this incredible rebound that started late August, early September of last year. We more than made up for it in the fourth quarter of last year. We grossed almost 22 million in sales just in the fourth quarter and this year we have been off to an incredible start. We are currently sitting at 54 million in sales and on track to break 100 million this year.

SS: How did you get into real estate? Was that your first profession? Tell us a little about your first moves in your career.

DM: Believe it or not, I started working when I was 14. I was into bodybuilding at the time, and I started working for a local health food store here. I worked for them for about five years until I was 19 and one of our customers offered me my first sales opportunity, which was outside sales for a construction company here in town. This is what led me into luxury. I worked for him for a few months as a project manager, then he moved me into sales. I was selling high-end materials for custom home construction: fireplaces, windows, mirrors, shower doors, and all that stuff. The one area that he did not have anybody to focus on was custom homes.

SS: How long did it take you to get your first deal whether it be a listing or a sale?

DM: In my first month, I landed two one and a half-million-dollar deals, which, at that time, would be the equivalent of three or four million now. Both of those were prior customers of mine from when I sold construction materials, and they ended up listing their homes with me. My first 90 days were incredible, but nine months afterward was nothing. The first five years in real estate from 2009 to 2014 was tough. I was going to quit and every year, thankfully, I had two great people who believed in me. The turning point was when I went and met with Ivan. I said, “I am at rock bottom. I am broke. I cannot afford to pay my dues.” He said, “This is the best thing. Everything from here is up.” I move forward and about 90 days later, ASCAYA came to me ready to reopen and start selling luxury home lots again.

SS: What advice would you give to people starting out?

DM: I think anybody who is successful knows that you cannot do it all on your own and to surround yourself with the right people. The other thing I tell all new agents now, I say, "Keep a job for at least a year. Take all the money that you are making from real estate and put that away because that is what is going to finance your business." You are starting a business and any business owner knows that you cannot walk into any business without having money for a startup. It really comes down to time blocking and being organized with your time.

SS: 18 months ago, you went to launch your own business. What made you decide to do that?

DM: I was managing ASCAYA and overseeing 32 agents plus admin at our main office. It was like drinking water from a fire hose for about a year, but it gave me a great opportunity to learn a lot really quickly about managing agents and running a team. It gave me an opportunity, and it gave me confidence. When my contract was up at ASCAYA after five years, I went back and tried to be an agent on the team, and I realized that was not me. I did not want to just be in sales; I wanted to build something. As an entrepreneur, I had all these ideas, and I knew it was not my business. It was scary, to say the least, but it was the best thing that I could have ever done.

For more information, please contact Darin Marques at (702) 485-7755 or darin@dmgluxury.com

To watch more real estate webinars curated by Haute Residence, visit http://dev.hauteresidence.com.

The post Chat With Haute Residence Leaders, Episode 10: Darin Marques appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Hilary Farnum-Fasth was hosted by Haute Media Group Cofounder Seth Semilof. Watch their conversation below.

The topics included Hilary’s illustrious career from marketing at Regatta Bay, becoming a broker during the Great Recession, and her eventual ascendancy in luxury real estate partnering with The Corcoran Group.

Having started her real estate career within the renowned communities of Regatta Bay and WaterSound Beach, Hilary is well-versed in the art of selling luxury real estate. While the owner and of Beachy Beach 30A & Beachy Beach Destin, Hilary leads day-to-day operations, creates marketing and advertising programs, lists high-end luxury properties, and hires, trains, and manages new agents. Hilary attributes her professional success to a solid combination of tenacity and relationship building. For over 18 years, she has used her powerful negotiation skills to stay ahead of the curve in a dynamic, ever-changing industry.

Here are some of the questions and answers from the exclusive interview with Hilary.

Seth Semilof: In your bio, you went to Florida State. What did you do after school?

Hilary Farnum-Fasth: I was offered a job in Destin, Florida at Regatta Bay and that is where I got my start. I was in marketing for them and had an incredible mentor. He taught me everything to do with marketing. He always was teaching us how to sell real estate in a visionary way, but I actually did not want to sell real estate because my mom had been a real estate agent. Obviously, I was always meant to be in it and the developer saw that in me. He said, “Listen, you are sitting here on site doing the marketing, but sometimes, clients are coming in and the agents are out in the field. You are the one talking about the real estate, and I would be so much more comfortable if you had your real estate license.” I got the license and literally the day I got licensed, he said, “Oh, by the way, I need you to become an agent because we just had somebody move on.” That is how I got into real estate and, of course, it was the best thing I ever did.

SS: Tell us about how long it took you to start getting into sales. Did you have success immediately with that?

HFF: Ironically, I did have success immediately, but it was because I went all in. I actually invested in myself heavily. What I mean by that is everything was pulling way back and the first thing that people do is the thing they should not do, which is they stop paying for all the marketing. They get fear-based and fear drives them which for me, fear is not even in there at all. There was a local newspaper where if you had an ad in there, you were it. I did these full-page ads that cost a fortune. I went all in, so it allowed me to build very quickly and stand out very quickly.

SS: How did you come up with the entrepreneurial idea to bring Corcoran to your area?

HFF: They actually chose me as fate would have it. They had decided Corcoran was going to start having affiliates and they were looking for key brokers. They wanted a partnership with specific brokers, and they had identified me. As a broker, I had never ever had any interest or desire to be under a national brand. I had actually always been an independent broker, but Corcoran was that one brand that I always modeled after. I thought they had figured it all out and I love their messaging.

SS: What is some advice that you could give to a new agent or anyone that is getting into the business today?

HFF: This did not happen overnight because it is 20 plus years of loyalty. I did my job in cultivating those relationships and they now want to refer everybody to me. It should take a little time to cultivate that loyalty and those referrals. The goal is to make it a long-lasting career instead of this immediate overnight, make a lot of money type thing. I am growing something that is going to sustain for years and years, 10 years from now, 20 years from now. It is actually one of the coolest careers in that way.

SS: Where do you see yourself and your business in the next three to five years?

HFF: I definitely plan to open more Corcoran Reveries all throughout the southeast. I cannot wait to bring this brand to all the areas it is a perfect fit for. We are going to continue to grow and provide insanely high-level training at a luxury premium for agents because that is something missing in the market. Someone gave me that privilege when I started, and I want to give that now to all the agents that come and decide to be with us.

For more information, please contact Hilary Farnum-Fasth at (850) 231-5030 or hilary.ff@corcorangroup.com.

To watch more real estate webinars curated by Haute Residence, visit http://dev.hauteresidence.com.

The post Chat With Haute Residence Leaders, Episode 9: Hilary Farnum-Fasth appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Leslie Modell was hosted by Haute Media Group Cofounder Seth Semilof. Watch their conversation below.

The topics included Modell’s illustrious career from a native New Yorker beginning with hands-on experience as a real estate rookie to her ascendancy in luxury real estate partnering with Sotheby’s International Realty.

Modell has developed lasting relationships with many of New York’s elite and is an expert in dealing with the world’s most sophisticated high-end clientele. She recently launched the Global Luxury Property Network Group with other top-producing Sotheby’s International Realty brokers, a networking group connecting industry leaders and innovators worldwide. Modell, Senior Global Real Estate Advisor, Associate Broker, and founder of The Leslie S. Modell Team, is a top producing broker in Manhattan who was ranked among the top 10 agents in the Sotheby’s International Realty East Side Manhattan Brokerage for 2019 and 2020 and among the top 1% in sales of Realogy Brokerage Group’s agent network from 2015 to 2018.

Here are some of the questions and answers from the exclusive interview with Modell.

Seth Semilof: After college [studying sociology and psychology], what did you do Leslie?

Leslie Modell: I pursued my music career with various different entrepreneurial businesses in between. Then, somewhere around 2004, I started to get the real estate bug. We were moving around a lot within Long Island to New York, etc., and I said, “looks like a fun job.”  I am a people person. I love to talk, and I am a good salesperson. I have always done sales my entire life, so I thought that the connection was very strong for me to branch out into real estate.

SS: When you got into the real estate business, what was your strategy coming in as a rookie?

LM: As a rookie, it is really important to get in at the base. Get your foundation set and that foundation will carry you the rest of your career. When I started, I did some hardcore walking to various buildings, introducing myself to different doormen, understanding floor plans understanding, researching different buildings, and getting educated. That is the most important takeaway of today: being an educated agent is everything. Knowing exactly the questions somebody will ask you about a specific building because typically it is the same question. If you are one step ahead of the game, you are always going to be that much more educated to someone and to give a feeling of trust and security to that seller or that buyer.

SS: You started small to get the singles and doubles and grew. Tell us how you are able to be successful in that.

LM: It is all about networking, getting your voice heard, and getting your brand out there. I actually have a social media company I work with specifically for Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. You have to get the word out. You have to keep doing deal after deal after deal. Get seasoned. Get confident because the confidence plays. I was never afraid of the price point because if you can do a one bedroom, you could do a four bedroom. Once you get the confidence to build your business and build the momentum, you go to the next level. That is why I tell people in my team there is no deal too small because that studio buyer four years later, could become that three- or four-bedroom buyer.

SS: Where do you see the city [New York] right now?

LM: The city is definitely bouncing back. Those COVID discounts are in the rearview mirror. There are some discounted and there are some values still out in the fields but not like there was. I have personally been involved in multiple offer situations, so I do see a really good upward trajectory toward getting out of this cycle and moving into the next cycle. My business personally has been phenomenal. I have lots of contracts out. I have lots of my listings either closed or in contracts. We are certainly getting traction in the market.

SS: Where do you see your brand going over the next three to five years? Tell us a little about what you foresee in the future.

LM: I see myself growing constantly. I always know there is another plateau to reach, so right now, I have been building out my team. I have three people on my team and the next step would be growing that team, constantly evolving, constantly growing, and maybe getting into new development in the future. The sky is the limit for everyone in this industry and that is why I love it. Nothing is too far of a reach. You have a goal, you set your goal, and you go for it.

For more information, please contact Leslie Modell at (917) 488-5374 or leslies.modell@sothebyshomes.com.

To watch more real estate webinars curated by Haute Residence, visit http://dev.hauteresidence.com.

The post Chat With Haute Residence Leaders, Episode 8: Leslie Modell appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Haute Residence continued its "Chat with Haute Residence Leaders" series with an exclusive one on one conversation featuring Vasco Borges: CEO of luxury private villa resort Beach Enclave.

He was hosted by Haute Media Group Cofounder Seth Semilof. Watch their conversation below.

The topics included Borges’ illustrious career from CFO of Grace Bay Resorts, Project Director for Water Cay Development, and his eventual ascendancy in luxury real estate as the CEO of Beach Enclave.

Vasco N F Borges has over 20 years of experience in luxury branding, real estate development, and hospitality. As the CEO of Beach Enclave, Borges raised funding, designed, developed, and is presently managing three private villa resorts. Founded in 2013, Beach Enclave is redefining Caribbean beachfront living by offering the privacy and seclusion of your own home with all resort amenities. Borges’ accolades include Best Caribbean development in 2017 by the International Property Awards, #1 Resort in Turks and Caicos by TripAdvisor, and highest average daily rate in Turks and Caicos.

Here are some of the questions and answers from the exclusive interview with Borges.

Seth Semilof: Tell us a little about how you went from college, growing up in Portugal, to the Caribbean.

Vasco Borges: It was absolutely by happenstance. I had done a more traditional career of economics, then I joined this consulting company called McKinsey. When you are a consultant, you get exposed to a lot of industries. There were a few options on the table. One of them was to join a restaurant group in Singapore and the other one was an opportunity to come to the Caribbean to work. I had never been to the Caribbean before, but they promised me a beachfront bedroom in a five star resort, so I came here. It was a vibrant place and I absolutely loved both the real estate and the hospitality component. That is why the idea of building something where people are going to leave with lifestyle experiences, but also hospitality was really, really exciting.

SS: I would love to learn how you came up with the game plan or strategy because you came out and built three different luxury villas. What transpired into that?

VB: At the time, if you wanted to own real estate in Turks and Caicos or the majority of the Caribbean islands, you could either on a condominium or a standalone home. I could not figure out why we could not combine both. You have the great things of a resort, which is all the amenities or services taking care for you, and combine that with the privacy of your home. You really just go in and it is ready for you. I could not convince my employer to do it at the time, so I decided to go in on my own.

SS: What makes Turks and Caicos so amazing? You have not chosen to go to any other Caribbean islands, just mainly stuck to Turks and Caicos.

VB: An amazing combination of things. It has an amazing infrastructure. It has US dollar, UK law, and above all, beautiful beaches. You can have breakfast in New York and lunch on the beach. It is very unusual to get, but we have very low-density development, a fantastic legal setup, and quality people. We are 22 miles outside of Manhattan, so Wall Street is a big part of our market. We are also seeing people coming in droves from New York to New Jersey to the suburbs. We are seeing tremendous movement in Westfield because interest rates are historically low, so it is a win-win.

SS: Where do you see the next 12 months specifically for Turks and Caicos?

VB: We have seen an amazing amount of money coming in and a lot of interest in our homes. We presold all the homes, even before acquiring the land. There is a lot of demand there, particularly for the high-end products. I think that will continue, but also, what you see in some of these locations is this new way with investment that is helping us build more amenities. An expansion of the ecosystem around us helps as that you really need people to come into the islands. Our purpose is continuing to grow because people want everything to be as easy as possible. We are putting together all these protocols and trying to make the experience top, top, top notch for our client.

SS: Where do you see your company in the next five to 10 years as you are expanding the brand?

VB: We are very happy with this location. Being on the best beach, we have some amazing homes coming our way. Maybe we will do something else here, but I think our next wave of growth once we have solidified and built our roster, the team is to go and expand abroad. I think what we have done here can be done in pretty much any location where you have wealth coming in, interest in real estate, and interest in a good lifestyle experience.

For more information, please contact Vasco Borges at 1-866-580-1675 or visit www.beachenclave.com.

To watch more real estate webinars curated by Haute Residence, visit dev.hauteresidence.com.

The post Chat With Haute Residence Leaders, Episode 7: Vasco Borges appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Watch their conversation below.

The topics included Isoldi’s illustrious career from a family business to the corporate world of Coldwell in New Jersey and New York, and his eventual move and ascendancy in real estate.

Originally from Westfield, New Jersey, Isoldi is a broker sales associate affiliated with the Westfield East office of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in New Jersey and Rockland County, New York. With 30+ years of real estate experience, he got his real estate license at eighteen. He says, "I went to Drew University in Madison, New Jersey, which was close enough that I could come home on the weekends, see open houses, and start to get a book up business going, so when I graduated, I had a client base to start with." He continues, "My father did real estate. I grew up in this business my entire life, so I loved it from from a very, very young age. I knew exactly what I wanted to do. My parents said, 'you have to get a college education,' so I went somewhere local to hit the ground running and that is how it all unfolded."

Frank D. Isoldi

Photo Credit: Frank D. Isoldi

Here are some of the questions and answers from the exclusive interview with Isoldi.

Seth Semilof: Where do you think your skills were? Is it sales? Is it working hard? You found a marketing strategy. Tell us about that.

Frank D. Isoldi: First of all, you have to work hard. Everybody thinks this business is so easy and glamorous and fun and it is, it is all that, but you have to work. I worked. I came home from college on the weekends to see open houses. I wasn't afraid to put the time in. Then, it is networking. It is what Haute Residence does. There are great networking opportunities out there. You have to be a people person and you have to be willing to you know put yourself out there. It is all about marketing branding and getting your name out there consistently.

SS: How was it going from working in a family business to now working in a corporate environment?

FDI: What I do love about the offices is that it is very competitive. There are a lot of top agents, but we really, really, really are a family. I was certainly intimidated with a change going from a small boutique family run business to this major company, but I think I thrived. I learned to stay in my lane and be respectful. Then we became close friends and family. It has been a really wonderful experience.

SS: How has technology changed your business? Do you think referrals are still the most important part of being successful in real estate?

FDI: Technology is life changing. I can make appointments from the car. You can put yourself out there on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. This is a relationship business. You can now create relationships with people all around the world. Start to get referrals from people that you have never even met before. If they feel like they can trust you both online and in person, they are going to refer to you for business. Social media has dramatically changed this business.

SS: Where have you seen the most success in your career?

FDI: When you are talking about luxury properties and luxury clientele, print is still very important for our business. Everything is on social media. It is easy, quick, free, instant, but magazine are still a very, very important aspect of marketing high end luxury properties. I don't think that social media can replace print and print marketing, but it is certainly a major enhancement.

SS: You said the market is on fire. Where are the buyers coming from?

FDI: We are 22 miles outside of Manhattan, so Wall Street is a big part of our market. We are also seeing people coming in droves from New York to New Jersey, to the suburbs. We are seeing tremendous movement in Westfield because interest rates are still historically low, so it is a win-win.

SS: What niche are you doing now or is your business just so big that it is continuing its a machine?

FDI: I have hit the point on my business where I want more business. I want to make more money every year and continue to beat last year's production. Also, we want to make the experience for our client better every year and every transaction. Our purpose is continuing to grow now because you know people want and they want everything to be as easy as possible. We are putting together all these protocols and trying to make the experience top, top, top notch for our client.

For more information, please contact Frank D. Isoldi at 908-787-5990 or frankisoldi@gmail.com

Frank D. Isoldi is the exclusive agent representing the Westfield, New Jersey real estate market as a member of the Haute Residence Real Estate Network. View all of his listings here.

The post Chat With Haute Residence Leaders, Episode 2: Frank D. Isoldi appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Watch their conversation below.

The topics included Schemmel’s illustrious career at Schemmel Group, his growth of knowledge and expertise in the Sarasota, Florida area, and his ascendancy in the real estate market.

Comprehensive knowledge of the Sarasota area real estate market, strong business skills, and an affinity for luxury properties have established Joel among the top 1% of Realtors® in the Sarasota area. Joel and his team at the Schemmel Group have set several sales records in addition to being the top producing team within the Sotheby’s affiliate in Sarasota every year since 2008.

Here are some of the questions and answers from the exclusive interview with Schemmel.

Seth Semilof: Going back to that first year, what made you successful? What made you stay in the business and not quit?

Joel Schemmel: I had to make the leap of faith into the business. many people coming into the real estate world it is cushy job and easy to break through and be successful, but it was harder than any of my other careers before. We had no connections to anybody here in Sarasota, so it was certainly a reality check for us to how to grow  the business. I thought with my background as an attorney and accountant people would be flocking. You really have to start from zero and build up your business. I made good relationships with a couple experienced agents and they let me take their listings, have open houses at those listings, even advertising a little bit from my perspective, so that is really how I started.

SS: A broker brought up how they built their business by basically going to all the open houses. Is that how you started your business?

JS: The reality is, of course, when you did an open house, you would think you would pick up a buyer, but my additional strategy was to meet all the neighbors and really establish myself as a as a source of information in that neighborhood; somebody you go to. It was definitely a twofold strategy.

SS: How did you get your first sale and how long did it take?

JS: The biggest challenge right is you start your initiatives and unless you stick with them for a good amount of time, I mean doing direct mail, which we did a lot of back then, you do it for three months, it was a waste of money, you have to do it for a year to produce your property, your first tangible transaction out of it. It is going into this business with your eyes open, that it is a year or two of investment, from my perspective, to get things rolling. It can be very lucrative, but it is a humble beginning.

SS: How did you evolve your business to where it is right now? How long did it take you to get that first trophy property?

JS: The way I approached it was to really focus on my neighborhood, to build a track record, so I became the expert in the neighborhood where I lived and built from there. You are building that base and that is the beauty of it. Once you get it going, it builds on itself to a certain extent, but I did not get into the million plus properties right away. It took a couple years.

SS: What advice do you have if someone's watching this that in a career they're not happy and they want to get into real estate? What advice would you give them?

JS: You have to approach it like a business, so it is not going to be instantly gratifying like it may be perceived from the outside. It does take some time to build up, so be ready to invest money, if you can, but your time. You have to be self motivated. Anybody can be successful in this business, but you do have to dig in and be very persistent. We have always taken the approach that we add value to our clients. Determine your strategy or your niche to add value because that will be what people gravitate towards.

For more information, please contact Joel Schemmel at 941-587-4894 or joel.schemmel@premiersir.com

Joel Schemmel is the exclusive agent the Sarasota, Florida estate market as a member of the Haute Residence Real Estate Network. View all of his listings here.

The post Chat with Haute Residence Leaders, Episode 6: Joel Schemmel appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Watch their conversation below.

The topics included Carswell’s illustrious career from Dallas to Manhattan to now southern California, and his ascendancy in luxury real estate.

Photo Credit: Anthony Barcelo

Ernie Carswell is one of the most accomplished and respected real estate agents in the industry today. His extensive roster of satisfied clientele includes the likes of Fortune 500 CEOs, professional entertainers, top studio executives, leading attorneys, government officials, ambassadors, and foreign dignitaries. Beginning his real estate career in the exclusive Highland Park neighborhood of Dallas, he claims, “Texas was a different Republic back in the 80s when I started there.” He continues, “I transferred to New York City and became a Manhattan broker having fantastic times there. I came to southern California in 1991 and have been working here ever since, not leaving, and not going anywhere else.”

Photo Credit: Anthony Barcelo

Here are some of the questions and answers from the exclusive interview with Carswell.

Seth Semilof: When you first got into the business, what made you become a realtor?

Ernie Carswell: I was studying in my college career to be a psychiatrist. While I was in pre-MED, I was in the therapist training program for the state mental hospital of South Carolina. Do you think that was a great prelude to getting into real estate? It was because I learned a lot about human behavior that completely shaped my ideas about what I do now as a real estate agent.

SS: How scary was it going from working a steady paying job to becoming a real estate agent?

EC: There is no paycheck until you sell something and I like that. These technology companies are trying to change our industry and trying to make it a salary position. What about people like me that want to dream of an unlimited ceiling of income and unlimited potential. There is no limit to what I can do with my career, where I can go, and what I can sell. The beauty of what we get to do as real estate agents today, as long as it can last, is we have unlimited potential to sell as much as we can.

SS: What are some attributes that have made you successful for such a long time?

EC: One of the ways that propelled me here was I had mentors. Every agent that gets into this business should have their eyes on someone that they think is doing it right. What I would say the other thing is that I failed. Any agent listening should know that you are going to fail. If that bums you out and you cannot get out of bed the next day, this is the wrong business for you. Tomorrow is another day to meet with optimism and possibility.

SS: Back when you started 35 years ago, if you did not cold call, and if you could not knock on the door, it is was not like you had email. How did you build your business?

EC: Face to face. One at a time. I am pretty good at relationship building. The problem with real estate agents in these very sensitive deal making situations is they are only listening to the words that are being said, but they are not reading all. What you do is everything, so I judge people on their actions. Communication is really about 20% verbal and 80% body language.

SS: What advice do you have for somebody in the business for less than five years and not having the success that they envision or dreamed about?

EC: I do live the dream.  It was a lot of challenge and a lot of hard work, but I take every moment of it as a privilege. The people that work around me are just as grateful. Those TV shows and people running around like it is all just dripping on us is not true. People have worked hard and those agents on those TV shows have worked hard to get to where they are, but the shows themselves are just entertainment. This is a beautiful career I am still encouraging people to consider it and get into it while it remains what it is: the opportunity for unlimited success and potential.

SS: California real estate, specifically your area, has never been harder, so who is buying the properties?

EC: It is a true pipeline of business coming from around the world. We are also seeing real estate volume from locals. People are just moving around. They are not trying to leave the state or the city environments. They are just trying to get out from the density.

For more information, please contact Ernie Carswell at 310-345-7500 or ernie@carswellandassociates.com

Ernie Carswell is the exclusive agent representing the West Hollywood, California luxury real estate market as a member of the Haute Residence Real Estate Network. View all of his listings here.

The post Chat With Haute Residence Leaders, Episode 3: Ernie Carswell appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.