Mark Tropea

Work with someone who will take the time to show you as many homes as necessary to find the right fit. If the way you feel about a home is "Maybe", that typically means no. But when the feeling is "YES!", the best way to be ready is to work with someone who helps you prepare for that moment.

Local knowledge is important. Integrity is more important. Many agents will tell you what you want to hear to win a listing. Not many will tell you the truth if it means risking a potential piece of business. Make sure whoever you choose backs up their claims with data, and discusses all possible strategies. Neither the seller nor the agent determines the sale price. The market does.

All types: First time homebuyers, investors, sellers, friends and family. For me, relationships are everything. The amount of trust and understanding required from both parties is remarkable. The best outcome is a lasting relationship where clients turn into friends.

I helped a friend buy their first home. It took months of searching, many offers, and when we finally made it happen, it was clear that all that we encountered along the way led us to the "right" house. As if it were destined.

I was recruited into the business by my great friend Matt Aragona. We had been friends and coworkers in the restaurant business when he got his real estate license. A decade later, Matt represented me when I bought my house in the Italian Market. Somewhere in that process, Matt suggested that I had an aptitude for real estate and asked me to join his team. After 22 years in hospitality it was time for a change, so I accepted. It remains the best decision I've ever made.

Aside from my continuing education as a real estate professional, I can draw on a lifetime of experience in the hospitality business. People often think of real estate as a sales job. I would describe it more as a service. My role is to make sure that your needs are covered and that you feel supported throughout. If I've performed my role, you're satisfied at the end and will keep in touch; not just as a client, but someone that you enjoy being around, speaking with, and to be trusted as a professional resource