If you’ve seen our Who’s Who in Residential Real Estate issue, you know it’s our thickest print issue of the year. That means the brokers, lenders, developers and affiliates featured here had to be pretty popular to rise to the ranks of the top 10. Check out the features below to learn which profiles had the most traction in South Florida in 2021.
No. 10: Paola M. Garcia-Carrillo
A counselor and confidant, Paola Garcia-Carrillo is more than a real estate expert. “Being able to listen to my clients’ needs and wants is very important in my career,” says Garcia-Carrillo of Residence Group at Compass. The principal agent and broker associate, Garcia-Carrillo, a Certified International Property Specialist and Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist, serves luxury and new-construction buyers and sellers in Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, Pinecrest and South Miami.
No. 9: Bobby Fountain
With nearly two decades of lending experience, Bobby Fountain has seen every scenario in the book. The vice president of mortgage lending and Plantation branch manager at Guaranteed Rate, Fountain provides personalized and reliable service. “My level of patience, particularly with first-time buyers, gives them a higher comfort level,” he explains. “They know I will be there for them and find a solution to maximize their financial well-being.”
No. 8: JoAnn Roberts & Rebeca Castellon
Together, JoAnn Roberts and Rebeca Castellon of Coldwell Banker Realty bring incomparable value to the client experience. The sellers who work with them not only get seasoned Realtors, but also benefit from Roberts’ talent for staging homes and Castellon’s expertise in branding. “Through our extraordinary marketing, networking, staging, photography and negotiating skills, we achieve higher sale prices and continually set new standards,” they say. “When we work with our clients, we provide a complete solution from beginning to end.”
No. 7: Giovanni Caloretti
In the Miami market, where luxury homes are a prominent theme, one local face stands out: Chicago-born, Miami-raised Giovanni Caloretti, director of luxury sales at The Caloretti Group at Compass. Clients often tout Caloretti’s incredible work ethic and attention to detail, as well as his true expertise in his market. His knowledge has paid off, earning him a 2018 Ellie Platinum award from Douglas Elliman. “There is no secret,” he says, “Just hard work! You have to show up every day. Getting your clients the best deal, helping them throughout the process and making sure you are there for them even after you close the deal.”
No. 6: Nancy Batchelor
Nancy Batchelor’s success in real estate speaks volumes about her tireless work ethic. Batchelor has closed more than $1 billion in sales since beginning her career in 2003. A leading Realtor to the world’s elite, she specializes along with her team in the popular areas of Miami Beach, Surfside, Bal Harbour, Fisher Island, Morningside, Coral Gables and Coconut Grove. From beachfront condominiums to historic waterfront estates, she represents the finest in upscale residential real estate. A senior vice president at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices EWM Realty when recognized in 2021’s Who’s Who, Batchelor is now vice president at Compass.
No. 5: Jessica Bedoya Adams
In nine years, Jessica Bedoya Adams has conducted upward of $200 million in transactions. Adams, president and global real estate advisor at Jessica Adams Luxury Real Estate of ONE Sotheby’s International Realty, entered real estate to fully steer her career and work closely with her husband, Jason, principal and managing partner of the award-winning architecture and design firm STRANG Design.
No. 4: Adrian Burke
Dr. Adrian Burke fell in love with the real estate industry by chance. “I was a pharmacist for eight years and became a licensed real estate agent to learn more about investing my surplus income,” recalls Burke, a global real estate advisor with ONE Sotheby’s International Realty. Yet his side hustle soon turned into a full-time job, as his passion for helping others navigate the buying and selling processes blossomed and his knowledge and network grew.
No. 3: Juan Ayala
It was 1997 when Juan Ayala, principal at Regal Group International, began his real estate career on the financing side of the industry. Previously a financial advisor with deep knowledge of the industry, Ayala started his career focusing on his beloved local Miami area, where he’s lived for 39 years. Today, after building his own empire of a business, he covers properties of all kinds, from luxury to commercial. His reach? The entire Atlantic seaboard, Texas, Colorado, California and even Hawaii.
No. 2: Steven Koleno
When it comes to specializing in certain buyer groups or even specific neighborhoods, many Realtors stick to one concentration. This is most definitely not the case for Eastern Seaboard-spanning Steven Koleno, a 15-year real estate broker and jack of all trades. Rapidly expanding through the pandemic, Koleno now serves 34 MLS’s and 64 metropolitan markets in eight states. He has grown his closings dramatically over the past four years, recently surpassing the 3,600 mark for closed rentals and sales
No. 1: Wesley Ulloa & Bianca Guevara
Results-driven and solution-oriented, Wesley Ulloa and Bianca Guevara of LUXE Properties are on a mission to make real estate dreams come true. Experts at finding the perfect match for first-time to luxury buyers, sellers and investors, Ulloa and Guevara make sure clients understand the value of purchasing a home in Miami and the surrounding areas from both long-term investment and lifestyle standpoints.