Realtor Associate, Denise Rubin Realty LLC

Aventura/Sunny Isles

What was your first job in the realty industry?
In high school, I started to educate myself by studying the South Florida real estate market. When entering the real estate industry, I made sure I was going to be full time. I focused on getting listings and, more importantly, connecting myself with the right people by networking.

Who inspires you?
My grandmother inspires me because she was the strongest woman I have ever known. She lost everything in the Holocaust and rebuilt her life in Canada, becoming a very successful developer in Montreal.

What is your favorite free-time activity?
I love to surf. Whenever I have free time I am surfing, whether it’s South Beach or the North Shore of Oahu. Surfing is my stress reliever.

How did you learn the business?
Once I was licensed, I was working 90 hours or more every week. It’s one thing to sit in a class to learn the industry, and it’s another thing to be in the field.

What was your most difficult sale, and how did you succeed?
It was between a big time developer and a New York business man. The property was listed for $1.8 million, but my client wanted to pay $1.6 million. I was determined to get this unit for my client, plus I was looking at a potential commission of $90,000. I went to the developers office five days straight and made at least five phone calls a day to them. They finally gave in and lowered to $1.725 million when I promised the developer I would sell more units for them. My client came up in price and purchased the unit. I also fulfilled my promise to the developer by selling four more units.

What is the most difficult aspect of your job?
I would have to say being available for my clients 24/7. I try never to miss a call, whether I have a client calling me at 3 p.m. or 3 a.m. Having clients all over the world means you must work on their time schedule. As long as I have my cell phone, I am considered to be working. I think this is what sets me apart from other Realtors.

Where do you go to network and meet new clients?
I network at all of the local broker opens and Realtor events in South Florida. The majority of my networking is flying to New York and giving real estate investment opportunity meetings to sell South Florida. Overall, networking is a 24/7 job. It should always be on your mind, whether you’re at an event or at Starbucks having coffee.

What has been your greatest accomplishment?
Getting my real estate license was a great accomplishment because it was everything I ever dreamed about at the age of 20. In 2003/2004, when working for first real estate company, I was the top producer for the time I was there, selling about $600,000 to $1.3 million a month. In 2005, when working for RE/MAX, I received the Platinum Club award for gross commissions in one single year. In 2007, I joined Denise Rubin Realty, where I’ve remained the top sales agent in the company. These are all great, but I believe my bigger accomplishments are yet to come, as I have big plans in the real estate business in South Florida.

Architecturally speaking, what is your favorite building in Miami?
The architecture of Hidden Bay in Aventura is stunning.

BlackBerry, Palm or paper?
BlackBerry! I set daily alarms for all of my showings and meetings so I am never late. I am able to respond to my e-mail immediately, and I can even write listing agreements and send them to my clients. I don’t see how a Realtor can not have one!

What is your personal motto?
The sky’s the limit.