Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle DiMarco.
Hi Michelle, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I gained an independent spirit at an early age. Born and raised in New Port Richey, Florida, by a single mother from Cuba, I was taught to appreciate my Cuban heritage and fearlessly follow my dreams until success. I know Florida like the back of my hand, and it’s something I think sets me apart as a real estate agent.
I graduated with a degree in Intercultural Communications from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. While completing a study abroad program in Ghana, Africa, and a Creative Enterprise Ownership program at The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, I learned I love to travel, meet new people, and explore new places. While these global adventures expanded my horizons, they also renewed my love for my home state of Florida.
When I returned, I took a leap of faith and launched Lilac And Lilies, a fashion boutique in Fort Lauderdale that I ran for over a decade. The boutique became a shopping destination for Floridian fashionistas and gave me the opportunity to connect with so many smart, interesting women over the years.
This dedication to my South Florida community is what initially drew me into the real estate world. Communication and empowerment are cornerstones of my client relationships. I truly believe that the key to finding someone’s dream home is listening to their wants and needs. Understanding my clients as people allows me to get to the heart of what they’re looking for. Having extensive knowledge of South Florida’s people, geography, and local hangouts help my clients find a new neighborhood they’ll truly enjoy.
I am also a devoted volunteer and philanthropist. Over the years, I’ve earned nominations for the 100 Outstanding Women of Broward County for three years in a row and am a recipient of The Glammy Award for my community activism benefiting breast cancer research. I’m active on The Humane Society of Broward County board and regularly volunteers for Kids in Distress. Throughout my career, I’ve been featured in WWD, New York Post, Forbes, CBS, NBC, Sun Sentinel, Boca Life, the Miami Herald, and more.
I currently live in Fort Lauderdale with my King Charles Cavalier puppy, Lily. I believe living a healthy lifestyle keeps my mind, body, and spirit in balance and makes me the successful, well-rounded businesswoman that I am today.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
After spending over a decade running my boutique Lilac and Lilies, I’m thankful to have found another career opportunity I’m truly passionate about. Pivoting my career from small business owner to real estate agent was a pretty seamless one in hindsight. I treat real estate essentially like how I treated my boutique, as a small business. I know what it takes to make something successful. This isn’t to say that it’s been smooth sailing 100%. A challenge I often face as a real estate agent is helping my clients to make sense of the confusing, seemingly unpredictable housing market. Becoming an expert in the real estate industry involves studying the market daily. The more informed I am, the more knowledge I have to share with my clients. People often tell me they are going to wait to purchase a home until housing prices drop. In my opinion, this is a huge mistake. While the rate at which home prices are rising will become less drastic, they aren’t expected to drop. Don’t let your hopes of lower home prices in the future stop you from finding the home of your dreams today. The memories you’ll make in it are truly invaluable.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a Global Real Estate Advisor with the Curated Collection group at One Sotheby’s Realty. We have over 3 billion dollars in sales and are Sotheby’s number 1 development division including properties like the Rosewood Baha Mar and SLS Baha Mar.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: MichelleDiMarco.OneSothebysRealty.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michelledimarco_realestate/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichelleDiMarcoRealEstate
Image Credits
Ian Jacob Photography
