Today we’d like to introduce you to Alejandra P. Longo.
Hi Alejandra, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
I started real estate back in 1996.
At that time I was an operations/sales manager with Howard Johnson located in the Miami International Airport area. While the salary was very good, I had to be at the hotel or the airport almost every day for very long periods. To make matters more complicated, I was going through a divorce with 2 teenage children.
Thinking about my children’s welfare and avoiding the pitfalls of not being home for long periods, I took a leap of faith and got into the real estate industry where I could manage my schedule based on my needs. Everybody in my family told me I was crazy to leave a very good salary, benefits, and job security for a jump into the unknown without a parachute but, Pisces as I am, I jumped in headfirst.
I had a difficult start in the business, but I was determined to make it work. After 3 months in the business, my determination started to pay off with three closings under my belt. It took many hours of open houses to achieve this. At that time, if you wanted to do an open house for a foreclosure (foreclosures were my first area of expertise), you had to start calling the foreclosure line of the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) department very early on Friday mornings to obtain authorization for open houses that weekend. I used to take a chair and a flashlight to open houses in case there were no working utilities at the property and spent many hours on the weekends there waiting for clients to come to see the property.
It took time, failures, and frustrations, but never lost the the light at the end of the tunnel. and it paid off. Reflecting on my start in the industry, I realize how far I have come in my nearly three decades of experience. I have received quite a few industry awards and was the District Sales Manager for Real-Living-First Service Realty Corporate Office for a few years.
For the past 10 years, I have been working in property management all the while staying true to my roots as a real estate agent. Working as a property manager has been both a professionally and personally rewarding experience, as it has given me the privilege of working in the non-profit industry and serving the homeless population in South Florida.
These years have brought me a huge sense of accomplishment and pride for each of those lives that I was able to touch in some way that made their future perhaps a little better and gave them a glimpse of hope. Last December, I decided after careful thinking that I was ready to start a new adventure within the property management industry and here I am today working as a Realtor, always training and learning more about our wonderful industry and getting ready for the next step to embrace it and continue my journey.
During this time, I also became a Community Association Manager (CAM) licensee and am studying to obtain my Broker’s License as part of my professional development. I’m married with 3 wonderful adult children who are my pride and joy and a lovely 14-year-old granddaughter who I’m very proud of as well.
My hobbies include gardening, reading, traveling, and learning new things.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been smooth sailing for me, but the obstacles and challenges have been instructive for me.
There have been hard times, hope dashed at the last minute, and the market crash of 2008. Sometimes the market was so competitive that I found myself presenting multiple offers until one was finally accepted.
Still, I persisted with the knowledge that with a little hard work and discipline, things can take a turn for the better. I am a firm believer that if something doesn’t work out, you need to have a Plan B just in case, an ace in your sleeve for those times you need it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Casabella Miami Realty, Inc?
I have been with Casabella Miami Realty since 2018, when my good friend and now broker, Thamara Assef, opened her firm. Casabella is a full-service brokerage that has over 50 knowledgeable agents. Thamara, Casabella’s founder, provides support to her agents in the form of professional development and workshops, roundtables, open forums, and industry updates.
Thamara and I have known each other for almost 28 years and worked together at First Service Realty Inc. and its different franchises through the years. I liked the fact that Casabella was the type of firm that gives you support when needed but allows you to develop your style of work.
I work with both buyers and sellers from the Florida Keys up to the Naples/Marco Island areas. I’m known for my knowledge of Section 8 housing vouchers, property management experience, and real estate sales, purchases, and leases. In addition to my work as a real estate agent, I also work as a Transaction Coordinator at Casabella, guiding new agents in their first transactions.
Contact Info:
- Website: pattylongomiami.com
- Instagram: @patty.longo
- Facebook: Patty Longo
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patty-longo-b0544012/
- Twitter: @pattyalongo
Image Credits
CORPORATE HEADSHOTS MIAMI (Website: www.corporateheadshotsmiami.com, Email: [email protected])
