Spotlight on … Joe Scotto

From the day Joe Scotto first came to our office, it was apparent that he’d take to real estate like a duck takes to water. He was a natural and quickly became a rising star who is loved by everyone on our team.

“Joe’s an incredibly fast learner, and his enthusiasm for the industry is infectious,” says John Sass, broker/owner of Century 21 Cedarcrest Realty.

Joe had a burgeoning career in the restaurant industry when he joined Century 21 on March 21, 2016. The term “meteoric rise” may be a cliché, but in his case it’s perfectly apt. Within the space of about one month, he studied for the New Jersey real estate exam, passed, and became a licensed real estate agent—an exceptional feat for anyone, let alone someone with absolutely no prior experience in real estate.

His motivation? His fiancé.

“I’d been working in restaurants since I was 15,” says Joe. “By 18, I was managing a small place in Passaic County. I loved the industry and decided to take it to the next level.” By age 21, he had worked his way into management in a Wendy’s franchise. But while training as a district manager, he realized that the long hours and intense responsibilities that lay ahead were incompatible with the next chapter of his life: marriage and family.

He started to feel that a career change was due. “We had friends who were mortgage representatives. My ears would always perk up when the talk turned to real estate.”

His future wife, meanwhile, was also thinking about switching tracks. An interior designer, she was intrigued by the idea of selling the kinds of homes she’d been busy decorating. She met with Susan Mazzetta, our Director of Career Development. Joey’s name came up before long. “And that’s how I wound up in John’s office,” he recalls.

Recognizing Joe’s raw talent, John Sass took him under his wing without hesitation. “His drive, his eagerness to help people, his ability to engage and listen … it was clear that Joey had all the hallmarks of a successful real estate agent.”

Joe jumped at the opportunity to join Century 21 Cedarcrest Realty. “It was like ripping the Band Aid off,” he says. “I quit my job, worked odd jobs on the side, lived on my savings, and just went for it.” He would soon prove to be everything John predicted and more.

“In terms of learning and gaining traction in the real estate market, it’s been a successful year,” Joe says. “I’m still learning, but I’ve had two sales closings and 10 or 11 rentals in the past year, including some of my own listings.”

A team player to the core, Joe refuses to accept all the credit for his successful first year. “I feel very fortunate about getting into John’s office. The way he runs his business is top notch. Everyone is so willing to help—John, our sales manager, Dennis DiSabato, Susan, and all the other agents. There’s always someone to go to for advice or for help with a particular transaction. You never feel like you’re alone. From what I’ve heard, a lot of offices are not like that.”

In addition to his track record of working with others and managing employees and restaurants, Joe is also a volunteer fire fighter in Little Falls. His desire to help others comes through with every customer he works with. That, according to John Sass, says everything you need to know about his protégé’s service-oriented character.

But what really drives Joe Scotto is his passion for helping people. “I love the fact that I get to do this on a daily basis. People come to you with a need and you can help them fulfill it. You’re there to help buyers make the biggest purchase of their lives or to help sellers reap the benefits of their investment.

“Every dollar you make is really earned. When it’s about being able to help someone and earn money at the same time, that’s very satisfying.”