Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Joan DiGiovanna. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Joan thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

At 57 years old I decided after much research and deliberation to become a realtor. I had gone through a series of events that had left me financially strapped. A friend who believed so strongly in the idea of my being a realtor paid for my schooling. I was working 7 days a week and going to school at night 5 nights a week. It took everything I had to learn a completely new career. My entire life was spent in the hospitality industry with the highlight being a restaurant I owned called Pasquale’s. Now I was learning about square feet, mold, listing agreements, purchase agreements, math in ways I had never applied it before, it was overwhelming but I passed and got my license!

After choosing to “hang my license” with Keller Williams I was terrified and also ready to be great at this new journey. I will never forget heading to my first continuing ed class at KW after having my license about a week. I went to fill up my water bottle from my kitchen sink only to find the water company had shut it off. That is where I launched into this new career from.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Personally, I believe in quality not quantity. Regardless of whether it is in my friendships or closed deals. An authentic personal approach is what matters to me. I like fair play and am always truthful to my clients as well as to myself.
The quality over quantity came from many aspects. The most influential was overcoming a brain tumor. The value of day was forever changed. The other element that came from this, the value of family and friends. This value has helped me making my clients lifelong friends.

I get inspired by working with people. Hearing their stories, learning about who they are and what their needs are that I can assist with.

These beliefs and inspiration led to the opportunity of being a top producer in real estate.
Not only has that been an honor, but it has also exponentially changed and grown my business. To date the crown jewel of that has been a penthouse sale in Florence,Italy for 9 million euro.

While my passion is for all real estate my home market is New Mexico where I have been blessed to reside for 40 years.
Santa Fe is a unique real estate market which is why I obtained a Certified Santa Fe Real Estate Specialist designation.

Most of all I enjoy being a part of my client’s real estate success stories…

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

For several years I had been dealing with the symptoms of a meningioma brain tumor. At about 1 year into my real estate career I was starting to build some traction. Past clients were now referring folks to me. My tumor which I fondly named “Tina, the tiny little Tumor” was now growing to the degree where intervention was no longer an option for me, rather a necessity. The wheels of progress were slowed practically to a halt for many months while I recovered. I went back to work despite some of the challenges I now faced like a complete inability to understand driving directions, confusion trying to simply unlock a front door. I created work arounds for everything as I learned (and continue to learn) how to heal my brian.

Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?

When I very first started in the business. I met a couple that were in the living room of a listing appointment I went on. They assured me they could not qualify for a home. He had served in 2 armed forces for the united states and she was an ER nurse. They had 3 beautiful girls 2 of which were in high school. The third at a very young age was diagnosed with a very rare illness that left her growth stunted and non communicative to name just a few of her challenges. This beautiful family were burdened with medical debt despite all they had done and continued to do for our society. I vowed that I would not rest until they had their very own home. I managed to get them qualified for a modest amount and we went from there. Driving home from her graveyard shift the mom passed a home for sale and fell in love with it. It was significantly higher than what they qualified for. After pleading my clients case to the listing broker he agreed to present the situation to the seller who was an investor from California. He agreed to reduce the price to where they needed it! When I become a realtor I had no idea it was going to enable me to make people’s dreams come true!  

Contact Info:

• Website: [email protected]
• Instagram: Joan DiGiovanna
• Facebook: Joan DiGiovanna
• Linkedin: Joan DiGiovanna
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=joan+digiovanna