We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Stephanie Ferrato. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Stephanie below.

Hi Stephanie, thanks for joining us today. How did you scale up? What were the strategies, tactics, meaningful moments, twists/turns, obstacles, mistakes along the way? We’d love to hear the backstory the illustrates how you grew the firm

Here’s the thing, when most people start in real estate, they think they’re going to become the next millionaire. It seems easy, right? You pass the test, get your license, and boom, you’re a realtor. I thought the same thing. But the reality? Being a successful realtor is so much more than just passing a test. It takes time, effort, and consistency. This is not an overnight success kind of business.

I think there’s a huge misconception, especially when you watch reality TV. They show beautiful homes, million-dollar deals, and agents walking away with huge commissions. People think you take a client to a multi-million-dollar home, their offer gets accepted, and just like that, you’re putting millions in your pocket. But real estate is not as easy as it looks on TV, and that’s why so many agents don’t last.

You can have an amazing first year, sure, but what happens when the market slows down or your business dries up? Since I started in 2017, I’ve seen a lot, and what I’ve learned is that this business is all about relationships. It’s not just about sales, it’s about trust and connection.

Let me be honest, realtors don’t always have the best reputation, and I can understand why. I’ve had clients tell me stories that left me absolutely shocked. So many times, I’ve been praised for going “above and beyond” for simply doing what I believe is my job. That says a lot about the standard people are used to, and it’s honestly disappointing.

But here’s the silver lining, clients are starting to recognize who they really want by their side during one of the biggest transactions of their lives. After the recent market changes, we’ve seen a lot of agents leave the business because, frankly, doing the bare minimum isn’t enough to last in this industry.

To answer your question, my success comes down to one thing, serving others. When you genuinely care about your clients and prioritize their needs, something amazing happens, they trust you. And trust is the foundation of this business. Build that trust, nurture those relationships, and you’ll not only survive but thrive, no matter the market.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

You know, I never planned on being a realtor. My husband is an engineer, and his job had us moving quite a bit. With each move, we ended up in colder and colder places. After the second move, I told him, “That’s it, I’m ready to go back to the Sunshine State.” So, when the opportunity came, we didn’t think twice. We packed our bags and headed back to Florida.

A few months after we moved, our three-year-old dog became paraplegic. For those who love animals, you’ll understand how devastating that was. I quit my job and dedicated myself to caring for him full-time. It was months of therapy sessions, three times a week, about 3.5 hours each day. It was exhausting, both emotionally and financially, but I couldn’t give up on him. So many people suggested putting him down, but I just couldn’t do it. Looking back, I’d go through it all over again because, honestly, he’s my lucky charm.

While I was home with him, I started thinking about what I could do next. My husband suggested real estate. At first, I wasn’t convinced. But being in South Florida and speaking three languages gave me a unique advantage, so I decided to give it a shot. I took the test, and once I got started, I knew I’d found my thing.

Now, as the founder of ParamountFL Group, I’m proud to say our team is what truly sets us apart. We’re not like other teams where one person runs the show and the rest are just chasing leads. We’re a real team, and every single one of us brings unique strengths and expertise to the table. We work incredibly well together, and I think our clients feel that energy.

We serve North, Central, and South Florida, and this year we’re expanding to Florida’s west coast. We specialize in residential real estate, new construction, investment portfolios, and leases, as well as commercial properties like warehouses, retail spaces, and offices. Now, let me be honest, leases are a lot of work. Every agent understands that, which is why many shy away from them. For some clients, the amount of work required can be overwhelming, especially depending on their qualifications, and it can be very time-consuming. Sometimes, after all that effort, they just ghost you, and it can feel like you’ve wasted hours.

I’ve definitely lost a significant amount of time in my business due to clients acting unethically, and I’m actually relieved about the new laws that require agents to have an agreement in place before showing a property. It means no more working for free, only to find out they went to their sister to write an offer after you’ve shown them 20+ properties. Yes, this happens!

This business can be tough. It’s incredibly competitive, and while most agents work with integrity, there are always a few who get shady. And we’re not here for that. We’ve actually had to say no and cancel contracts because we refuse to tolerate unethical behavior. It’s not just about closing deals; it’s about doing the right thing and maintaining trust.

For us, it’s not about the paycheck. Yes, that’s part of the job, but what we care most about is the testimonial at the end of every transaction. We want our clients to feel like they’ve been cared for, supported, and genuinely valued. That’s what keeps us going and why clients come straight to us.

So, to anyone wondering about my journey… no, real estate wasn’t my original plan. But life has a way of leading us to where we’re meant to be, and I’m so glad it brought me here.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Haha, absolutely! I can certainly say that the turning point of my career happened in the summer of 2023, when I truly learned the meaning of family. I’m much more careful now about who I have by my side. My husband, my kids, Marley my dog, and our family are everything to me, and everything we do is for our family. We’ve made the decision to no longer serve those who aren’t there for us or only want to be around when it’s convenient. When you have kids, it’s very hard to do anything, and I got tired of doing everything for everyone, only to have them show no consideration for me after saying how much they truly love me and my kids.

I’m sure many readers will relate to this. I was truly hurt because the person who hurt me had no idea how much I cared for her. When that situation happened, I was like, I’m done. You know how when people get caught in a lie over and over again, they start saying different things, and the timelines don’t match? Well, I’m happy that others saw what I saw, and I used that moment to push myself to new heights in business. My career went to a whole different level after this….I needed that.

And the things you thought they did because they loved you are automatically thrown back at you, like, how dare you say that when I’ve done this and this for you. I laugh because I’ll never throw anything in anyone’s face. What I do, I do without expecting anything in return. We often trust too many people when we should only be trusting a few.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Giving back to the community is a huge part of what I do. I’m always looking for ways to give back, whether it’s hosting events, organizing activities, or filling a need when I see it. People know me because of everything I do, and when a need arises in the community, they reach out to me to help make it happen. I love seeing people happy and knowing that what we do has a positive impact. When we give, we not only brighten someone else’s day, but it also makes us feel really good about ourselves. That’s why I love giving back because it brings joy to others and truly fulfills me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.paramountflgroup.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephanieferrato
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stickwithsteph

Image Credits

Julie Ryan Photography