To call Joe Simone a self-starter is an understatement
When Simone, a Realtor at Howard Hanna Rand Realty in Wayne, bought his first house — a three-family home in Paterson — at 21, he learned a lot about real estate. At the time, Simone’s career goal was to be an actor and comedian. After high school, he attended acting school and joined the Teamsters, supporting himself by working for Leaseway Deliveries, where he earned a good salary and had the freedom to audition.
He burned up the phone lines, calling casting directors and vying with other actors to be seen. His efforts paid off: He appeared on television in shows including Ryan’s Hope and One Life to Live, as well as in the movies Crocodile Dundee II and Ghostbusters II.
Less than a year after he purchased the home, his tenants stopped paying rent, forcing Simone to sell the property. He made $50,000. He was intrigued by both the process and the result.
“My Realtor noted I had a passion for real estate and recommended I get my license and work with him,” Simone said.
The first few years of selling real estate were difficult, until Simone attended a seminar by life and business coach Tony Robbins. He later hired his own coach, who taught him the lesson that made his business take off: what matters most is truly caring that clients are making good decisions.
Simone continues to practice this mantra today — and it has paid off. After 35 years in business, he is ranked among the top agents in Passaic County, is a New Jersey Realtors Distinguished Sales Club Award winner and has achieved Platinum Level status in the New Jersey Realtors Circle of Excellence since 2002. He is ranked in the top 1% of Realtors nationally and has sold more than $1 billion in real estate, with more than 3,400 homes closed.
The skills he learned during his acting days proved beneficial as his career as a Realtor took off.
“I was fearless in making phone calls, working my way into casting directors’ offices, which made me great at talking to people,” he said.
As was the case when he bought a house right after high school, Simone’s well-honed intuition also played a role in his success.
“I always had my finger on the pulse of where the market was right,” he said.
Things have come full circle for this North Haledon native, who as a kid rode his moped into Franklin Lakes — “my stomping ground,” he said.
“The beautiful part about Franklin Lakes and Wyckoff is that when you make an investment in those towns, whether you are there five years or 20 years, it is a safe investment,” he said. “It’s a great place to enjoy an amazing lifestyle and watch your asset grow.”
Licensed throughout the state, Simone focuses on about a 20-mile radius that includes towns like Wayne, Franklin Lakes, Wyckoff, Mahwah, North Haledon and Pompton Plains. He has also sold property in surrounding counties and at the Shore.
The markets he serves are hot.
“People move here from all over, but in the last five years, many are moving from Manhattan to New Jersey — a totally different lifestyle from the city,” he said.
Simone’s best advice to clients is simple: don’t get frustrated.
“You might not win the bid the first time, but make sure your Realtor is staying in touch with the listing agent, because sometimes the buyer gets too excited, doesn’t have the money and experiences buyer’s remorse,” he said. “So, if that buyer backs out, you still have an opportunity to buy that property.”
When he is not working, Simone enjoys a vibrant family life with his wife, Maria Elena Misito, a respected psychotherapist and founder of Misito Psychological in Wayne. She recently launched the Elevate Me app to promote mental well-being.
Together, they have a blended family of six children. Ashley is in law school; Ava and Anthony are in college; and Mason is in his sophomore year of high school. The family also includes three dogs — Bella, Dolce and Goose.
Business runs in the blood for Simone’s two oldest sons. Joseph, who was drafted by the New Jersey Jackals and played independent baseball for a year and a half, earned his real estate license and now works with his father. Jordan also earned his real estate license.
“I’m teaching them about helping people,” Simone said. “It’s a very rewarding business.”
Learn more at joesimone.randrealty.com.
“The beautiful part about Franklin Lakes and Wyckoff is that when you make an investment in those towns, whether you are there five years or 20 years, it is a safe investment,” - Joe Simone