Anthony Askowitz is the broker/owner of Re/Max Advance Realty and a member of the Master Brokers Forum.
What makes your market unique? The percentage of Hispanics over 50. My Spanish is 50/50.
Have you ever worked in another city/metro? If so, how did you end up where you are working now? Born and raised in Miami.
What’s your favorite thing about working in your community? I went to the schools and know the neighbors.
Is there an area of your community in which you specialize? I farm three areas in the southern part of Miami, but I also sell anywhere in the county.
Describe what you do in one sentence: Lead…motivate…inspire..help..sell!!
What’s your favorite activity outside of work and why? Tennis. I have played for 40 years. I am good at it and it is great exercise.
What’s your favorite classic piece of literature and why? I do not know if you would consider The Hobbit a classic, but I can read and watch it multiple times. Great fantasy.
Are you the first entrepreneur in your family? I would be the second. My father built a real estate portfolio, but is a retired optometrist.
Why’d you decide to join your company? In 1990 I decided to join because Re/Max allowed me to think outside of the box.
Describe a time when you felt particularly insecure about the future of your company. How did you bounce back? It was when the second broker died in 2002 after the first broker had passed away eight years earlier. I was one of the top agents at the time so I decided to take on the role. I didn’t want another broker to come in that I would be unhappy with.
What would you describe as your company’s biggest victory since you joined it?
Winning the Re/Max Brokerage of the Year 2011. Company-wide, it is the agents and their productivity. Our agents average 3.8 million in volume and consistently out-sell their competitors on a “per-agent” basis.
What’s been the biggest obstacle your business has encountered, and how have you dealt with it? Losing a major client. I was already diversified, so I focused on my other streams of income.
What puzzles you most about the industry? Why certain agents stay with particular companies. I believe logic should dictate choices, not emotions.
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned about building a business? Being humble: listen, learn and appreciate everyone.
What’s the most overrated real estate technology? Lead generating systems because you have to pay to get a lead. Picking up the phone and calling people you know is a better business-builder.
How will the role of the real estate agent change over the next five years? Things change. Agents must continue to educate themselves to remain adaptable.
What motivates you more: power or money? At this point, recognition. Recognition comes from both.
What is your biggest professional fear? That business will stop because my agents don’t adapt.
What is your biggest personal fear? Death.
Who do you respect most in the industry? The late Howard Brinton was my coach and mentor.
Age: 49
Degree, school (if applicable): BBA, U.M.
Location: Miami
Social media: Facebook
Are you a top producer in Miami? Contact local@inman.com.
