Meet Joelle Oiknine @JoelleRealtor®Miami a top-producing luxury agent with ONE Sotheby’s International Realty. A member of Master Brokers Forum, EAN; Sotheby’s Exceptional Agents. She goes above and beyond to create new opportunities and investments for her clients. Originally of Jewish Moroccan origin, she grew up in Montréal but was always an avid traveler. Her previous career in technology allowed her to work abroad from Sydney, Australia to Jerusalem, Israel. Being a natural saleswoman, she took her skill sets to another level when she invested in her full-time career as a luxury real estate agent. “The transition was quick and the job motivated me daily” she recalls of her venture now 20 years in the making. Her success rate growing exponentially due to her close relationship with clients and unparalleled service, making her love what she does even more. “Success is doing something I love to do every day. Most importantly, having my clients trust me. I believe in having a client for life” she notes. Here’s her success journey.
Did you always know you would go into the real estate industry?
Real estate was not on my radar. I was simply a hi-tech person. I was overseeing sales in various national and international roles in the computer gaming industry. I realized I wanted a change and one of my sisters suggested real estate. I took the course simply to feed my love of learning. At first, it was a part-time, weekend venture but I was immediately drawn and could not believe what I had been missing. The transition was quick and the job motivated me daily. After almost 20 years I feel blessed to do what I love.
Tell me about your path that led you to Sotheby’s International Realty?
I always knew I wanted to work in the luxury sector of the market. Sothebys is the pinnacle of high-end. it is known as the Tiffany blue box of real estate. When Sotheby’s recruited me 12 years ago, I became part of a family of top-producing agents from all over the world. It’s amazing to have like-minded friends with whom to mastermind, refer business, and with whom I can engage regularly in networking and learning events.
Can you tell me about a challenge you have surmounted recently?
The Champlain tower crash in Surfside was very difficult for me. I had just sold a listing there. (thankfully, the clients, an elderly Italian couple, were in New York at the time). Sadly, my friend her daughter, and 3 other members of her family did not survive. Spending much of my time volunteering my efforts with the community for 2 weeks left me in a daze. The despair, frustrations, and unanswered questions of the community made me feel sad and helpless. I went to see my family in Montreal after this because I needed to reconnect. That tragic event had spurred new, much-needed regulations in our industry. I have been invited to speak on a panel for the Master Brokers Forum in September about the crash and the industry requirements moving forward.
Where do you think the residential real estate market (in Florida and surrounding areas) is headed? Are you seeing a shift in the way people are investing today?
The market in Florida has been vibrant and active since the first Miami real estate boom in the 1920s. Over the ensuing years, buyers flocked to Miami for many reasons: Europeans, Canadians, and Americans from other states purchased condos and homes as vacation getaways, or as a retirement home. Buyers from South America prudently invested their money in Florida real estate to escape the fluctuating economies in their countries.
The pandemic fueled a home-buying frenzy in Florida. With its tropical climate and lack of estate income tax, Florida is an attractive proposition for individuals and families wanting to make Miami their homestead. Families are relocating and companies are moving their headquarters. A report by Redfin shows that home buyers have tripled since last year.
According to Ryan Carrigan, the founder of moveBuddha, between December 2020 to January 2021, Miami saw a net migration of 145%. As billionaire transplants found themselves calling the Miami home, so did their companies and its workforce. Some of the companies moving headquarters or opening offices are Microsoft, JetBlue Airways, Blackstone Starwood Property Trust of Starwood Capital, Icahn Enterprises, Goldman Sachs, and others. Restauranteurs are opening new locations all over Florida. Developers will continue to build to satisfy the growing demand. Some say Miami is set to become the next tech hot spot. The magic city will continue its evolution as a world-class city.
What systems do you have in place for internal growth at the company?
I added two young women to my team. Both are very smart and motivated. With a foundation built on trust and carefully keeping our client's best interest in mind at all times, we have grown our business. They use my experience and I am thrilled to have their fresh ideas and social media skills. It’s a perfect match. Sotheby’s Realty offers tremendous marketing opportunities with its worldwide reach spanning 955 offices in 85 countries. One Sothebys Miami is a leader in technology, social media, and marketing offering me an array of marketing opportunities for my sellers.
How do you set goals within your team and achieve them?
My team has regular in-person meetings to discuss our client's needs and our efforts. We set our goals at the beginning of each meeting and plan out our actions and responsibilities. Although we are all busy on the field every day, I am always available to answer questions or give guidance.
What does success represent to you?
Success is doing something I love to do every day. Waking up every morning, walking the beach, and then getting ready for work. Most importantly, having my clients trust me- knowing that I will do what’s in their best interest. I love hearing a client tell me they adore their new home or that they feel they sold at the best price. I have become friends with many of my clients. We keep in touch, go out for dinner when they’re in town, or attend local events together and I often attend their kids weddings, anniversaries, or other family events.
In your opinion, what puts you ahead of your competition?
Of course, you have to know the market, but clients have to trust that you have their back. I believe in having a client for life, not doing one-time quick transactions. Clients refer their kids and their friends. I am very very straightforward, I will let a client know if I think a property is not right for them. With out-of-town buyers, I often insist they visit spend the time visiting properties and areas so they truly understand the market. I often stage my listings and they sell quicker and at better pricing. In my Experts group- it’s called going the extra mile.
What inspires you to think bigger? Where do you see the company in 5-10 years?
My peers inspire me. I belong to the Master Brokers Forum, the guild of top producing agents in Miami. I also belong to the EAN; Sothebys Exceptional Agents and to the Condo Experts group. We share market information and best practices. I often discuss the market with my clients. Sothebys Realty is a visionary. The worldwide company is growing in leaps and bounds. As for my team, our referrals keep growing as people send their friends, colleagues, and family members.
How do you define work-life balance? How do you apply it in your day-to-day life?
I remain active socially but I enjoy my downtime too. I love nature and I find being in nature instantly calms me. I try to get away the mountains when I can. In Miami, my morning routine is to walk my dog by the beach prior to my own power walk. I am in daily contact with my immediate family and am lucky to have a good network of friends who are like my Miami family. I am involved in various charities and Jewish organizations. My passion is traveling to new countries and discovering new cultures.
