Lifestyle changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic have changed the real estate landscape in New Jersey, upending the market as local residents are eager for more square footage to work, live, and play at home. From first-time homebuyers to extensive investment portfolios, local real estate brokerage Engel & Volkers Hoboken is a female-owned business focusing on quality work for its clients. This real estate brokerage, owned by Lisa Troyano-Ascolese, is opening a Jersey City location and expanding its footprint in the North Jersey real estate market. Keep reading to learn more about the world-renowned brokerage, located at 159 14th Street in Hoboken, and the exclusive offer for Hoboken Girl readers.
Engel & Volkers is a global real estate brand that began overseas, came to the United States in 2008, and has seen tremendous growth with 238 shops in the Americas to date and 955 shops abroad. Each franchise is independently owned and operated but the headquarters on Park Avenue in New York City acts as a support system for each shop.
Meet the Owner
Lisa Troyano-Ascolese is the sole owner, License Partner, and Broker of Record for Engel & Volkers Real Estate Hoboken and soon-to-be Jersey City location. She was the company’s award-winning top producer for years as a leader of the MyHOMEboken Team and purchased the company from the previous owner in 2019, taking the company to new heights.
Lisa Troyano-Ascolese
“I believe in working by referral and I try to promote that model to my agents. We are blessed with an incredible ‘client army’ as I like to call them, who keep us thankfully very busy,” Lisa told Hoboken Girl. “We’ve had the privilege to work with some of the most fascinating people, most of which we get to call friends now, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
She has been featured on CBS’s Living Large, Inman, Vue Magazine, Hmag, Hoboken Patch, Forbes, and other publications. Among her current listings is one of the most expensive homes in New Jersey, a property located in Bergen County and listed at $17.5M. Lisa, however, built this real estate empire from humble beginnings.
How the Global Brand Got Started In Hoboken
Engel & Volkers started out as the small mom and pop brokerage Empire Realty which grew into the global franchise known as Engel & Volkers in 2015. Lisa’s mentor Nicholas Costantino passed away following a long battle with cystic fibrosis shortly after expanding the brand with his business partner. In an effort to honor his legacy and that of her late mother, who was an award-winning realtor in her own right, Lisa purchased the brokerage a few years later and made some significant changes to location, marketing, and personnel with successful results.
Understandably a difficult year for many, 2020 actually signified the most successful year in the history of the Hoboken location, located at 159 14th Street. Engel & Volkers Hoboken attributes their success to a client-first focus with safety and service at the forefront during a very challenging time.
144 East Saddle River Road
Connections the World Over — Literally
Part of what makes this brokerage so unique is the global connections that allow their listings to be promoted in hundreds of shops across the United States and in 33 countries throughout the world. These connections garner the company exposure that is second to none.
“At any point, we have several deals in contract overseas, in Manhattan/Brooklyn or elsewhere in the Americas and the network refers clients moving stateside or looking to buy and sell second homes here so it’s incredibly fluid how Engel & Volkers shops work together,” Lisa told Hoboken Girl.
In addition to their global connectivity, the shop also prides itself on providing exceptional service, offering localized data-backed knowledge, state-of-the-art technology, and unbridled enthusiasm to guide their work. Each listing gets special attention as the team promotes a tailored online and social media marketing plan in each specific market.
Plans for a New Shop in Jersey City
Plans are underway for a second shop which will be opened in Downtown Jersey City at 286 1st Street in May 2021. Lisa is particular about who she hires in order to maintain the high-quality service each client and property deserves.
“We have a great group now and I want to make sure agents who join us share our positive energy and insistence on ethical business practices. Overall we want to change the real estate conversation as much as possible,” Lisa told Hoboken Girl. “Real estate is remarkably transactional by nature but at Engel & Volkers we don’t just treat each deal as a number on a spreadsheet. Client service, global exposure, and distinctive marketing measures allow us to really break the mold and get the highest returns for our clients. Egos are checked at the door and the process is solely focused on the properties we are representing.”
Meet the Engel And Volkers Team
Lisa manages the big picture operations of the offices, providing extensive support for her agents. The Operations Manager, Nicole Santis, heads up the social media marketing and helps the agents with training and any day-to-day management of their files. The newly-hired Jersey City Managing Broker, Tiffany Wentz is an industry veteran and Jersey City resident who will manage the day-to-day operations for the downtown Jersey City shop at 286 1st Street opening May 2021. Currently, 24 agents, known as “EV Advisors,” are on their roster with more scheduled to join in the coming months.
Tiffany Wentz
“I’ve been in the business almost 10 years now, two of which as a broker-owner, and every day is different and challenging and more exciting than the next. Whether it’s a new high-profile client we are working with or a new incredible property we get to creatively market, it’s an absolute blast from beginning to end. Life is short. You have to love what you do.” Lisa said.
“Now as a leader, I’ve really enjoyed watching agents join us and see firsthand how being a part of this global brand can help them expand their business. I owe that entirely to our amazing group of advisors and employees at EV Hoboken. I’m very grateful these amazing realtors chose Engel & Volkers to call home.”
To meet the entire Hoboken team, check out their YouTube channel.
Don’t forget, property owners can receive a FREE Comparative Market Analysis or Buyer Consultation when you call 201-792-8300 to schedule an appointment and mention Hoboken Girl. You can also email a real estate advisor at hoboken@evrealestate.com to schedule an appointment.
