Step into the world of success and innovation with Real Estate Champions, a compelling TV show that highlights the exceptional leaders, agents, and investors shaping the real estate industry. Each episode uncovers the strategies, leadership, and insights that fuel the success of industry trailblazers, offering practical takeaways for professionals across residential, commercial, and investment real estate.
Real Estate Champions brings together top professionals and thought leaders from various sectors of real estate, including residential, commercial, and property development. These influential guests share their journeys, expertise, and advice to inspire and empower the next wave of real estate leaders and entrepreneurs. Today our host, Sarah Olson, spoke with Jason Berisha.
Jason Berisha
Commercial Director at DiGiulio
Website Address: https://digiuliogroup.com/
Short company description:
DiGiulio Group is a Manhattan-based real estate firm specializing in residential and commercial sales and leasing. We connect clients with premium New York City properties, delivering fast execution, expert negotiation, and white-glove service across every deal.
Transcript:
Sarah:
Welcome back to another episode of Real Estate Champions. I’m your host, Sarah Olson. I’m so happy to introduce our friend all the way from Manhattan. We have Jason Berisha with DiGiulio Commercial, where he’s a commercial director. Jason, welcome to the show.
Jason:
Thank you for having me on. I appreciate it.
Sarah:
We’re so glad to have you. You look nice and warm and cozy in there—New York is probably hustling and bustling right now.
Jason:
Everybody’s hustling and bustling in New York City.
Sarah:
It’s my favorite city—absolutely my favorite city.
Jason:
It’s the best. The absolute best.
Sarah:
Tell us a little about you. When did you get started in real estate, and what does your role look like now?
Jason:
I got started in real estate almost nine months ago—coming up on a year. I started in March, so I’m very new to real estate, but we continue to hustle. I did residential for about six months, and honestly, I wasn’t a big fan. There’s a lot of emotion in residential… you really have to convince your clients about certain apartments.
But once I transitioned into commercial real estate, I felt motivated immediately. I realized I loved it. It’s all negotiation and numbers. In commercial, if the deal makes sense, it works—there’s no emotional process like in residential.
Sarah:
Yes, there’s definitely a left‐brain/right‐brain thing between residential and commercial. So you recognized early which one fit you. What made you even go into real estate?
Jason:
Honestly, a buddy of mine wanted to go into finance, and he said maybe real estate tied into that. He decided to try real estate, so I tried it with him. But he didn’t stick with it—he dropped out—and I just kept going. And I ended up loving it. I couldn’t ask for more.
Sarah:
That’s fantastic. So nine months in… any success stories yet?
Jason:
Oh, definitely. We’ve been killing it. We do a lot of retail leasing and multifamily investment sales. We have around 30-plus exclusive listings gathered in just three months—everything from rent-stabilized units to free-market buildings, to hotels, to mixed-use spaces.
Sarah:
Wow. So you’re a fast learner—very impressive. What’s been your biggest challenge getting started? Any moments that stand out?
Jason:
My biggest mistake early on was caring too much about what clients thought they needed. Some clients really don’t understand their own needs yet.
We know the market. In retail, for example, clients always say they want foot traffic and good deals. But ultimately, it always comes down to numbers. If the numbers work, the space works. If the business works, they’ll make the location work. And my job is to negotiate on their behalf.
Sarah:
So even in commercial, you’ve found that some clients lean emotional—when commercial is really a financial decision. That makes sense. And honestly, I can see it in your personality—you definitely found your niche.
Jason:
Thank you!
Sarah:
Do you have a mentor you’ve been able to learn from?
Jason:
I do. My broker, Justin DiGiulio—he’s the owner of the company. He runs one of the best training programs in Manhattan. He helps agents get into that hustle-and-bustle mindset.
And being young in this business—I’m only 19—it’s incredible to have that support. We have a team of ten people.
Sarah:
Oh my gosh, I had no idea you were only 19! That is fantastic. You know you must be 18 to even get a real estate license.
Jason:
Yes, I was 18 when I got my license. My birthday was in June, and we’ve been going full speed ever since.
Sarah:
That’s amazing. My academy is actually going into high schools starting in March to participate in career fairs, because educators are seeing more and more students go straight into real estate than ever before.
So help me understand the mindset. At 19, fresh out of high school, going into real estate—what drives that? Is it entrepreneurship? Building wealth? Something else?
Jason:
I think it’s both—creating your own wealth and becoming an entrepreneur—but also becoming someone you want to be. Real estate teaches you so much.
You’re not just behind a computer. You’re interacting with people. You deal with buyers, sellers, renters—you get to know everyone. You develop emotional intelligence. You build relationships.
And honestly, creating wealth through real estate is one of the easiest and most accessible paths out there. You just have to love it and be willing to put in the work.
Sarah:
That’s fantastic. You really are living the dream. I’m blown away—you’re only 19, but you’re smart, focused, you found the right brokerage and the right mentor. Kudos to you.
Any advice you’d give our audience—especially new agents?
Jason:
Yes. Be consistent, hustle, and get the deal done. Getting the deal done is the most important thing. You can be scared, nervous—whatever—but at the end of the day, it all comes down to getting the deal done.
Sarah:
I love it. Jason, thank you so much for being on the show. I’m incredibly impressed. For those watching, you can learn more about Jason and how to connect with him in Manhattan by visiting dailynewsnetwork.com. Thank you!
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