Meet Diane

As a Bergen County native, my love for real estate began years ago. When I was in my late teens/early 20’s my Dad was one of the original “flippers”, buying, renovating and selling homes as a hobby. I was intrigued with this form of real estate investing and cherish the memories of working with my Dad, I helped with selections of finishes and design ideas. That was my introduction to the business of helping people buy and sell homes. 

Today I’m proud to be a licensed Broker Associate REALTOR® at Compass in Ridgewood, NJ. I am doing what I was meant to—helping people find their dream homes while working with sellers to find the most qualified buyers. I’ve been recognized by REAL Trends-America’s Best Real Estate Professionals, ranking in the top 1% of all Nationally recognized agents. 

For the last three years I’ve been a Circle of Excellence Recipient, achieving PLATINUM status in 2018. My core business foundation is built on my determination to be highly successful in this career that I love. With strong negotiation skills, local market knowledge, cutting edge marketing, interpersonal skills and work ethic, I have been able to propel my career. 

My journey to becoming one of Northern New Jersey’s top producers began in 2012. If you speak to anyone in the business they can tell you real estate is not as easy or glamorous as it is presented on reality (unreality) TV. It's been beyond rewarding for me, yet paved with challenges, both personally and professionally in trying to get my business off the ground. 

Growing up in Bergen County I graduated Cum Laude from Fordham University. After graduation, my dream was to attend law school, but life happened. My father passed away after a brief bought with cancer, and my mother was diagnosed with MS when I was 17 years old. I am one of seven siblings raised in an Italian American family, and caring for my ill mother had to take priority. I found a position close to home and served as an Administrator for the Bergen Superior Court of New Jersey for over a decade, where I met my husband. 

DIANE HAS BEEN FEATURED IN

My goal to become a successful real estate broker evolved from a financial necessity for my family, combined with my love of real estate. My husband works tireless hours as a detective on a detective’s salary. As our family grew with twin boys and then a year later another son, so did our expenses. I knew I had to figure out a way to significantly contribute, while still taking care of our three young children. With no connections or contacts in the real estate business to open doors and being a stay at home Mom for 9 years, starting a new business was daunting. In the past, women in real estate were looked upon as “stay at home mom’s /house wives” who were dabbling in real estate for extra spending money and not considered serious players (except for a few). I knew immediately this is not how I wanted to be viewed, I was embarking on a new career in my forties and it was going to be full on. My goal was to build a lucrative business and to earn the respect of my colleagues and circle of influence. I knew I had what it took to excel because for me there was no other option. 

I attribute a great deal of where I am today to my work as a volunteer in my community. Not only is it rewarding to help others, but it helped me as well. Through my work as a volunteer I was able to build confidence to enter back into the “adult world.” Once the twins entered the school system I was eager to become involved. It was first with the PTO, then with the Upper Saddle River Educational Foundation. I eventually served as President of the Upper Saddle River Educational Foundation where I lead the Organization in raising record-breaking monetary donations. I loved interacting with other adults, serving the community, and it reinforced my belief in myself that I had the business know-how and people skills to enter back into a career after years at home. 

In the Summer of 2012 I signed up for the real estate course. I always imagined that one day I would go back to school to earn my real estate license, but it was never the right time. As we grew more desperate for another income, I decided it was now or never. I found a 3 week day camp at a local church for my boys, (the amount of time to complete the all day class). I remember my first day of class clearly, I was scared and uncertain, but ready as I ever would be. 

I told myself, despite the challenges I was facing, the timing was now for my dream or it would never happen for me. My inner voice repeatedly told me that real estate could work no matter how difficult it seemed to be at first. 

Once licensed, I dove right into starting my real estate career, putting in long hours and days trying to make connections. I volunteered for open houses, floor time and continually marketing myself. All this while taking care of my family, and with no sales on the horizon. Endless time away from the family, long hours, missed events with the family and no solid prospects. What made it even more difficult was the financial need at the time, I would spend sleepless nights wondering if this was the right decision for my family . I knew I was doing all the right things, but still not bringing income to the family . But something inside would not let me quit. I refused to accept that I could not succeed at this new profession. Even despite my husband's doubts that real estate was the place for me. His doubt grew out of concern that people were not serious and would waste my time and the many hours away from the family. So much to a point we would argue what was best for “the family” and what career made sense. But I knew I had the passion and endurance to be a top producer. So, my husband and I agreed I’d give real estate six more months before I gave up on it. Then it happened, after I sold an off- market listing for a price the seller was beyond pleased with me and my business took off from there. 

Awards & Recognition