Finding buyers for my sellers, and sellers for my buyers.
Thank you so much for your interest in working together. Helping my clients turn real estate dreams to reality fills me with such pride. I truly believe it is my life’s purpose to help people. And for me there’s no better way than by delivering honest, patient and strong advocacy to buyers and sellers at all levels. My journey to this line of work has been shaped by my own experiences, as well as those of my incredible family members who have inspired me along the way. My systematic and highly successful approach to customer service is a direct result of the lessons taught to me by my mom, dad and grandparents. To give you a sense of who I am, where I come from and where I’m going, I share my story!
It all begins in Mexico where my paternal grandfather made his living working in an American-owned coal mine along with his two siblings. The American workers relied on my family members for their exceptional problem-solving skills. My grandfather and his brothers were known for their keen talents for building things, improving workflow systems and inventing tools worthy of patents. If I can approach any challenge with even a fragment of their systematic approach and ingenuity, I’m doing ok!
My maternal grandmother was a force—a person for whom nothing seemed impossible! She served as a nurse in the military before attending one of the first fashion design schools in Mexico. After completing her education, she started her own seamstress business which she grew to include more than a dozen employees. The business was a main income source for my grandmother and her many children. As a mom and entrepreneur, my grandmother was always calm and positive—two traits I admire and aspire to emulate every day. Her incredible personality contributed to her success in life and directly influenced me. When her daughter (my mother) came to America, she brought my grandmother along. And I’m so glad that she did. Grandma was such an important part of my upbringing. In her honor and memory, I have a special sink in my home crafted out of a classic Singer sewing machine table.
While my grandfather and his brothers were working in the coal mine, my dad was studying to become an electrician in an American school in Mexico. His original plan was to join the coal mining company. Instead, he decided to migrate to America to build his own legacy. I firmly believe that living close to the American community as a boy—learning baseball, golf and other aspects of American life—inspired him to want the same. Upon arrival to California, my father took odd jobs where he could, but found he loved (and was good at) roofing. After many years working and learning from others in the industry, he started his own business, Tony’s Roofing. To over-deliver became his trademark! I watched my dad’s company flourish thanks to referrals and never forgot the lesson: the very best advertisement for any business is a satisfied customer. As a real estate agent, this couldn’t be more accurate. And I’m grateful every time I’m contacted by a friend or family member of a someone I’ve helped.
So, now I get to tell you about my mom who I owe all of my hustle to! Always willing to work hard to get the job done, she helped give her children the very best life possible. While I was in grade school, my family took their life savings and moved back to Mexico for a few years where they invested in a business and some rental properties. It soon became clear that America was really home—the place where us children would have more opportunities. Because our family’s money was tied up in Mexican real estate, moving back to the United States would prove challenging. And so, finding great side hustles became the norm for my mom. She sold clothing, cooked and became a top-selling representative for a Korean cosmetics company that eventually flew her to South Korea to tour the company’s headquarters. She earned multiple vacations to Hawaii for her outstanding performance. As the oldest of 4, I was right next to her in all of her endeavors—watching her learn and continually improve. Her never-give-up attitude stuck with me and benefits me and my clients during particularly challenging transactions. I know that for every seller, there is a perfect buyer and vice-versa. It’s my job to keep working until I find the right match!
Believe it or not, my very first job was in Mexico during those few years my family went back. I worked for a shoe repair business removing broken heels. I earned a few cents, or pesos, per heel. Later in High School, I went to work for a company planting trees that paid over minimum wage. I remember thinking I was the luckiest guy ever! That was the first time I was recognized for my work performance. Becoming a father at 17 meant I would need to begin working full time at Jiffy Lube—where I eventually advanced to manager—while completing high school. In 1999, I entered the real estate industry as a lender. As a top producer, I was able to open my own Downey-based branch in early 2005, which I grew to include 19 loan officers working under my supervision. Amid the great recession, I transitioned to real estate sales and immediately became a top producing realtor. In 2012, I was among the Top 10 Agents at the #1 Century 21 in the world.
Today, I am happily married to my high school sweetheart. Our incredible first-born son is 24 and training to be a firefighter. We recently expanded our family to include our beautiful 2-year old, Abigail (Hebrew name means father’s joy). And due in mid 2020, we’re expecting Samuel. We share our home with an English Bull Dog named Tyson and a rescued Chihuahua Mix named Mona. My family is my heart. Everything that I do, I do for them.
I take much pride in my roots and pay homage to the struggles my family overcame to achieve success. Grateful for the lessons I’ve learned, I can’t wait to pay them forward working in real estate. And so, each day I adhere to a proven system that gets results for my clients—a method I know my Grandpa would smile upon. I think of my Grandma when complex transactions present themselves and do my best to stay calm, friendly and always persevere! Thanks to my dad, I never rest on my laurels. I appreciate every 5-star review but realize that each new opportunity is a chance to deliver incredible service and inspire someone to tell a friend or relative. And like my mom, I’m not afraid to hustle! I spend each morning on the phone reaching out to buyers and sellers in need of solutions. Now that you know about me, I can’t wait to learn about you and do my part to help you achieve your goals.
Awards and Accolades</span>
· Top Originator Magazine ranked me #75 in the country as a lender in 2005
· Top producer at Remax 2007-2009
· Top producer at Century 21 2009-2016
· Top producer at Keller Williams 2016-20
· Top producer at eXp Realty 2021-2022
· Top producer at Keller Williams 2022
If you are looking to buy, sell, or invest in real estate, you owe it to yourself to contact Joseph Portillo. Licensed for more than a decade, Joseph has developed strong influence in Whittier, Pico Rivera, Downey, Norwalk, and the surrounding areas, while offering a truly impressive real estate experience to all of SoCal from LA to Palm Springs.
Joseph is a member of the renowned Jose Perez and Associates team and has a strong history as a top-producing, award-winning real estate team. He is truly a buyer specialist, and he serves them at an incredibly high level. Joseph implements a systematic approach to real estate that begins with educating his buyers on all necessary steps while guiding them through the process—whether it is their very first purchase or one of many they’ve made. When you choose Joseph as your Realtor, you will receive access to a super flexible specialist who works diligently to understand the needs and wants of his buyers. Younger buyers, in particular, love Joseph’s ability to break a complex transaction into a series of simple steps while they stride toward the goal of home ownership.
After many years in the business, Joseph has developed a sterling reputation that has earned him the respect of clients and competitors alike. His battle-tested negotiation skills ensure his clients get the best possible price on every property, and he has developed a list of professionals who are second to none in their fields. Joseph’s network is vast and every professional he refers you to is carefully selected to ensure you get the top-tier experience you deserve. Joseph will always be there, quarterbacking the process, and steadily moving you toward closing day. As a part of a team, Joseph counts on a full-time broker with 21 years of experience in Jose Perez along with a full-time transaction and marketing coordinator to ensure a super smooth process. When not at the closing table you will often find Joseph spending time with his family. He is into fitness and travels as often as he can. He is also hard at work building his own real estate portfolio.
Contact Joseph today to discover how he can help you reach your real estate goals!
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