We’re proud of the team of agents we’ve assembled here at Nest Realty. We think they’re pretty awesome, and we think you will, too. During our “Meet the Agent” series, we sit down with our agents and brokers to learn more about them, what makes them tick, and why they’re passionate about the real estate industry.
In this installment, we chat with Daniel Russo, a Nest Realtor in Asheville, NC.
Nest Realty: Tell us a bit about yourself! What brought you to the area?
Daniel Russo: I am 36 years old, I have two children, I went to Lees-McRae in Banner Elk. I was born & raised in Jacksonville, FL and I’ve always felt drawn to the mountains. As soon as I got the chance, I traded in the heat for the mountains. I met my wife, we had a child, then we realized we’d rather raise our kids up here than in Florida. Asheville is amazing (and it had a Trader Joe’s, which was a huge selling point.) We love taking our kids to the breweries, hiking trails, and music venues in the incredible city that never runs out of surprises! I’m also a huge board game enthusiast.
NR: How did you get into real estate? How long have you been practicing?
DR: I used to work as a processor & underwriter in loan companies prior to this and learned a great deal about the process. I missed being the go-to person for clients who had any questions about the mortgage process, so it was a natural switch to real estate. I wanted something in this field that would allow for more flexibility for our family, so real estate was the perfect fit!
NR: What was your previous career? How has that prepared you for real estate?
DR: I was a mortgage underwriter, so I am very familiar with reviewing appraisals & contracts and making sure everything is good and I have a unique perspective on how to make the home buying process as smooth as possible.
NR: What led you to Nest Realty, as opposed to another brokerage?
DR: I bought my first home in Asheville with Angie & Glenn and her professionalism and knowledge of the area paired with her availability to go above and beyond for us inspired me to get into the business & do the same thing for my clients. I also fell in love with Nest’s marketing!
NR: What’s your favorite part of being an agent?
DR: Being the go-to person for the whole home-buying process for my clients. I love the energy of finding my clients their dream home & having the opportunity to share my favorite places with people.
NR: Do you have a specific area of expertise to offer clients?
DR: Coming from a background in mortgage financing, I have an attention to detail that can help my clients navigate the daunting world of real estate financing.
NR: What are five adjectives to describe you?
DR: Caffeinated, helpful, trustworthy, energetic, and passionate.
NR: Who would be your dream client?
DR: Taylor Swift. I just love her energy, advocacy for her fans regardless of their background, imagination, and appreciation for wooded forests on a misty morning.
NR: If you had one piece of advice for a first-time home buyer, what would it be?
DR: Live somewhere you like to play! You can work from anywhere, but I want to be able to walk to the places I love.
NR: What’s your favorite season?
DR: Fall. Coming from Florida, a place with four seasons of summer, it’s such a beautiful change going from all green to the fall colors. An added bonus: sweater weather!
–Born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, Daniel fell in love with the mountains while attending Lees McRae College in Banner Elk, North Carolina. After returning home post graduation, He met the love of his life and worked for nearly a decade in real estate finance. During 2020, He and his family decided to move back to the mountains when they fell in love with their quiet mountain home in the Fletcher/Asheville area.