North Shore Real Producers - November 2022

Working with Dave has taken all of the guess work out of determining insurance coverage and needs for our family—we had previously enrolled in a corporate option, thinking that our best interests were protected; however, Dave’s analysis and insights not only saved us on premiums, but offered us more coverage. He holds the insurance for our home and our vehicles, continually updating us on policies and rates …without hesitation, I would recommend Dave for his knowledge, response rate and genuine customer service.

- Maureen Marblehead, MA

We have worked with Dave Bruett for only a few years and can confidently say we would never change. Dave's professionalism and responsiveness sets him apart from the other agents we have worked with. His expertise and thorough guidance provides us the confidence that we are making the right decisions for all our insurance needs. He is our 'go to!'

- Nora Marblehead, MA

Dave is so customer focused he makes things easy when it comes to insurance. Whether it is setting up a new policy, answering my questions promptly, helping get a claim filed or any other insurance related issue he is always right on top of it. I do all my personal insurance with him and when I started my own business a few years ago he set all that insurance up for me as well. Dave is the best!

- Sam Salem, MA

PERSONAL INSURANCE | SMALL BUSINESS INSURANCE

ALL OF YOUR INSURANCE NEEDS MET WITH ONE AGENT

living spaces.

beautifying areas guests like the front entryway, kitchen, living bathrooms. Stash away decluttered items, which illusion of clean space isn’t). your home.

ple, sweet potatoes are perhaps the healthiest type of potatoes. This fantastic fall vegetable has anti-cancer, anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory properties and is packed with vitamins A, C, B6 and B5, plus potassium.

BRUSSELS SPROUTS

ounce of prevention pre of cure.

keep windows and locked.

Whether roasted with balsamic or chopped up in a salad, these tasty little babies are a far cry from the overcooked versions of Brussels sprouts from our child hood nightmares. On top of being delicious when baked, sautéed and even raw, they bring to the table high levels of fiber, vitamins C and K and phytochemicals, which help protect against stomach, lung, breast, bladder and prostate cancers.

CAULIFLOWER

advertise big-ticket gifts by boxes outside the home. all medications, fire

granola bars. Stock up on essen tials like paper towels, tissue, toilet paper, hand soap and toothpaste to have on hand.

Thanks to its neutral flavor and versatility, cauliflower has become ubiquitous in recipes and grocery store aisles as a healthier substitute for rice and

This is for a good reason: Cauliflower is a superfood rich in fiber, antioxidants and choline — an essential nutrient that protects our cells and DNA.

PREFERRED PARTNERS

This section has been created to give you easier access when searching for a trusted real estate affiliate. Take a minute to familiarize yourself with the businesses sponsoring your magazine. These local businesses are proud to partner with you and make this magazine possible. Please support these businesses and thank them for supporting the REALTOR® community *Please place Index on a left hand page and Tarpey Insurance ad opposite this article on the right.

ATTORNEY Capano & McGloin, LLP Lisa J. McGloin (781) 599-1010 CapanoMcGloin.com

Dalton & Finegold, LLP

Christina Petrucci (978) 783-3038 dfllp.com

Gilmore & Gilmore, Attorneys at Law Rachel Hollingsworth (978) 777-3480 GilmoreGilmore.com

ATTORNEY/TITLE COMPANY

Anthony G. Keck & Associates Anthony Keck & Julie Rubenstein (978) 745-3353 Salem-Law.com

Cherry Tree Legal, PLLC Brendan L. Ward, Esq. (781) 496-2013 www.cherrytreelegal.com

Hallett Closing & Title, LLC

David Hallett (781) 797-0088

Parry & Parry, P.C. Denise Parry (978) 346-0005

Simple Title Closing & Escrow PLLC George Megaloudis (978) 539-7500 simpletitle.us

Tiernan Law Sean Tiernan (617) 791-3538 Tiernan-Law.com

ESTATE SALES

Blue Moon Estate Sales Jonathan Mandell (781) 698-7379 BlueMoonEstateSales.com/ MerrimackValley

FINANCIAL ADVISOR Northwestern Mutual Martin Connolly (781) 224-1623

HOME INSPECTION

Indian Rock Inspections, LLC Brett Maloney (978) 766-0366 indianrockinspections.com

R.J. Home Inspection Adam Wright (800) 253-4402 rjhomeinspection.com

Vector Home Inspection, LLC Glenn Grutta (978) 705-1007 vectorhomeinspection.com

HOME RENOVATION Curbio (810) 300-9432 Curbio.com

HOME STAGING Staged Occasions Tara Konaxis (978) 885-0125 stagedoccasions.com

HOME STAGING & DESIGN

Relux Decor Ashley O’Shea (978) 979-6532 ReluxDecor.com

INSURANCE AGENCY

Tarpey Insurance Elizabeth Kent (781) 246-2677 tarpeyinsurance.com

INSURANCE SERVICES

David Bruett Insurance Services David Bruett (978) 594-5308 davebruettinsurance.com

INTERIOR DESIGN Living Swell Diana James (781) 990-5150 livingswellmarblehead.com

MORTGAGE / LENDER

NewFed Mortgage Brian D’Amico (781) 241-1225 newfed.com

MORTGAGE LENDER

Academy Mortgage Adam Moore (978) 697-6019 AcademyMortgage.com/ about-us/team/adammoore

NRL Mortgage Anthony Lapolla (978) 209-0916 www.AnthonyAtNRL.com

Salem Five Mortgage Company Brian Mahoney (978) 479-1571

The Deffer Mortgage Team Eric Deffer (508) 423-6746 deffermortgage.com

MOVERS

Humboldt Storage & Moving Jim Sullivan (781) 821-8777 Humboldt.com

PHOTOGRAPHER Lightshed Photography Studio Dan St. John (978) 854-5348 lightshedphoto.com

RE TRANSACTION COORDINATOR

Real Estate TC Services Jessica Martinez (978) 770-2964

CrossCountry MortgageLiz & Mike Team Liz Ryan (978) 237-4431 ccm.com/liz-ryan

VIDEO PRODUCTION Corey Stein Films Corey Stein (781) 479-7774 CoreySteinFilms.com

note publisher’s

Well, as Paul Westerberg of The Replacements once wrote, “Summer’s passed, it’s too late to cut the grass ... There ain’t much to rake anyway in the fall.”

I love that line in what is one of my all-time favorite songs, “Here Comes a Regular.” By now, the leaves have turned, and temps are down, and as I write this, it’s windy and rainy on top of it. Fall is here in all its glory, with summer far behind our rearview mirror while the holidays are not far off in the distance ahead.

Growing up, I recall November being a great month, as football is in high gear, basketball has also begun, and that four-day Thanksgiving holiday shortens the month, looking right at you ... gathering with family and friends. As I got older and started going out the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, it seemed like I always ran into a few people I knew, who I hadn’t seen for a while, and would catch up over beers and a lot of laughter. It was always a memo rable kick-off to the weekend coupled with a mild goodbye to the month.

For me personally, it’s been a challenging past year, to say the least. But Thanksgiving is a pressureless time to retool, be grateful and find the good in all that’s transpired. For many, that will be an easy

thing to do, which is awesome. For others, trying to enjoy the holidays or find things to be thankful for will be a little bit more challenging.

That said, every one of us can surely find a sil ver lining, something in our lives that we can be thankful for ... I’ll start. Knock on wood, I have my health. I have my kids, who are healthy, happy and active. I have my immediate family and their full support. I have a good set of close friends, not all are in close proximity, but all care and are cher ished. I have great business partners and appre ciate them all every single day. I have a nice place to live. And yes, I have some material things that make me happy.

But most of all, I’m thankful to be able to build this wonderful Real Producers community with all of you. I’m also very humbled and grateful for your interest and participation in what we are building.

Happy Thanksgiving, and enjoy your families, friends and colleagues. “There ain’t much to rake anyway in the fall.”

rising star

“Success is not measured by what you accomplish, but by the opposition you have encountered and the courage with which you have maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds.”

Someone once said (unknown) that “ships don’t sink because of the water around them. Ships sink because of the water that gets in them.” We may never completely know all that the author meant by this, but it is clear that adversity can make us stronger and better, and it requires intense focus and the ability to purposefully plan and strive for the right goal. Many might see and fear the water, but few might consider the oppor tunity — to sail to better places and experience better things. Meet Michael Jimenez; He is the one who dares to sail!

Though he was born in the USA, he lived for over eight years in the

Dominican Republic (from 2 years old to about 10 years). Michael partly lived in what many of us would describe as inhabitable conditions, in a shed, and he had to walk sev eral miles to gather some acceptable water to drink. To say it was a very humble beginning is an understate ment. Later, Jimenez returned to Massachusetts, and the crucible of circumstances from his younger life fostered a passion and fire inside him to make his life better. He did.

Michael was quite industrious in high school and was voted class president twice and two-time president of the AllSchool Council. He had three jobs: He worked for Microsoft and a nonprofit that sought to help people grow (Top Notch Scholars), and he fulfilled a dream since middle school of becom ing a real estate agent. After watching HGTV and other real estate program ming, Jimenez marveled at the wonder ful life portrayed on the programs.

He loved the opportunity that real estate provides — helping people find their dreams, increasing the value of neighborhoods through the selling/buying of homes and flip ping, and the excitement of truly impacting people and building strong relationships. He read that he had to be 18 years of age to obtain a license for real estate, so he collected the paperwork and initiated the process on his 18th birthday.

Michael worked as an intern in high school for some well-known names in real estate, and he quickly developed some serious skills in dealing with

people, speaking with context and advocating for others. During college, his business thrived, and after a few semesters, he could not keep up with his schoolwork and duties as an agent like he wanted, so he suspended his post-secondary education and immersed himself into working in real estate fulltime (beginning of 2021).

The road was not completely paved in gold, for Michael’s young age, accent and “outside the box” demeanor were all difficult for some to accept. Still, he was very aware of how to handle obstacles in life, and he pressed on. For him, success is about having a well-respected brand and about the process of help ing families. Sure, he likes the comfortable lifestyle now — having a nice place to live and a classy car, but the rewards give him an opportunity to fulfill a passion: teaching others how to overcome.

Michael’s mantra is central to his mission and foundational to his life. “Follow your honest beliefs, and stay strong,” he explains. He wants others to know that taking risks — whether they are in the category of business, style of clothing, or even personality is a key to getting the most from living this life. “I try to live each day like the horse that has blinders on in the race of their lives,” he quips. Things that are risky or outside the norms of life are not scary for him but actually set the stage for how he wants to project himself to others.

Jimenez has established himself as a Rising Star, and he shows no signs of performing with any less power. In fact, he wants to ignite his course and gain additional momentum. He operates his business with ethics and integrity, and he captures his main staple by coining the term “serviceful.”

He tells newer agents to be intentional and find a poster board to create their vision and mission. “Everyone should know where they want to go and how to get there,” he says. He does not want them to be blindsided but to do their research and know what they are getting into.

Michael knows that his work each day can be char acterized as fun, innovative and rewarding. He lives his personal life the same. Jimenez enjoys jogging

or hiking to experience nature and have fun, and he likes to travel. He says to do what makes you happy and not to live a “regular” life. Jimenez thinks that living this way will inspire others to do the same, and it encourages them to live life to its full poten tial. He believes that this world has so much more to offer and that we are allowed to “go for it.”

Michael has traveled to the Dominican several times to throw big block parties for his family, friends and neighbors that he grew up with. He wants them to know that there is an incredible life beyond where they live. He enjoys buying gifts for the neighborhood people and loves to see the chil dren accept his hospitality with incredible delight.

No one really knows how far this rising star will shine, but he describes his business philosophy by saying, “I am not a businessman; I am a business, man!” Regardless of what ventures he expands to, Michael Jimenez will apply the same principles and business strategy to make his pursuits successful. He knows others will see him and want the same, and that provides his greatest achievement in life!

Holiday HOME PREPARATION

The air is crisp, the leaves are changing, and the holidays are just around the corner! The cheerful months of Novem ber and December always fly by, but a little advance cleaning and organizing can help keep holiday entertaining wor ries at bay. Here are a few home-prepa ration tips to make your space fresh, festive and ready to entertain!

Prep appliances.

All that scrumptious cooking and baking we do over the holidays can give kitchen appliances a workout. Prep them for the overload with a thorough cleaning and inspection.

• Check the temperature reading with an oven thermometer to ensure accuracy.

• Remove all food residue and build-up in the washtub, drain and around the door of the dishwasher.

• Sharpen kitchen knives.

• Make sure vacuum cleaners are emp tied and located handily for quick clean-ups.

• Clean out refrigerator and freezer, checking for blocked air vents.

• Replace worn flapper valves on toi lets (and don’t forget to provide plen ty of extra toilet paper and a plunger)!

Organize living spaces.

Focus on beautifying areas guests will see most, like the front porch, entry way, kitchen, living room and bath rooms. Stash away easily decluttered items, which gives the illusion of clean space (even if it isn’t). Supply overnight guests with an empty drawer or closet space, extra pillows/blankets, clean towels, travel-size toiletries and a flat surface for their luggage.

Safeguard your home.

Here, an ounce of prevention prevents a pound of cure.

• Always keep windows and doors locked.

• Don’t advertise big-ticket gifts by putting boxes outside the home.

• Lock away all medications, firearms and household chemicals.

• Keep driveway and walkway clear of ice and snow, if applicable.

• Never leave open flames unattended.

• Make sure live Christmas trees stay well-watered.

• Utilize light timers to regulate elec tricity usage for decorations.

Stock up on essentials.

A few days before having houseguests, inquire about favorite snacks and drinks, and stock up on those items, as well as coffee, tea, creamer/sugar and simple breakfast items, like cereal, milk, juice, fruit and granola bars.

Stock up on essentials like paper tow els, tissue, toilet paper, hand soap and toothpaste to have on hand.

Plan ahead and get organized this holi day season, so you can enjoy time spent making new memories with loved ones!

featured team

TheMatt Witte

REALTOR® Team

— William Raveis

MAKING CLIENTS FEEL LIKE THE ONLY ONES

For almost two and one-half decades, Matt Witte has been teaching — some of it in the classroom and some of it in real estate. He leverages his desire to help people learn and reach their goals, and he uses his talents to impact and train others. Though it is difficult for most agents to create a work/life balance, Matt has been harmonizing two careers, a home and a personal life, and he would not want it any other way.

After earning a degree from Merrimack College in math, Witte entered the world of high school education. He went on to earn a master’s degree in education, and he now teaches math and business courses at Chelmsford High School. In 2010, Matt decided to foster his interest in real estate and get his agent’s license. He was tutoring an agent’s child, and the discussions eventually led to his adding a second career.

Matt now has six agents on his team, along with an agent who handles showings, listings and such, a transaction coordinator and an administrative position. Over time, Matt has learned a lot about the real estate field and about mentoring others. He really enjoys researching and finding interesting homes and properties, though he admits that the paperwork is not his favorite activity. If he had a magic wand, he would make the process of conduct ing real estate paperless.

For Witte, success is really about helping people through problems, and it, by default, has to do with

marketing/branding and increasing volume, but his main focus is on making each client feel that they are the only one he has. Real estate is always adding a new wrinkle to the process, but that makes it quite interesting. He has seen a few game-changers along his journey too. When he added real estate to his career, his wife was extremely supportive — so much so that he really believed that success would happen. Obtaining an office man ager, Maureen Heinze, was huge — taking away the angst of the process and seeing details expertly handled. Perhaps his best decision was to get professional coaching, and if he was forced to change jobs, he would love to be a life/real estate coach.

Sometimes, people hear Matt say, “Real estate is not a Disney movie.” People love movies because everything almost always works out the way they want — sometimes in just two hours. He is wise enough to know that many transactions have significant challenges, but that is why he and his team do what they do. He is

not

constantly preparing for the second ary plans to execute.

Matt has observed that the best agents “pick up their phones.” He says that they are truly empathetic for their cli ents and that they are mentally tough. He also sees them as very organized, and they always have the best interests of their clients in mind. He tells newer agents to be open to 100 calls per day.

“It does not mean that we make that many every day, but if someone finds that impossible, real estate is prob ably not a fit for them,” he explains. Witte also tells newer agents to watch shows like HGTV and learn from those already succeeding.

For those seasoned agents, Matt encourages them to build an inter net brand and to get professional

coaching. He says that the keys to a team are delegation, letting go, getting up earlier and always learning. He is constantly listening to audiobooks and podcasts. Agents can always take one step to the next level.

Matt is married to Jodi, who is a manager of a research institute at Harvard Medical School. They have a son, Noah, who sometimes attends

open houses with Matt. The family loves to spend time together and travel. Matt is known as a talkative guy who is always positive and ready to implement a new plan. He hopes that someday, people will remember him as kind, genuine, helpful, funny and as someone who kept their best interests in mind. In other words, someone who treated each one as his only client!

SPOTLIGHTVIDEO SERIES

Please visit North Shore Real Producers’ social media channels to view NSRP’s Preferred Partner video series produced by NSRP Preferred Partner Corey Stein Films. Each video gives our readers a chance to get to know each partner in a unique and creative way.

Corey Stein Films is a full-service production and marketing company based in Marblehead, MA. They are dedicated to creating cinematic videos for businesses that wish to connect viewers to their products or services.

To learn more about becoming a North Shore Real Producers Preferred Partner, please reach out to Talman Hauch, owner/publisher, North Shore Real Producers. Talman.hauch@real producersmag.com, 617-921-7033.

Do you know of a great business that would love

connect with top real estate agents on the North Shore? talman.hauch@ RealProducersMag.com

healthy living

Fall & Winter PRODUCE

ple, sweet potatoes are perhaps the healthiest type of potatoes. This fantastic fall vegetable has anti-cancer, anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory properties and is packed with vitamins A, C, B6 and B5, plus potassium. overcooked versions of Brussels sprouts from our child hood nightmares. On top of being delicious when baked, sautéed and even raw, they bring to the table high levels of fiber, vitamins C and K and phytochemicals, which help protect against stomach, lung, breast, bladder and

radicals in the body.

cover feature

ROSANNA ZINGALESLOPEZ — Team Zingales Realty

Having An Army Behind You

Rosanna Zingales-Lopez is quite used to the challenges that lie before her in real estate and even in sales, for that matter, but what helps her the most is the “army” behind her. The team at her newly-formed brokerage is always poised to handle any detail, from the smallest consideration to the largest obstacle and everything in between. “I can do what I do with the utmost confi dence in their support,” says Rosanna, “and it liberates me to be able to do my work and properly care for my clients.”

As the daughter of immigrants, Rosanna watched her parents set the nearly perfect example of work ethic and sacrifice for the needs of others. Her father came to the USA at the age of 17, with little money and with no knowledge of the language. He sailed on a ship for 15 days and left five siblings behind, but he had the dream of having a family that could benefit from growing up here, and they did.

Rosanna’s mother was raised in Sicily and came to the states when she was 23. Both parents made education a pri ority, and so Rosanna and her brother attended college — she at Merrimack to study business administration. She also credits her parents with instilling within her the will to keep going and the desire to want more out of life than it would just offer. “I had a healthy fear of disappointing my parents, and many young people do not possess that today,” observes Rosanna. She loves the fact that her values, stamina and commitment to success all stem from her family.

While in high school and college, Rosanna worked for a shoe store, and when she graduated, they retained her so that she could launch her professional career. She eventually worked her way into management, and the shoe store expanded to 3 or 4 locations. In time, the extremely long hours and the weariness of finding excellent help caused her to desire a pivot, so Rosanna ventured into Property Management.

For six years, Zingales-Lopez worked in corporate management, attending to apartment complexes (400 units). She and her brother, who had started in real estate in 2000, decided to buy their own investment properties, and they expanded over time from

one to fifty units. After two decades, Rosanna decided to sell out, and then she opened her own brokerage (February 2022). She has been a licensed agent for over a decade now, and the journey has been very good for Rosanna.

Zingales-Lopez’s “why” is quite organic and simple; she loves to provide excellent customer ser vice. It has been part of her entire professional track, and she is quite passionate about it. Rosanna sits on the board of the Boys and Girls Club locally, and even with that, she is very busy taking care of the children. Many know Rosanna as a “selfless caregiver.” Most of her clients become personal friends, and for her, it is not

I had a healthy fear of disappointing my parents, and many young people do not possess that today.

so much about the statistics as it is about making those around her happy and provided for.

Her definition of success mirrors that philosophy as well. She says that suc cess is happiness. Her personal world is a balancing act, but she strives for the same passionate mission of caring for the needs of her family and friends as well. “If I can impact my children to be happy, well-rounded

and provided for, then I have put my family first and have done a success ful job,” notes Rosanna.

Rosanna’s clients sense this commit ment and see it unfold in her work in real estate too. She exhibits several excellent qualities for an agent, beginning with self-motivation and a huge commitment to education in the field. She tells other agents that knowledge and experience are the

two most important ingredients, and she encourages newer agents to be self-accountable and organized and to realize that business does not just gravitate to them; they have to find it.

Rosanna is married to Miguel, who retired from the postal service two years ago after working for them for 38 years. They have a blended family: Jeremy (31), CJ (26), Julian (20) and Antonio (16). Jeremy is the artist of the family, and CJ serves as a police officer. Julian is a Sophomore at UMass, and Antonio plays football and basketball for Central Catholic. The family loves to travel, and they are faithful to attending all athletic events.

Rosanna Zingales-Lopez is the glue that keeps her realm together. She cares for everyone — sometimes by her own admission to a fault — but everyone around her knows that her family comes first, followed closely by her team and her clients. If she did not need to earn any money, she would volunteer at the local boys/ girls club or at a hospital. If she cannot serve others, she does not understand the point. One thing is for sure: she could not do it all without the army of support and resources that is always protecting her six!

If I can impact my children to be happy, well-rounded and provided for, then I have put my family first and have done a successful job.

Whose story should we tell next?

Nominate a REALTOR®, agent, or broker to be featured in an upcoming issue. Email the publisher of this magazine to let us know why your nominee deserves to be featured.

Year-End GIVING

As the year comes to a close, it is the perfect time to think about yearend giving. Particularly in the aftermath of a years-long pandemic, we can help those in need — necessary every year but now crucial for many nonprofits struggling to balance increased demand and decreased support — and, meanwhile, save on taxes. Year-end giving is a win-win!

Support Nonprofit Organizations Charities and nonprofit organizations often rely solely on donations to fund their missions. Interestingly, accord ing to Charity Navigator, half of all nonprofits in the U.S. receive the bulk of their funding during the last quarter of the year. Make the final months of the year count through giving; resolve to help feed the hungry, find cuddly animals new homes or support people without housing … whatever cause is near and dear to your heart.

When you do, be sure to keep a record of your donation. Taxpayers must have a bank record or some sort of written

receipt from the charity, which has the organization’s name, date and amount of the contribution. Other acceptable records include bank statements, credit card statements or canceled checks.

Additionally, the 2020 CARES Act allows you to take a $300 deduction for cash donations to qualifying organi zations, which must have a charita ble, educational, religious, literary or scientific purpose and be classified by the Internal Revenue Service as tax-ex empt, even if you don’t itemize.

Donate Clothing and Household Items Take time to clear the clutter and give

to others this holiday season. Do you have gently worn clothes or function al household appliances, furniture, furnishings or electronics that you no longer use and could benefit someone else? Why not donate them? If your charitable donation is worth $250 or more, be sure to include a receipt (or written acknowledgment) from the charity, with a description of the items.

Don’t let this holiday season pass you by without giving to those less fortunate. After all, ‘tis the season to be generous! Doing so will help others and help yourself when April 15 rolls around.

Don’t let this holiday season pass you by without giving to those less fortunate.

financial fitness