Today we’d like to introduce you to Joe Grasso.
Hi Joe, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I began working in real estate for my father, a commercial real estate developer, and landlord. I was the kid working at Grasso Plaza in South County that was sent into the crawl spaces to figure out what was wrong with air conditioners and boilers because I was little. I also was the in-house electrician; years after my father passed away, I took over the business and was in charge of leasing and maintenance for all of the properties. I enjoyed commercial real estate, and when the market crashed in 2008, I was heavily leveraged on a property, and it was a massive setback for me, and I lost everything and had to start over at zero. Then I decided to switch to the entertainment industry, which I had some previous knowledge of from working as a local stagehand and promoter as a hobby, and went on tour with country bands for 10 years. Having the good fortune to work for George Strait, Eric Church, Tim McGraw, and the Florida-Georgia line. I then took a full-time position with the Florida-Georgia line. The pandemic and some health concerns took me out of the touring industry. I moved to Boulder, Colorado, and spent a couple of years working with and for a nonprofit called The Conscious Alliance, working in hunger relief for Native American tribes of the Lakota in South Dakota and Cheyanne in Montana and found that to be very rewarding. This is how I found my fantastic dog Spot (#spotthewonderdog) while working on the Lame Deer Reservation in Montana. But as the pandemic worsened, I decided to return to St. Louis and get my real estate license, and I settled here, sharing the good news of real estate with friends. I enjoy being back in STL and am having a fantastic journey working in the commercial and residential real estate industry with The Wood Brothers team. We have a great time, and I like who I work with and value and respect the guidance I receive from Buddy, Patrick Wood, and my coworkers.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My life has been full of incredible highs and struggling lows. My parents (I was adopted) were the best, and my childhood was a lot of fun, full of laughs and adventures. They loved to travel and have a good time, and I was truly blessed to be with them. I have a lovely family relationship with my children and feel the whole purpose of my existence on this planet was to be a dad to my kids. I find that to be the most rewarding experience of my life, and I am so happy and proud of my son Joe and my daughter Melanie. They are amazing adults, and I am glad to be a part of their lives. Life has been a struggle since 2008, when the market crashed, and I had to reset my life completely. There have been several health-related struggles that have set me back as well. However, with the help of family and friends, I am still here. With my new excitement about working back in the real estate industry, I have a renewed interest in business and creating the Joe Grasso Realtor brand. I enjoy working for myself and solving the puzzles of it all and feel like every day is a new beginning, and I genuinely enjoy the challenges of being a real estate agent. It can be a lot of fun and rewarding helping people find their business or home base. This career gives me a chance to serve others, which I have found is something I need in my life. Many of my clients are friends and peers of my children, and it is great to see these young adults growing up and getting their first homes. I feel I offer a unique “dad-based” perspective helping them through this process with a focus on financial stability. And making the right choices (Learn from my mistakes, kids!). aI also have a safety-based mindset and helping people find a location where they can grow their life and family in a safe and nurturing way with an excellent education, parks, and entertainment choices. St. Louis has a lot to offer us all. It is a unique, diverse, and vibrant city with so much to do and much opportunity. It has rough edges, as we all do, but what city does not? As long as we can navigate that with knowledge and care, it can be a fantastic place to live, work and thrive.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Working in the entertainment industry, we have hard deadlines every night, and there is no wiggle room for waiting to get things done. We come from a can-do and must-get-it-done-on-time mindset that makes the challenges we see as realtors not so big. My work with demanding high-profile clients in entertainment, event management, and event production makes me stand out from other people in my industry. I can work through trying and stressful complications without becoming overly stressed. I remain calm in the most stressful situations, and this is a true superpower in life and real estate.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I know how to identify potential problems and problem-solve to create a smooth real estate transaction. I am known for my fun and reassuring demeanor in challenging situations. I am tenacious in the representation of my clients and their interests. Tried and tested by years of touring with the largest acts in country music, I have the experience to guide my clients through negotiations and contracts, ensuring their best interests. With this experience, I bring a trusted and tested team of financial and legal advisors to the plate. With my long history in Commercial Real Estate, I also have a talented and well-vetted team of tradespeople at the peak of their game who are ready to help my clients with any hurdle they may encounter. This and my no-nonsense approach help me offer quality and depth of service to my clients that I feel is unparalleled in the industry.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.grassoland.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grassojoe/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068540779548
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/grassojoe
