Joseph Aquino, an Italian American with an unusual Irish connection, is celebrating a massive milestone this year: 40 years in real estate in the most competitive market of them all - New York.
“Have you ever met anyone like me?” quipped Joseph, who is married to East Belfast native Suzanne Curran. And from listening to his spawning and wildly fascinating tales, it’s safe to say most people will respond in the negative.
Joseph's career spans decades. After completing a successful career at Douglas Eliman, he decided to cash in on his own knowledge and experience and stand on his own two feet.
The proud New Yorker has broken down barriers and had an outstanding impact on the industry, leaving his mark on both the luxury estate and retail markets.
In Aquino's many years at the top, he has worked with some of the world's most luxurious brands including Cartier and Judith Leiber.
However, success has been a hard road.“I’ve been through seven downturns, among them the Savings & Loans Crisis, Desert Storm, and 9/11 — not to forget COVID," he tells the Echo.
Aquino's reach as a realtor expands from Mexico to Ireland and from the UK to France. He also played an outsize role in shaping the Big Apple neighborhoods as we know them today. He worked on the pivotal rejuvenation of Times Square along with his late business partner of 26 years Faith Hope Consolo.
Besides retail leasing, Aquino sells buildings and leases out office space to bluechip companies. But now, with four decades on the property frontlines under his belt, he's working on a rebrand. “You have to pivot and look at all these other things,” he explains.
In 2016, he opened his own firm JAACRES which continues to shape and influence many aspects of commercial real estate. Through the global 'Secret Broker Society', realtors meet virtually every six weeks to share market information. "In a 90 minute call, you get to understand what’s going on, in not just New York, but also in London and Montreal," says Aquino. "It’s invaluable. It’s kind of a push back to the big firms.”
"Today," he adds, "I don’t know if anyone knows these markets more than me.” IRISH CONNECTION: Joseph and Suzanne Aquino (right) with Alison Metcalfe of Tourism Ireland at the New York-New Belfast conference. The Aquinos are honorary chairs of the annual gathering.
Aquino’s remarkable career started from very humbling beginnings as a watch salesman. Pitching high quality timepieces honed the sales and relationship-building skills which serve him to this very day.
And while proud of his Italian roots, he is equally thrilled by his Irish connections - returning regularly to Northern Ireland with Suzanne and being minted a Belfast Ambassador in 2019.
But even after 40 Years A-Growing, his appetite for the real estate market in the world's greatest city is only getting whetted: "I have so much more to give and so many ambitious plans for the future that I feel like the best days are in my future."
