From Luxury Fashion To Real Estate Developer with Raffaellina Merlino

In this of the Better Than Success Podcast host Nicole Purvy talks with real estate developer Raffaellina Merlino.  With over six years of residential development, property design, and land acquisition experience, Raffaellina's journey into real estate began alongside her business partner and husband as co- founders of the Cityscape Development Group.  Raffaellina came into the industry after leaving the corporate world as a client development manager for high luxury fashion brands such as Dior. Her recent venture into mix-use commercial building has sparked a new passion for community development and small business initiative. As a North Jersey native she believes that she has the "newcomer " advantage, where she sees so many positive opportunities and attributes that Philadelphia has to offer.  Raffaellina is a leader of a top real estate sales team serving as a liaison between the millennial home buyer and dream home builder in both NJ and PA. When she's not building or selling homes in Philadelphia, you can find her serving less fortunate communities around the world.  Her most recent trip was to the "garbage dump" community in Guatemala, where she and her team built 2 homes for less fortunate families. She is the co -founder of Table Share, a Christian based charitable organization that believes in serving and engaging. Raffaellina is an alumni of the Fairleigh Dickinson University school of International Tourism and Hospitality.  Growing up around entrepreneurs and restauranteurs motivated Raffaellina to discover her passion for people and serving. Key Pointers from the episode: New investors should be "driving for dollars" Build a relationship with the poeple in the area you invest in so people will come to you about selling properties Create a good environment without forcing people out of their homes. Your greatest successes will come from partnerships If you can build 1 house, you can build 20