Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to another SLG meetup. We're here in Greece and we continue with this series of interviews with some of the most interesting individuals in the luxury space. Today it's going to be with Maya Van der Seis, real estate agent and broker and one of the experts, also cast member of the famous Netflix show Selling Sunset. And she's going to talk about how she has transformed her career through the show and also how she's doing tremendous between Los Angeles and Miami when it comes to real estate.
Maya, what's going on? How are you? It seems like everybody and their mamas are in Greece right now. Yeah, everybody's here.
Everybody's in Greece right now. In fact, everybody from your crew. I saw them the other day at Princei Poete. I trust me.
I see them all over. I'm getting them pictures on my Google feed. They flew to Italy and then they went to Greece and I think production is filming right now. They flew as well.
So yeah. So because you're also expecting the third one, comment this December, right? I'm telling you, I'm just like looking at like someone said that I got my accent. I'm expecting a third one.
Boy, I'm doing December Christmas baby. So yeah, I'm excited. It was all planned. It wasn't surprise.
I was in a mission to get it done. There it goes. Super matter. You're going to definitely inspire a lot of women.
Now let me make a quick introduction because I'm very excited to have you on the show. So for those that are tuning in now, Maya van der Sees, the super star in real estate. She's the cast member of selling sunset, doing real estate in Los Angeles and Miami. You're currently based in Miami, originally from Israel.
That's where some of the accent comes from. In case you didn't recognize my accent because it's not strong enough. All right. I love your accent, by the way.
We all have an accent. I love your accent too. Well, mine is from Spain. So curious on how are you managing to do everything?
Because you're still part of the show selling sunset, which you were in LA. Now you're in Miami. You're in real estate in two of the most predominant markets in the States. And you have two kids with a third comment up.
How do you manage all of that? Yeah. So I don't know. Good question.
I tried to shift my business obviously more towards Miami now. And I had a great deal in Miami. The market is zero in Miami. It's on fire here.
And I'm very lucky and blessed to be successful in Miami because I'm still a new agent in the town. So trying to beat my business. In LA, I still have a couple of obviously clients that I know, but it's not as easy to maintain the relationship when I'm in Miami. Obviously we're doing the show and it's hard to say no to be part of selling sunset.
Because it's a great opportunity and I'm very lucky and thankful to be part of this. And it's been amazing, right? And somehow I managed to have a supportive house band. My in-laws came to help me with the kids.
It helps. That's very important. And you've built that support system yourself because your energy is so great that I'm sure that everybody around you is always on board to support you because I gotta tell you, you're very special. Now, a question for you Maya, because everybody is okay, I know selling sunset.
Sometimes they know though, but what was your journey? No, it's definitely real estate. I tell you, because the TV is great. But how long we're going to do selling sunset?
I mean, I don't know how long I'm going to do selling sunset with the third kid. But I always call it in a way that five minutes of fame. But real estate, I've been doing it for almost 10 years. So it's hard for me to just let go completely.
How does obviously the TV world has helped you with real estate? You know, I feel like I do a lot of online marketing and before those leads, we're not always loyal. But I feel like when a client recognizes I am on the show and I do a list that gives me good credibility. So I think it does help.
That being said, I invest already marketing myself to get clients and some of them don't know the show. So it's a mix. I think it's a great exposure and it's free marketing, frankly. I'm going to get you most screen time and get your publicity.
And Kristina always say, well, Maya has a strong opinions and she doesn't always share. I do have a lot of strong opinions. But sometimes I feel like maybe I shouldn't be sharing too much. Yes, I want to be honest.
But I also don't want to insult anyone. So I try to keep it sometimes to myself. That's the decision I make. And you know what?
At the end of the day, I do real estate full time. So if I'm going to go crazy and it could hurt my real estate career. So far, when I'm reading at the comments, everybody's like, oh Maya, I'm trying to read the news season. Yes, I'm in the news season.
I've been flying every week. So good that you're sharing this because you're very honest and that's what really makes people engage with you. You're somebody that is transparent and very inspirational for many, not only women out there, but for any individual that is getting into real estate or is currently real estate. Because how important has been for you personal branding?
I work on my personal brand right now. My father go. I think it's important to just look apart. Although like sometimes when I go to show I tell you, I look like more like a homeless than a real estate agent.
I don't always dress up like selling sunset. Obviously, put more work in selling sunset. I think it's important to present yourself well and have a nice logo, nice branding for yourself. And it's a combination.
But I think part of the personal branding is knowledge and you need to know what you're talking about and you need to be educated in real estate. And just in general, I guess the buyers and sellers have so much information online today. They really savvy. They know what they do.
They know what they do. They know what they look for. Sometimes more than you. Yeah.
Sometimes they do. They do. They do. So I need to keep up.
I need to know what I'm talking about. And for me, Miami is in the market generally. I've been here for quite some times, but it takes time to know all the buildings and to know the different locations in the area. So you always have to learn.
So what do you think about these new developments that are coming up? Like the world of Astoria, the Vachera, the Aston Martin? I love it. I just came back from San Yala.
I was actually two in a penthouse in the Jade Signature for 30 minutes. I'm going to do it on my relay. I know I love it. But I'm okay.
What do I find that buyer? I love that. I love all the projects. And I'm still supposed to do the world of Astoria in downtown.
I know it's going to be great. When we moved here four years ago, Brick Hill was a couple of buildings. I just liked seeing all these fancy nice buildings. And so many people are moving down to Miami.
I think it's so much more affordable than California and New York. You just get more for your money. No, but I have a question because obviously a lot of people that watch you come also from the real estate industry. And even if it's not just real estate, something that could be similar to it that you need to present yourself.
Some people are like, wow, you're such an inspiration. You're on TV. You're doing your personal branding. You have two kids, a third coming up.
You're selling the most amazing homes. How do you have time to do all of that? But still, how do I get myself? What's the first gear for personal branding?
You know, you have to figure out what you want to present and how you want to be portrayed. So for me, generally it's classy. It's luxury. And whatever if it's the way you dress.
So I know it sounds shallow, but also the car you drive, unfortunately. It's just part of the game. And just logo. I think your logo is very important.
For me, I'm just very honest. I can't bullsh it around. So that's part of my personal branding. I'm very blunt.
Sometimes too direct, but it is part of me. And that's what I think I give to my clients. I'm just honest with them. I don't try to push them to do things they're not comfortable with.
And they believe me. They trust me. That's part of my personal branding, including the strong accent, I guess. I cannot get rid of.
I'll tell you what, anybody that comes from Israel initially was like, oh my God. And for me, it happens the same way with the Spanish accent. People told me to begin. Don't change it because that automatically triggers people to ask you.
Where are you from? From Spain? No way from Spain. You speak in Spanish.
You speak the language. So I think that what you said is so true. Stay true to yourself, to your values. Your DNA equals your values.
And when you connect with people's DNA, then the whole thing flows. Yeah, the end of the day, you know what? I am who I am. And for selling sons, I'm a very simple person.
And I guess I want to say down to earth. So, I'm an innocent agent. Yeah, we have the success of the show. And it's amazing.
And people recognize me. But the end of the day, I'm an innocent agent. That's what I do. So I think it just stuck to me.
And that's what it is. That's my brand, I guess. Maya, do you have a mentor or something that inspired you to become queer today? I would say my mom.
I mean, I would say a mentor. But my mom is always an inspiration. She's a very strong woman. So I always like to look up to her.
When I did start a real estate, yes, I had coaches as well, a realistic coach. I love any seminal coaching. I love this stuff. If I could spend more money on that, I would.
We mentioned earlier, I would smoke on the phone. My friend Tony is a coach. I love his book right now, the social agent. I'm going to look into it because I need to do more videos, more videos.
I know it's like the thing right now. And I'm like, oh my gosh, it's another full-time job. But you have to progress. So every coaching and mentor, I just like successful people.
Listen to successful people. And sometimes people, like let's say they hate Jeff Bezos. But why would you hate someone who is working his ass up and started from selling books in a garage? And now we have this empire.
Good for him. And if he wants to fly to the moon and do a spaceship, it's his decision. Like why people hate rich people, I don't understand. I think we should always aim to achieve and don't hate.
So all these successful people are in a way, it's kind of a mentor. You want to reach for the skies, I guess? Learn from everybody. You can always learn from those that have achieved success, right?
Yeah, why not? Unless you have some trust fund, spoil, keep it, just get money, okay, whatever. But if it works out for them, money, why hate on them when they actually already reach. That's so true.
And those that achieve that level is because at some point they were adding some value. You want to become a person of value, not just success. All of that is amazing. Now for you, I'm really curious to know what's going to be the next step for my avander.
What are you going to be? First I have two more seasons of selling sunset. I'm already joined from season 4 that we just finished filming. And we are preparing for season 5.
And I'm already mentally like, oh my gosh, I'm going to do it. But because you know, flying and with COVID, I know that's crazy nonsense. But I'll do season 5 when season 4 selling sunset. Real estate, I really want to get my focus license.
I'm not opening a company tomorrow. It's a lot of liability, but I want to have it. And really like elevate my business in Miami with real estate. And I'm also like a mother.
So enjoying time with my kids when I can. And you know, it's pretty boring, stable life work, you know, nothing too crazy. I want to see what opportunity the show gives me potentially doing maybe another company or something that's involved with kids. But I don't know, I have a lot of ideas, but I just need to find out how I execute some of them.
And it's time consuming and it's a lot. So I would say that I focus more on real estate for sure. Step by step. Exactly.
It can go all over the whole place. So if anybody wants to reach out to you or they want to connect, what will be the easiest way to do it? I'm going to say, don't make my time. But now I have my email on my IG.
It's my at myavander.com. People can acquire information there. And I do try to respond to people, but sometimes it could get overwhelming. Especially once they get started.
You're a star. You're a star. Yes. So I'm here at the villa with Amari.
He's an actor. He was the Zuker in prison break. And we're walking through to Greece and making us here. And everybody's like, oh picture, picture, picture, picture.
So the people from selling sass at your friends. All of them were getting also people approached and say, hey, can we take pictures? If that happens in person, it might be online. Everybody's texting.
So you're overwhelmed with messages. I feel like selling sass at success was obviously part of the reason was COVID. Everybody stayed home. They were bored and selling sass at this show.
You don't have to worry about anything. You just watch it. And it's entertaining. So it's fun to be part of it for sure.
Well, thank you so much for your time. I know you have two kids to attend. I have one as well. I'm taking my son to a swim lesson in like an hour.
Amazing. Well, that's a good time to do it in the summer. Anything else that we haven't touched that you would like to share? No, I mean, just keep watching selling sass at guys.
If you have any serious clients, serious 10 million and half, I'm kidding. I also sell with price points. Send me an email and selling sass at season 4. I don't know when it's going to come out.
Hopefully, early fall. Even if I know I cannot say, but I guess early fall. Well, all of us will be turning into watch it. Thank you again Maya for your time at the board.
I'm connecting Miami. Yeah, I'll see you Miami. For now, it's time to enjoy Europe. We'll be here with your peers from the show.
Enjoy your time in Miami. We'll see you all soon. Thanks. Bye.
Have a good one. Bye. Thank you everybody for tuning in. And thanks again for everybody tuning in today.
We hope you enjoyed it. And remember, embrace its beautiful success in life. My name is Alvaro and I'll see you next time.