From Home Runs to Homes Sold: Agent Finds Success After Leaving the Bullpen

Marco Castilla knows a thing or two about greatness and being surrounded by the best. Following a successful college baseball career, Castilla – the son of Major League Baseball third baseman Vinny Castilla and nephew of RE/MAX Lifetime Achievement recipient and Diamond Club team leader Jackie Garcia – traded his glove to try his hand at the other family business: selling real estate. Learning from his aunt’s mentorship while joining The Jackie Garcia Team with RE/MAX Professionals in Englewood, Colorado, Castilla says RE/MAX was always his No. 1 choice for real estate brands.

“When I decided to go into real estate, I knew there was no other brand for me outside of RE/MAX,” Castilla says. “My aunt Jackie has been with other brands in her career and she’s told me RE/MAX is the place to be. Now in my second year in the real estate business, I know she was right.”

So, what’s it like going from being a team player to, well, a team player? Turns out many of the same skills apply. RE/MAX News sat down with Castilla to hear his strategies for being at the top of the real estate game.

Q: Are there any similarities between being on a sports team and on a real estate team?

A: Absolutely! We’re all trying to help each other make sales and get the best deals for our clients. It reminds me of my time on the baseball team and how we all worked together to achieve the same goal.

Q: Purchase demand remains robust, fixed 30-year rates remain at historic lows and people are re-evaluating the needs of their home after spending more time at home this year. With real estate remaining a bright spot in the economic recovery, the profession could be a welcome jump for people who are changing careers as a result of the pandemic. What advice do you have for new or aspiring real estate professionals?

A: I think a lot of people make the mistake of diving right in without taking the time to train and learn from others who have been at this successfully for many years. I had the privilege of starting out as Jackie’s assistant for a couple of months before getting my real estate license and was able to learn so much about the basics of all the paperwork, nuanced details and core skills like how to facilitate a home showing before I even started transacting myself.

Q: Is there anything unique about working with athletes? You have an interesting perspective being an athlete yourself and having had professional athletes as clients.

A: I wouldn’t advise approaching working with professional athletes any differently than anyone else, but it’s important to remember to stay patient since during their seasons their primary focus will be elsewhere. What’s fun and unique to RE/MAX is, because of our extensive referral network with so many agents and offices all over the U.S. and beyond, we have a distinct advantage in being able to connect clients with RE/MAX agents around the country if they have to move or relocate due to their sports careers. (Editor’s Note: Speaking of those global connections, check out Marco’s RE/MAX Hustle commercial here.)

Q: The Jackie Garcia Team at RE/MAX Professionals is a high-performing and esteemed team to join! What’s the best piece of advice you received from the team?

A: Be respectful and mindful [of not being] overbearing, yet reach out to everyone you know. It can be nerve-racking to reach out to people, but working your sphere is key and that’s where most of your business will come from. Also, you have to stay positive. Just like any business, there are highs and lows in real estate but you’re not in it by yourself. Whether it’s my brand or my real estate team, I know people have my back.

Q: What do you think is the biggest misconception about real estate?

I love the real estate reality TV shows as much as anyone else, but those shows make every transaction look so simple. There is so much more to the transaction and negotiation process that never gets shown. There is a level of relief for both buyers and sellers when they know they are in good hands with a trusted real estate advisor. This connection does not always translate on camera.

Jackie Garcia adds that Castilla “shows a valuable ability to connect with younger buyers who are reliant on social media and are needing plenty of added attention now, at a time when rates are still at historic lows, but inventory has a hard time keeping up with demand.”

“Working with Marco has been the best experience in my career,” Garcia says. “Not just because he is my nephew, he is seriously the best prodigy I have ever trained up. He’s loyal, hardworking and my clients adore him. He has such a bright future.”

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