Joy DiMaggio & Dade DiMaggio

A BUSINESS BUILT BY FAMILY, DRIVEN BY AUTHENTICITY

By Robbyn Moore

Photos by Stylish Detroit

As a licensed real estate agent for 30+ years, Joy DiMaggio has seen and done it all. She has navigated through dozens of market shifts and millions of sales — developing her into the mega-agent she is today. Through the toughest of times, while raising three kids as a divorced parent, Joy was driven to find creative ways to make deals happen and provide for her family.

Seven years ago, on Joy’s birthday, one of those kids decided to return the favor. In her birthday card were two powerful words written from her son, Dade — “I’m in,” which was sketched across his newly acquired real estate license. This license has since become a gift that keeps on giving as they quickly joined forces and began building a dynamic real estate business. Joy has been consistently successful since her debut; however, once the mother-son duo became a team, their careers rose to elite levels and made the DiMaggio name synonymous with service, experience and success.

Dade was previously immersed in the jewelry and art business where his creativity and innovation in sales flourished. He garnered a wealth of experience selling luxury items and one-of-akind pieces. Dade is also a world-class champion in combat sports and has transcended a mental toughness to the team. This was a great complement to Joy’s more traditional approach and gentleness. Dade’s savvy technical skills and artistic flair illuminated Joy’s sterling business acumen and industry knowledge. Together, the differences in their generations became symbiotic and a welcomed attraction to all age groups of clients.

The two began their careers together at Real Estate One where Dade was given the Rising Star Award for selling 22 homes in his inaugural year. Joy and Dade are past recipients of Real Estate One’s Gold Award, President’s Council of Excellence Diamond Award and President’s Circle Award throughout their time there.

The team made a decision to move to KW Domain in 2018 and launch DiMaggio Homes. Since that time, they have been recognized as recurring Top 1% producers in the nation and achieved numerous accolades including the KW Quadruple Gold Award. In 2021, DiMaggio Homes is on track to surpass $25 million in sales volume. “I really give my mom so much credit for our success. I owe her a lot,” Dade said.

One of Joy’s greatest awards is the “Junkyard Dog” Award — a mock office award — but one that both Joy and Dade hold in high regard. “I love this award because it’s proof that there’s no deal I will ever give up on,” Joy said proudly. “Regardless of circumstances, I will bring a deal to fruition.” The “junkyard dog” mindset is a shared core value that Dade has built his career upon.

“While different in personality and style than my mom, I have always built on the foundation of being a ‘junkyard dog,’ just like her,” he said. “We will never let a deal die, and we’re as loyal to our clients as we are to each other.”

Joy and Dade share a bond that allows them to understand each other in unique ways, giving them the ability to be stronger, individually and collectively — a force to be reckoned with. When asked what makes their team successful, they each respectively said the other person’s name. “We’ve been best friends and partners for a long time,” Dade said.

As a team of two with no additional support or expensive marketing, the pair thrives on their unflappable ability to make their clients feel comfortable. “Our business is built entirely from our sphere of influence and referrals,” Joy said. “We put it on our own shoulders to do the work from top to bottom. Our interest is in being equitable and profitable, by being ourselves. Our experiences, personalities and style is unique and multifaceted. We are able to come in and out of each deal with different approaches because we have different mindsets, experiences and common goals.”

In November 2021, as the #1 team in sales at KW Domain, the DiMaggios made their biggest move yet: Joy and Dade left to become managing partners at two of the most promising and quickly growing brokerages — RE/MAX Eclipse in Bloomfield Hills and Waterford. Their main focus is to build solid relationships with clients and agents to help them achieve their real estate dreams and objectives. “We are always putting the client first. The money comes secondary,” Joy explained. “We are always honest and ethical, and will exceed expectations with any agents at our new home at RE/MAX Eclipse.”

The key to success at DiMaggio Homes is simple: Be yourself. “The brightest part of you is you!” Dade said enthusiastically. “Uniqueness is what shines through and allows you to win clients. Authenticity has sustainability. That has set us apart from other teams.”

The duo is passionate about taking their business to the next level. They are ready to set new goals and potentially grow their team by adding more agents in the near future. The two are excited to announce the addition of daughter and sister, Sierra, to the team. She will be transitioning from her current job in corporate marketing to join her family as the director of marketing and sales.

“We know we have met, if not exceeded, the kind of numbers a team of two can physically do,” Joy shared. “We are opening our eyes to expanding our team not only in Michigan but by also bringing DiMaggio Homes to Florida. We have recently purchased our first two investment properties in the Naples area, and we’re currently obtaining our Florida real estate licenses.” Additionally, they would like to grow to $50 million in annual sales by 2024.

Joy has three children — Dade, Carella and Sierra — who have always supported her career and been her biggest cheerleaders. “This job can have long hours and crazy schedules,” Joy shared. “I remember making my youngest a bed at the office so I could get things done. My kids have seen me rise from financial ruin to achieving my dreams through hard work and determination. There’s nothing better in life than knowing your kids are proud of you.”

WE FIND SUCCESS WHEN BOTH RESPECT AND EMPOWERMENT ARE ESTABLISHED AMONGST OURSELVES AND OTHERS.

Joy loves traveling around the country, scuba diving, deep sea fishing, hiking in the mountains, and just about any other shared activity with her friends or family.

Dade and his wife, Amber, have four children — Vesper, 7, Terce, 5, Lauda, 1, and Prime, born June 2021. Dade is currently a semi-professional soccer player, avid skimboarder and a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Both Joy and Dade agreed that success is measured by the level of happiness achieved in their lives. “If we’re both happy and if all of our clients are happy, then we are the most successful team in the business,” Joy said. The two are notoriously competitive and often challenge each other to meet certain goals in and out of the office. Dade added, “We find success when both respect and empowerment are established amongst ourselves and others.”

OUR BUSINESS IS BUILT ENTIRELY FROM OUR SPHERE OF INFLUENCE AND REFERRALS.

Joy finds great comfort knowing that all her years of hard work will continue with her son. “It warms my heart that the DiMaggio name in the real estate business will grow and do great things for many years to come,” Joy said. “Who knows? It may continue on into the next generation with one of Dade’s children or any more grandchildren to come! Fingers crossed!”

Dade shared that his greatest professional reward is knowing that he and his mother built a solid business that will allow his mother to retire earlier than planned. “My mom will walk out on top of the business when she truly started at the very bottom,” Dade said. “I remember when she would have to reschedule showings because her car wouldn’t work properly. I’d watch her grind herself to the bone over a $900-lease deal — the same as she would do for a $2-million-purchase client. That’s my mom: never wavering, and true to the business as anyone has ever been.”

Joy DiMaggio & Dade DiMaggio -- TOP-PRODUCING MOTHER-SON TEAM