Dina graduated from the University of Maryland with Magna Cum Laude Honors, majoring in Government and Politics. Since 2005, Dina has been known for her consistent service, extraordinary market knowledge, and responsiveness. “I see myself as a matchmaker between people and their most important asset, their homes.” Being constantly on the watch for the newest listings, she is determined to give the absolute best for her clients. As a result – Dina has ranked one of Miami’s top agents.

Russian born and Baltimore raised she says, “I was drawn to Miami because of the quality of living and moved there in 2004. I discovered instantly that I had found my place.” In 2021 Dina sold $750 Million. That breaks down to $2M+ sold per day / $14M+ per week.

What inspired you to begin your career in real estate?

In my twenties, I purchased my first apartment. Once I hired a real estate agent to help with the transaction, I watched him in action I quickly became hooked. I felt I had a natural ability to spot deals and an internal drive to ensure all my clients ended up satisfied. My career took off in the Miami Beach market, which continues to remain the cornerstone of my business.

Is there one person that believed in you right from the beginning of your career?

Jay Parker. He believed in me and saw my business going to $100M when I was doing $25M a year. He was right; I hit $100M in sales just a year after joining the Douglas Elliman team. He has been a real mentor and constant advocate for my success.

What was the first deal you closed in Miami?

A 2-bedroom oceanfront condo in The Beach Club Hallandale that I sold to my best friend’s mom for $385,000. That same unit today is worth triple her purchase price!

Is there a personal habit that contributes the most to your success?

I’m relentless with my follow up. 

What does a typical day look like for you? 

Working in the real estate industry is not your typical 9-5 job. You always have to be on your toes and ready for anything. I don’t organize my work by days; instead, I organize my work by the week, with a loose structure.

I try to make Monday my office day, Wednesday my work-from-home day, and keep the rest of the week open for listing appointments and meetings. My beauty sleep is very important – so I prefer to work late instead of wake up early. I’m up at around 7:45AM. Then emails start right away, Pilates and of course spend time with my son. No one in Miami enjoys calls before 9AM, but once the clock hits 9AM, it is madness – that is when the phone starts ringing.

The majority of my day is spent finding product, previewing listings for my clients and hunting new listings. Some days I have up to 30 property appointments – it’s nonstop. 7PM to 8:15PM is family time, then I’ll handle more emails and have calls with my West Coast clients, and plan for the next day. I’m in bed around midnight. I do my best to find balance throughout the week. If I have to work late one night I may sleep in the next, or if I’m working on a Saturday I’ll block off Sunday to spend time with my family.

How has becoming a mother impacted your career?

I feel more empowered, motivated and focused than ever. I had the best year in my career the year my son was born, and I plan for that to continue.

What deal are you are most proud of?

I had a buyer who fell in love with a particular house on Sunset Island. The property was not listed and the owner had been living there for 40 years. I knocked on the door and made the deal happen, representing both sides of the $30 million transaction.

In this market, with such tight inventory in the luxury sector, it’s all about matchmaking.

How has social media impacted your business?

Social media has been a major factor in my success in the ultra-luxury level. Since I launched my trademarked #StepInsideWithMe series, my Instagram has become an endless source of recognition and new business. Personality, persistence and on point production are the keys to maintaining a successful social media presence.

What tasks in your business do you delegate and what do you only handle by yourself?

I have come to terms with the fact that sometimes you can’t do it all, and it’s best to surround yourself with great people who you trust to get things done.

My incredible team supports me across administrative, operations, and marketing functions. I’m a bit of a micromanager, so I will still review and approve all integral final decisions.

If you were not working in real estate, what would you probably be doing?

I’m an entrepreneur at heart and I am passionate about being able to leverage my creativity – so I would probably be running a marketing consulting agency.

What is the biggest mistake you see buyers making?

Not accepting a Seller’s written counteroffer, if it’s within reason.

Who is an architect that you would love to work with?

Zaha Hadid. She was a visionary. I feel honored to have sold several units at her final project and one of South Florida’s most iconic buildings, One Thousand Museum. It’s a masterpiece.

When you first started your career, what do you wish you were told?

First – spending money on listings will always pay off.  Second – do not be afraid to ask for help. Between the networking, showings, deal-making, marketing, paperwork and more – there is so much work involved in each transaction. As you grow your business, you also need to grow your support team.

If there is something you don’t know, ask a mentor or a professional within your network. When you’re overwhelmed with work, build a team you can lean on. As a result, if you’ve built a trusted and reliable inner circle, you can propel your success to the next level.

What are some apps or software that you could not live without?

I use Dropbox and Docusign on deals every single day.

What is the biggest challenge for the modern agent?

Customer loyalty.

In the next year, what should we expect to see from Dina?

Continuing to achieve record prices for my sellers and find properties where I can create value for my buyers. My plan to break the current record of $75 Million for a Miami single-family residence sale.