Court-Side to Closing Table: Balancing Youth Coaching, Terps Fandom, and CRE Success

Spotlight on Chris Vondas of AdvisoRE LLC

Chris Vondas

Associate

Years with company/firm: 1

Years in field: 2

Years in real estate industry: 2

Real estate organizations/affiliations:

ICSC, Green Group

What is your greatest professional accomplishment?

My greatest professional accomplishment is closing a deal for one of my biggest mentors in the industry.

What is your most notable project, deal or transaction?

My most notable deal is the sale of 7929 Norfolk Ave. in Downtown Bethesda. Bethesda has a very low sales velocity and this particular deal had many obstacles to overcome and keep the deal on track prior to closing.

What impact has social media/networking had on your career?

Networking has had an immense impact on my career thus far. I try to position myself in different circles that allow me to meet different people in the real estate industry as well as adjacent industries. I’m pretty fortunate to be comfortable meeting new people and discussing what I do, which can be daunting at times. Social media outlets, mainly LinkedIn, have been helpful for me in initiating contact with people, as well as putting the pieces together as to who works with who and who’s closing which deals.

Tell us how and when you began your career in the profession you are in, about your current position and why you chose the field/profession you are in today?

I got my first glimpse of the brokerage world when I interned with my current firm the summer after my sophomore year of college. I then became a full-time broker about two years ago. I was ultimately drawn to the commercial real estate brokerage industry based on the opportunity to work with clients and professionals who’ve accomplished similar goals that I have in mind, as well as the potential to build my own business in a sense.

What challenges and or obstacles do you feel you needed to overcome to become as successful as you are today?

When I was first getting started, I was too focused on results as opposed to controllables such as how many calls I make in a day. Especially in a relatively tumultuous interest rate environment, you can easily set yourself up for failure by placing most of your emphasis on your income and how fast you’re going to obtain it. I believe I’ve found the most success when focusing on staying consistent with day to day boring tasks, which then compound over time into positive results. It can be extremely frustrating especially early on, but commercial real estate is truly a long run game.

What outside activities do you enjoy during you free time?

In my free time, I enjoy all things sports related and am an avid Washington, DC and Maryland Terps fan. I also enjoy traveling to beach destinations and volunteering as a youth basketball coach at my church, Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral.

What inspiring word of advice would you give to a young executive graduating from college?

It can be pretty daunting at the time, but I would encourage new graduates to try and see the big picture when applying and ultimately choosing a job. I would also say that your team and mentors are incredibly important for your growth, especially when starting out.