30: His Magic Number
Upon earning his bachelor's degree in finance at Youngstown State, Jason Altobelli knew exactly what he wanted to do. He jumped into the family real estate business, where he increased sales by 30 percent the first year. Since then he has consistently ranked in the top 5 percent of agents in Trumbull County, managing between 70 and 90 listings at any given time and producing more than 10 percent sales growth year-on-year. Combine that with starting a successful property rehab business with his brother—and reaching his personal goal of owning 30 properties by the age of 30—and Altobelli admits, "I'm full tilt. I'm all in."
From REOs to Historic Landmarks
In these tough times, Altobelli has found success by serving the REO and short sale market. But that's far from all he does: The transactions he's most proud: selling a historic building in downtown Youngstown and selling the personal residence of U.S. Congressman Tim Ryan (D-Ohio).
Don't Play Games
Altobelli credits his successes to his simple, straightforward approach. "I'm pretty basic, no sales gimmicks. It's all about common sense and getting the job done with no tricks." However, this distance runner won't rest on his laurels. "It's a great honor [to be named a "30 Under 30"], but I also know the next step is the next day. My motto is 'You're only as good as your last deal.'"