Bootstrapping a career is no easy feat particularly as an immigrant to the United States in one of the most sought-after, price-point prohibiting landscapes in the nation. Building upon the angst-filled teenage years, Niko Cejic turned to a roadtrip and some construction under his belt and founded the way to turn his post-college football career into becoming a sought-after agent on the East End.
My parents brought my sister and I to the United States when I was 14 years old. After that, I was spending summers in Serbia and most of the year in Binghamton, NY. It was a huge culture shock. Then at 22 years old, I packed up my car and moved to the Hamptons, without even knowing where I was heading to!
I watched my mom pay the mortgage every month and it was more than half of her monthly income. The thing that truly opened my eyes was that she was going to have to do that for 30 years! We were immigrants and had never had to pay for housing in the old country because we lived in the same home as my great-grandparents once did. I saw that you can buy a house at auction for very little money and renovations would also be affordable. I realized this would be a workaround to making monthly payments for the rest of your life. It sounds simple and it really is that simple!
You also helped build your family home while in college. How deep does construction play a part in your life and business?
My family and I were just farmers in Serbia, but I always aspired to build and do construction. So I decided, why not learn on my own? After renovating my family home, I started understanding what it took. Now, I know it inside out, not just on the surface. I always envision for my clients where they can add value and how certain updates can be done structurally. Also, I know which homes would be good value based on what can be done to them to maximize the potential and produce the best return on investment.
Do you think that buying real estate as a kid and working in construction has helped you as a luxury real estate agent?It has allowed me to stand out amongst my peers at a younger age because my clients who are buying luxury homes do not always have time to focus on where they can add value. They trust my opinion and experience. When you are just starting out and have more qualified agents competing with you, a young creative mind goes a long way! The one advantage that I got from working in construction was understanding the importance of detail and having character.
What did you study in college?
I graduated from SUNY Morrisville with a Bachelor’s in Business. Since I technically graduated as a junior, I spent the last semester finishing my football season and taking the construction classes that they offered.
With all the brokerages available to you, why did you choose Douglas Elliman as yours? What do they offer that resonated with you?With so many brokerages in the real estate industry, it was important to pick the right one that fits my brand. Elliman offers great technology along with a reputable brand that has been through all types of markets. The well-structured and high-end brokerage is what helped me excel and stand out amongst other competitors when going after listings. Another reason I was pulled to Elliman was having a larger network across the luxury U.S. market.
With interest rates having doubled in recent months, do you think it will or has it affected the East End?The problem has become where we have too many listings above $3M-$5M and not enough affordable listings under $1M or even $2M anymore. We have too many buyers under $3M, but not enough above the $5M+ price point. When people say that we have an inventory shortage, I disagree. We have an affordable inventory problem.