When Cecilia Norbert (Direct Choice Realty, 300 City Island Avenue, City Island, NY) decided to relocate her real estate office from Allerton Avenue in the Bronx, she chose City Island. “I LOVE City Island,” she says enthusiastically. “I like the culture, the people, the family community.”
Cecilia’s other love is real estate. “I have a great passion for real estate,” she explains. “It’s everybody’s largest investment, and it’s a beautiful thing to be part of it, to see smiles on people’s faces when they achieve American dream.”
That passion developed over the years. In 2002, Cecilia was working as a manager at a clothing store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. She decided to purchase a home, and went to get a real estate license so she could know what was on market. “That’s why I got the license: to invest in real estate,” she explains. She waited the time necessary to become a broker, and worked in real estate offices in Yonkers and the Bronx. She eventually opened her own office on Allerton Avenue in the Bronx, and after 18 years, moved that office to 300 City Island Avenue on City Island in October 2023.
At Direct Choice Realty, Cecilia will tell you, “We do everything to do with real estate.” That includes home sales, rentals, and property management, on and off City Island, as well as training seminars and, occasionally, taking old houses and turning them into dream homes. With rentals, she looks out for the landlord as well, fully vetting clients so they do not have to worry. Results so far have been “amazing,” she says.
The team at Direct Choice Realty numbers 12, including Cecilia. “I love to train others in real estate,” she says, noting that she does training sessions every week, either via ZOOM or in person at her office. For that, she diligently keeps up with changes in real estate best practices.
On City Island, Cecilia is a frequent visitor to other shops and businesses, including her neighbors at the City Island Diner / The Snug (304-302 City Island Avenue, Bronx, NY) and down the street at Clipper Coffee (274 City Island Avenue, Bronx, NY).
“This was the best decision I’ve made in 20+ years in real estate – coming to City Island,” Cecilia concludes. “I feel at home, content.” And she hopes to make sure you too find a space where you feel right “at home.”
