My real estate journey may be a little different than you might have imagined. For those of you who know my Mom, Shelley Caniglia (a.k.a. the Grand Dame of North Central Phoenix real estate), you probably assumed that following in her footsteps was a given for me. Well, it didn’t exactly happen that way. My brothers and I were raised as adventurous and independent thinkers, and my earliest career musings were about becoming a dentist like my Dad or a veterinarian due to my love of animals. Initially, I chose a completely different path – my adventures in real estate came much later.
How It All Began
After college, my wife and high-school sweetheart, Carly, and I made the move to San Diego, then Austin. We loved living in Austin, but I knew the industry I was in at the time wasn’t something I wanted long term. Then one day back in 2004, I got the call from my Mom that changed everything. As most of you know, Shelley has been a realtor since 1983 and is the founding member of The Caniglia Group. While chatting, I mentioned that I was looking for new opportunities. Many of you will remember that the 2004 Phoenix real estate market was just starting to explode. Shelley explained that her team was ready to expand and encouraged me to make the move from Austin to join her in the real estate business. Carly and I hadn’t thought about moving before that call, but after many discussions we realized it was too good of an opportunity to pass up. And just like that, my adventures in real estate began!
The Next Step
I had found a great career, now it was time to find a great home. Carly and I both grew up in 1950’s ranch-style homes and loved the green, flood irrigated neighborhoods throughout Central Phoenix. In addition, we were drawn to the charm of historic homes. We initially bought in the Biltmore area, but then discovered Windsor Square – it was love at first sight. With the curved streets, mature landscape, varied architecture, and family-friendly community, Carly and I couldn’t imagine a better place to raise our two young boys, Leo and Bodie. We’ve been loving life in Windsor Square since 2012.
A Bump in the Road
As with everyone else, the last year created some unique challenges and opportunities for me both personally and professionally. When COVID hit, I was bracing for a difficult year in real estate and immediately started thinking of ways we could adjust our business plan. We’d just expanded our group by hiring two amazing people – transaction coordinator Gwen Arroyo and showing agent Samantha Chiles – and were gearing up for a great year. While things did slow down initially, by May the shock of what was happening seemed to wear off a bit and our business managed to pick right back up where we left off. Our team listened to our clients’ needs, got creative, and figured out ways to safely continue our real estate business. And with the influx of out of state buyers and historically low interest rates, 2020 ended up being one of the strongest years in real estate the Valley has seen.
My Adventures in Real Estate Continue
It’s been 17 years since our Austin move and I couldn’t fathom being in any other industry than real estate. I love that every day brings something new, and that unpredictability keeps me on my toes! I also love the mobile nature of this business, and the ability to experience the varied architecture and intricacies of different parts of the Valley. However, what I cherish most about real estate is the relationships with my clients. My goal is to have every one of my clients for life, not just one or two transactions. I often get to know my clients’ kids, their parents, their pets and their friends, and those personal connections are invaluable to me.
As a partner of The Caniglia Group, I’m proud to bring my years of hard-earned knowledge and a team of seasoned agents with a vast array of expertise to each of my transactions. After the countless Zoom meetings, virtual school for our boys, and wondering when we’d be able to safely spend time with loved ones again, I certainly wouldn’t have predicted what an amazing year it turned out to be. With that being said, I’m grateful for everything I learned, for my family, for my clients that continue this journey with me, and for my fabulous team.
Cheers to you and your family and thank you for being part of our lives.
Steve Caniglia
Do you have real estate questions? I’m happy to help! Contact me at 602-301-2402 or steve@thecanigliagroup.com
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