Joe Niego
Buffini & Company Presenter
Veteran Real Estate agent Joe Niego grew up in a blue-collar family on the Southside of Chicago. As a youngster, he worked in his family cement business where he learned that the quality of your work is the best possible advertising. Niego attended Lewis University and played basketball alongside his three brothers. Although he majored in marketing, his ultimate dream was to play in the NBA. After being pursued by several teams in the league, that dream came true in 1987 when he was the second draft choice of the Houston Rockets.
At the end of his playing career, Joe put the same drive and determination, along with his love for hard work and a desire to make a difference, into his real estate career. He soon found that the intense basketball workouts of his past were a walk in the park compared to generating leads by cold-calling or mass advertising. But as always, Joe rolled up his sleeves and got down to business. He realized that the industry wasn’t just about closing transactions and moving on, but that referred leads and repeat customers were more enjoyable to work with and provided the most profit for his business.
Joe excelled in the industry and quickly became a top producer for national real estate companies. He once listed 30 homes in 30 days, and three times in his career, he pended over 30 transactions in a month! In 1994, he opened Niego Real Estate and has served over 2,600 families on the Southside of Chicago, almost all by referral. Because he helped so many buy or sell a home, Joe was even featured in the Chicago Historical Society Museum as a highlight of their CityScape exhibit.
In 1992, Joe met Brian Buffini and with a shared philosophy of exceeding clients’ expectations, the two became good friends. Joe and Brian co-created the sales training program 100 Days to Greatness® and co-authored the book Work by Referral. Live the Good Life! Joe also developed the proven Mayor Campaign dialogue and is a sought-after Buffini & Company presenter.
With over 20 years experience in the real estate industry, Joe Niego is still in the trenches at Niego Real Estate. He lives in Chicago with his wife Julie and their five sons.