'From Land to Sea - Enzo Morabito' by R.B. Stuart

Originally published at http://www.hamptons.com

Real estate guru Enzo Morabito began swimming his way to success around 1972 when he became a lifeguard at Cupsogue Beach in Westhampton. “I loved the area,” Morabito said of his move to the area in his early 20’s. He was a lifeguard for 10 years, as well as an avid surfer. “I love the salt water and the Sound. We used to spear fish and surf even in the winter. I eventually became head lifeguard and that’s when I fell in love with reading books. It’s still an addiction, although now I listen to them on tape while I’m driving.” Morabito says a majority of his time is spent behind the wheel as he’s usually looking at properties, meeting clients, or driving to the North Fork office of Prudential Douglas Elliman [PDE] in Southold, where he’s ranked the #1 broker. “If I could look at any magical, wonderful time in my life - that was it.”

Morabito moved to Bellport from Italy in 1958 at the age of eight with his family. His father from Calabria, Italy and mother from Verona, were in the olive oil business as his ancestors had been for hundreds of years before. His extended family remains in Italy where they continue their long tradition of producing the family brand of olive oil.

He still visits his Motherland and says his work ethics are influenced by his Italian heritage. “In Italy, if you go back, all of our biggest aspirations are to be a Maitre d’. We love people and that’s where I get my people skills,” he admitted with delight and amusement.

To become the successful broker he is today, Morabito has had numerous professions, one being a Junior High School teacher in the Patchogue-Medford School system. He candidly recalls his seven years as a teacher, “I hated it! At first I loved it, but it wore out very quickly. I despised school and just couldn’t stand it anymore. I used to stare out the classroom window and ask myself, ‘what am I doing here?’ I couldn’t wait to get out.”

He was finally able to make the transition from teacher to night club owner when he bought The Barge on Dune Road. in East Quogue. “I met my future business partner there one day. I was all dirty and scroungy from replacing a toilet and a man walked in looking as filthy as me and said, ‘You must be the owner.’ From there we conjoined our efforts, my Maitre d’ people skills, his in finance and started a daytime disco, Summers Beach Club.” Morabito became a professional promoter for music acts and boxing matches, bringing the likes of Mike Tyson to closed circuit TV in the LI Metropolitan area (pre pay-per-view). He finally left teaching when the money he earned surpassed his annual teachers’ salary.

In 1981, as part owner, he purchased 35 acres of land in East Quogue for $350,000, which would become a polo club. Morabito found his love for horses through his best friend since childhood, Ted Oslager, who, with Ross Roper, would use the land to bring polo to East Quogue. “At that time I was getting tired of being a promoter. We were buying land and flipping it by sub-dividing, then re-selling them as lots.”

Morabito says horses were perfectly made. “A person belongs on their back…on them you feel like Attila the Hun. It’s amazing to be flying on something that has a spirit and mind of their own, unlike a motorcycle. I love and adore horses.” Morabito trained in jumping for two years and competed for six weeks in Palm Beach. These days, he rides whenever he can.

The Quogue Polo Club eventually became the Quogue Farm. Then a dozen years ago Morabito worked with Tundra Wolf on the lease that brought Southampton Polo Club to Bridgehampton. Since its inception Morabito has organized a party event at Bridgehampton Polo for friends and clients.

In the early 90’s Morabito began his own company, Sagaponack Real Estate, specializing in land. He branded himself, “Enzo Morabito – The Land Expert.” “I was always ahead of the curve. I have clear vision and know where the real estate market is going next. As soon as we ran out of land in the area [in 1996] I got into residential real estate.”

Over 11 years ago, he recognized opportunity on the North Fork, and has been bringing buyers from the Hamptons and Manhattan ever since. In 2004, while having a cup of tea with Dottie Herman, President of Prudential Douglas Elliman, he was asked to pioneer the effort of founding a Prudential presence on the North Fork. By opening the Southold office and spearheaded the acquisition of the former Celic Realty, integrating it into the Prudential network. He has established himself as the North Fork waterfront authority, and his waterfront listings represent close to 40% of all MLS waterfront properties over $1 Million. Morabito continues to service sellers and buyers in the Hamptons as well, working out of the Bridgehampton Office.

It was his early work experiences that has allowed him to oversee Team Morabito, a staff of five ranked #5 out of the 4,000-plus PDE agents. This has brought Morabito, an Associate Broker at PDE, numerous PDE real estate awards over the last three years. They are strongly motivated to be #1.

“I love what I do. I remember in the 1990’s, after a California earthquake, I picked Warren Beatty up at the airport to look at property in the Hamptons. He said something to me that still resonates, ‘You know what success is? It’s when you don’t know you’re working…you’re playing.’ That’s how I feel. I love my job.” Although there are challenges, “Getting the deal done. Keeping the deal together from the initial agreement is my forte.”

Working on both Forks gives Morabito an advantage and he does admit to a difference. “The Hamptons are more cosmopolitan. North Forker’s scoff about the velvet ropes in the Hamptons. The only velvet ropes the North Fork has are in the pharmacy. The North Fork will never become the Hamptons,” he jests at the speculation that the North Fork will be invaded by Uber-wealthy city folks, who’ll buy up the cheaper property, like a day of shopping at the 99 Cent store and build sprawling mansions.

“The North Fork is notoriously late to catch up. Whether the prices are going up or coming down, they’re always late, missing the opportunity. In the Hamptons there are limited resources in one of a kind high-end property. They’re buying the land and knocking the house down. So essentially, I’m still in the land business. We’re always looking for the right spot…a beautiful piece of land. The house on it isn’t even taken into consideration - it doesn’t exist,” the veteran broker says, admitting there will never be a price cap.

Customer service is utterly important to Morabito. “It’s the whole ball of wax. The key in this business is to treat them all like millionaires no matter how they dress. Our team lives by the motto: ‘failure isn’t fatal, success isn’t final.’ Not in this business - try new things.”

Even though there isn’t much time for his other passion: tennis. Morabito clearly has his priorities in order. “I went back to tennis with my eldest son playing three times a week during the winter. It was the best thing I could have done. In the summer I’m too booked to do anything.” He says of his first son, ‘he is the most wonderful son and father.’ “My wife is the love of my life. And my new little boy is the sunshine of my life. Every morning I feed and bath him…I’m not going to miss out on it this time, as I did with my first son,” he admitted with ease.

R. B. Stuart is an author, freelance writer, and columnist whose first love is poetry and letters. She specializes in human interest stories, artist profiles, essays, and memoir. In her two blogs she attempts to quench her search for truth:

http://writingsbyrbstuart.blogspot.com and http://sistersoldier.blogspot.com. She can be contacted by email at rbsnywriter@hotmail.com.