Sometimes you need to take a step back to see the path forward. In each venture I’ve undertaken, the lessons I learned became the foundation for what came next. 

 

Retirement sounded great in theory, but the reality was far different than we expected. I thought I was ready to slow down after 20 years of building businesses all while raising our son. But when I slowed down, every day started to feel the same. I was bored, restless, and directionless. I’d always been driven, and suddenly I didn’t know what to do with all that energy. I realized I still had more to give.

 

 Before that moment, I’d spent years building a life and career from nothing. I came to New York from Shanghai when I was 19. I put myself through college as a math major with a computer science minor but quickly realized I couldn’t sit behind a computer all day. I ended up in life insurance after someone tried to sell me a policy. I stayed in business for seven years. Back then, it was all cold calling and walking door to door. I visited a ton of Chinese restaurants in New York City, sometimes going into neighborhoods I didn’t even realize were dangerous until much later. But I was focused, and in selling one of the hardest things, I learned invaluable lessons.

 

 After that, I opened a carpet store. When I got pregnant, I sold it and shifted into imports and exports. I borrowed money from my grandfather and started selling low-cost goods to dollar stores, then wholesalers, and eventually to big retailers like Walmart, Target, CVS, and Ross. I opened my own factory in China and negotiated licensing deals with companies like Nickelodeon, Warner Brothers, and Live Nation. The business grew fast, but it also came with huge financial risks. Every account was on credit; the cash flow burden was tremendous. By the end of 2009, my husband and I decided to do business on a much smaller scale.

 

During that time, I started going to the gym and one day joined a Zumba class. From there, I wanted to learn more about dancing, so I found a ballroom studio and signed up for lessons. What started as a curiosity turned into over a decade of competitive Latin dance where I still compete at the pro-am level. It gave me back my energy and purpose.

 

 At that studio, I met a lady who was brilliant, sharp, and full of humor. Despite never finishing high school, she built a career managing hundreds of millions of dollars at Merrill Lynch. She left an abusive marriage, raised two children, and rebuilt her life on her own terms. Her story inspired me—I still had a lot to give the world. 

 

That’s when I got into real estate. I joined Daniel Gale Sotheby’s and connected with a major investor. I started helping manage their portfolio of investment properties, including everything from rental apartments to commercial buildings. The work was hands-on. I dealt with tenant leases, oversaw renovations, and learned how to resolve permit issues or building code problems.

 

Later, I came across a Nassau County auction list and showed it to the investor. We started buying distressed properties, fixing them up, and either flipping or renting them. Between 2018 and 2019, we bought over 80 houses—around 80 million dollars in investments—and I handled most of the sales myself.

 

 All of my experiences, from insurance to imports to real estate investing, allow me to bring real insight and perspective to every client I work with. I guide people through real decisions with the same care and strategy I’ve used to build my own life. It’s never too late to start something new, and it’s never too late to bring value to others. This isn’t just a job. It’s a way to keep growing, keep giving, and keep doing what I love.

  

With extensive experience in property management, commercial leasing, and investment strategy, I bring a hands-on, results-oriented approach to real estate. I work across a range of property types, from single-family homes to multi-family properties, mixed-use buildings and shopping centers, helping clients identify opportunities and make informed decisions.

 

 I specialize in auction consultation for buyers seeking under-market properties and have helped investors successfully acquire, renovate, lease, and resell dozens of properties. My background in real estate investment allows me to evaluate deals with a clear eye for risk, timing, and long-term value. As an expert negotiator, I’m comfortable navigating complex transactions and advocating for my clients at every step.

 

My entrepreneurial experience has sharpened my ability to manage operations, adapt quickly, and negotiate with strategy and confidence. Having lived in the area since 1987, I have extensive market knowledge understanding what sets each neighborhood apart, how to find the right properties for my buyers, and how to position listings to appeal to the right audience. Above all, I bring straightforward, experience-backed advice with a focus on achieving real results and adding value to the process.

 

 Sincerely,

 

 

Vivian Mao