You Could Call It Fate

Both Erin Friedman and Tiffany Horwitz grew up with real estate in their blood. Erin is a second-generation Floridian who grew up in Parkland, Florida. Her mother was a real estate broker, and her grandfather was a prominent real estate attorney in Miami. After graduating from Florida State University with a degree in Human Sciences, she assisted friends with their search for rentals. This side gig evolved into selling homes to friends and family.

Tiffany knew from an early age that she wanted to be a realtor, sharing that it was her dream job. Growing up in Tampa, her family owns a lot of commercial and residential real estate, giving her an innate appreciation for the industry. Tiffany attended the University of Central Florida where she studied Business Administration and Marketing. Upon graduating, Tiffany spent ten years working in corporate America, specifically Wealth Management, before transitioning to real estate.

They began their real estate careers at separate brokerages before joining forces at Compass in 2019 and starting The Selling Suburbia Team. “We were close friends first and then we became business partners,” says Tiffany. Erin shares, “we actually would joke for years that one day we would work together in real estate.” Both women admit that they never thought it was going to be so soon or that the brand they established would grow into what it has so quickly, but it is obvious that this organic partnership was fate.

 

A Work of Passion

When they first established The Selling Suburbia Team, Compass was home to fifty agents. It is now home to over 3,000 agents. Since then, Tiffany and Erin have been ranked as “Top 100 Compass agents in Florida” on more than one occasion. “What we have accomplished in the past four years is amazing,” admits Erin.

When asked how they have been able to accomplish so much in such a brief time, both women share that they create benchmarks for themselves every year. They also admit that raising that benchmark each year while being moms has definitely been a balancing act, but they love every minute of it. “We both had previous careers that didn’t feel like this. This is our passion, our career, and our daily lives. I think it’s important for our kids to see that,” says Erin. Tiffany elaborates, “I always encourage my daughter to do what she loves. I just want her to have this feeling of loving what you do. I don’t ever want her to feel trapped in a job.”

While their obvious passion for real estate has helped them stand out amongst the top producers in the industry, the two biggest contributing factors to their success have been their natural drive and their positive approach to potential obstacles in any transaction. They are firm believers that no two transactions are alike just like no two clients are alike. Erin comments, “It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been doing this. You are dealing with different personalities and circumstances. You just have to be on your game.” Tiffany adds that it’s all about perspective, “I tell clients all the time when a property doesn’t work out, it literally means that the one that’s meant for you is just around the corner.”

 

Distinctively Different

In the real estate industry, your name is your brand quite literally. But Tiffany and Erin decided that they weren’t going to be The Tiffany Horwitz Team or The Erin Friedman Team. Instead, they opted for a different approach. “Selling Suburbia was a name that Erin came up with, and I instantly loved it. It fully depicts our area,” says Tiffany. Erin continues, “It was about selling in the burbs and making the burbs cool.” While these women have been at the forefront of transforming the perception of the Boca and Delray burbs, they have done far more than just make the suburban lifestyle cool.

For Tiffany and Erin, Selling Suburbia is more than just selling real estate in suburban neighborhoods. They are selling a lifestyle and establishing a brand built on concierge service. “We really give every client 100% of our attention. While we’re going through the transaction, it is a VIP service. The entire step of the way we are here to give you that experience that you should get. It’s us showing our listings. We are there; we are present at the showings. We don’t have anyone working for us, and we take pride in that,” explains Erin. Tiffany agrees, “You call us. You get us. You get our experience and our expertise. We know this area, and we get to know you. We figure out what makes sense for you, and that’s so important. It’s one of the biggest decisions in someone’s life.”

Fostering the agent/client relationship is a large part of what makes Selling Suburbia so successful. “It’s not just our clients going through this. We are going through it with them, and because we have been through this so many times, we are able to explain to them that it’s a temporary whirlwind,” explains Tiffany. Every transaction is as personal for these women as it is for their clients because they live and raise their families in the same suburbs where their clients are looking to buy. Because of their intimate knowledge of the central and west Boca/Delray area, they have become a hub of information for many of their clients long after the closing documents are signed and filed. “We become the go-to for our clients for anything and everything. They ask us for recommendations for everything from vendors to schools.” Erin seconds this, “it doesn’t just end when we close a sale. We are your connection to this next chapter in so many people’s lives. It’s a really amazing feeling when a family is settled here, and we remain friends, so I get to see their lives evolve.” As their numbers reflect, this connection is key. Tiffany is the top-selling resident realtor in Boca Bridges, and Erin is a staple of her community in Central Boca. These connections have assisted this dynamic duo in fostering an extensive network.

 

Out of Office

While both Erin and Tiffany will tell you that they do not idle well, they do fully enjoy their time away from work. They love traveling and spending time at the beach for some ocean therapy. Avid foodies, you can frequently find them enjoying a bite to eat at a local restaurant or hosting each other’s families at their homes. They are also very active in their communities both as sponsors and volunteers at local schools and sporting events.  Some of their favorite places to volunteer include Congregation B’nai Israel and Calusa Elementary School in Boca Raton. They also are the proud sponsors of the Selling Suburbia Sharks soccer team.

 

Expanding the Brand

As for what the future holds, there’s no need to fast forward five or ten years ahead because thrilling things are happening with The Selling Suburbia Team in the very near future. Tiffany and Erin are proud to announce that they are expanding. Erin excitedly shares, “We plan to expand to other markets and towns in Florida. Selling Suburbia is not just a Boca/Delray specific idea.” Tiffany adds, “We will always be here in our farm area, but we are expanding to other cities in Florida that have suburban areas by expanding our teams."