When you engage with a business, do you ever wonder what the human part of their backstory is? To shed some light on this, we called Brian Rizzo, owner/broker at Coldwell Banker Rizzo Mattson, Realtors®. Here’s the personal and family story Brian shared with us.
A Remarkable Conversation Between Father and Son
“The wonderful thing about our company history is that it’s my family’s history,” Brian says. Brian remembers one particular conversation with his dad in 1983 that changed both their lives forever.
“It was a remarkable conversation,” he says. “I have always been close to my dad, and I remember him saying, ‘Let’s have a conversation about BOTH of our futures.’ Dad had been an auto dealer, but that night he revealed his passion was for real estate.”
Within a short time, Brian’s dad co-founded Ross, Rizzo & Hanna Real Estate which ultimately became Coldwell Banker Rizzo Mattson, Realtors®.
Brian’s Homecoming in Augusta, Maine
After Brian graduated from Babson College in Boston in 1996, he says there was some temptation to stay in Boston. “But not MUCH temptation,” he laughs, “I quickly decided the big-city life was not for me.”
Why was that?
“I just missed Maine too much,” he responds. “Mainers know exactly what I’m talking about. For me, Maine—and the Augusta area in particular—has always been a ‘natural fit.’ I know the area, I know its people, and I have so many friends here. I’m enthusiastic about all the great things central Maine has to offer.”
Part of that enthusiasm was his own personal interest in real estate, and Brian proudly remembers the day in February 2001 when he joined the family business. “I was so lucky to join a company my dad had grown into one of Augusta’s most stable, trusted, and rooted-in-Maine-values businesses.”
Asked about those values, he responds, “People in greater Augusta and throughout Maine are very community-oriented, very service-oriented. Most people here have great personal ethics; they want to do what’s right.”
A Brighter Future in Augusta
Turning from his family’s past, Brian takes a moment to reflect on the present and the future.
“Despite the pandemic, we’ve actually had a great year. As we approach a Thanksgiving holiday unlike any other, this year’s real estate success is among the things we are deeply thankful for. I attribute it to historically low interest rates and the opportunity to help lots of motivated folks who wanted to buy and sell homes—including many from out-of-state. And who can blame them? With all we have to offer, who WOULDN’T want to live in the Augusta area?”
Do you have questions and/or need friendly, professional advice regarding selling a home or buying a home in the Augusta, Maine area? We’d love to help, and invite you to contact us today.
