RSS FeedTop Dix Hills real estate agent Ron Starantino leverages Wall Street trading background, Hollywood motorcycle consulting experience, and extreme competitive discipline to secure top-dollar results for home sellers across Long Island. In Season 4, Episode 1 of the Work Hard, Play Hard and Give Back podcast, broker owner Mike Litner interviews Starantino on his unique career trajectory, high-stakes negotiation strategies, and passion for community involvement.
Episode Highlights:
- Wall Street Negotiation Tactics: How trading floor intensity at 14 Wall Street translates into relentless price advocacy for Long Island property listings.
- Hyper-Local Coverage: Maintaining high-end expertise across the region from Queens and the North Shore all the way out to Montauk.
- Small Business Advocacy: Scaling Long Island's largest Business Network International (BNI) chapter to over $10 million in annual closed local business.
- Giving Back: Deep personal commitment to veteran charities including the Boot Campaign and local causes.
From Wall Street Floor Trading to Hollywood Sets
Before becoming an award-winning agent at Coldwell Banker American Homes, Ron Starantino navigated the high-stakes trading floors of Lower Manhattan. As a principal at 14 Wall Street holding level-three market-making trading privileges, Starantino handled immense financial volume during the 1990s and early 2000s.
Following his career in finance, Starantino transitioned into high-end motorcycle customization and celebrity brand management. He served as vice president for major lifestyle brands and build teams, working alongside iconic figures like Gene Simmons of KISS, Nickelback, and Orange County Choppers.
His work eventually led him to Los Angeles, where he spent 11 years on Hollywood production sets. He served as both a cast member and technical motorcycle consultant on hit television series, including Sons of Anarchy.
"I'm a salesman at heart. I have no problem asking for money... I find out the 'why', which is more important sometimes than the 'how' or the 'what'. If you tell me your family lives two doors down, you're not losing a house over a couple of dollars. That's where I can keep going back to get my seller their dream price."
Applying Fearless Negotiation to Dix Hills & Long Island Listings
Starentino notes that his diverse background taught him to never back down during complex real estate transactions. Rather than settling for initial offers, he relentlessly advocates for his listing clients by identifying buyer motivations and pushing for maximum valuation.
Whether navigating competitive multi-offer bidding wars in gated Dix Hills communities or listing properties near the Northern State Parkway, Starantino emphasizes that price advocacy separates average agents from top producers. His proactive communication prevents deals from falling apart during contract periods or inspection phases.
Host Mike Litner emphasizes that home sellers frequently make the mistake of shopping purely by commission rates rather than agent skill. An agent with superior negotiation capabilities routinely secures thousands of dollars above the asking price, far outweighing minor fee differences.
Hyper-Local Reach: From Manhattan to Montauk
While rooted in the Coldwell Banker American Homes Dix Hills Office, Starantino's footprint spans all of Long Island. He operates seamlessly across diverse regional markets, from co-ops and multi-family units in Queens to luxury coastal properties in Montauk.
Navigating major thoroughfares like the LIE, the Northern State, and the Southern State allows him to keep a direct pulse on multi-county inventory listed through OneKey MLS. He treats every property with extreme detail, whether it is a starter home in Ronkonkoma or an estate on the North Shore.
Competitive Athletic Discipline and Local Business Leadership
Long before entering real estate, Starantino achieved elite athletic success as Mr. Long Island in 1990 and an East Coast bodybuilding champion. Training alongside Mr. America Tom Terwilliger taught him that consistent daily work yields long-term success.
That same work ethic propelled his leadership in local business networking. Taking over a struggling local BNI chapter, Starantino applied structured discipline to grow the group from 26 members to 115 members.
Under his seven-year tenure as president, the chapter became the only Platinum BNI chapter in the world, generating over $10.3 million in verified closed business for local mom-and-pop vendors in a single year. This community impact earned him the "Man of the Year" honor at the Power Move Gala.
"What do you do when you get to the top? You reach down and you pull others up. Anything good that's ever happened to me has been through trying to help somebody else."
Philanthropy and Veteran Advocacy
Giving back forms an essential pillar of Starantino's daily life and business philosophy. Through personal connections made on production sets with Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell, Starantino became a dedicated ambassador for the Boot Campaign.
This national veteran organization directs proceeds directly toward housing, medical care, and wellness support for returning military service members. Starantino regularly sports signature military combat boots during public appearances to raise awareness and funds for combat veterans and military families.
In addition to national military support, he stays actively involved in local Long Island initiatives. He frequently organizes charity motorcycle rides and supports food distribution programs through Long Island Cares.
Planning Your Next Long Island Real Estate Move
Whether you are planning to sell a home on the South Shore or searching for luxury properties across Suffolk and Nassau counties, partnering with an experienced negotiator is critical. Coldwell Banker American Homes provides industry-leading tools to help home sellers evaluate their equity and assist buyers in planning their next move.
Sellers can discover their property's market value using the official CB Estimate Valuation Tool. Buyers planning a relocation across towns can utilize the interactive MoveMeter Tool to evaluate cost-of-living metrics.
Episode FAQ
How does Ron Starantino's background on Wall Street help Long Island home sellers?
Ron Starantino spent years as a level three market-making trader at 14 Wall Street. This fast-paced trading floor background instilled a fearless negotiation style where he focuses on identifying buyer motivations to secure maximum price points for his property listings.
What geographic areas does Ron Starantino cover across Long Island?
Ron Starantino operates under the rule of serving clients "from Manhattan to Montauk". Based in the Dix Hills office, he regularly represents residential properties, co-ops, and multi-family homes spanning Queens, the North Shore, the South Shore, and the East End.
Why is local business networking and community involvement critical to real estate success?
As former president of Long Island's largest BNI chapter, Ron Starantino helped generate over $10 million in local business transactions annually by adopting a "givers gain" mindset. Building strong local business relationships creates a reliable network that supports clients and strengthens neighborhood economies.