Sal Esposito owes his happiness to his wife in many more ways than one.

 

Working with high-end jewelry, much of that for his family’s New York jewelry business, the highly successful REALTOR® with Intero Real Estate Services relates how it was his wife, Jayne, who nudged him into real estate.

 

“‘Sal, you need to get into real estate; you’ll be happy,’ she told me after getting her own New York real estate license back in 2002.”

 

“Up until that point,” he says, “I thought happiness came from family, friends, bible fellowship—not from work, at least not for me.”

 

But beginning in 2003 he decided to put his wife’s contention to the test, found out it was true, and awards, professional recognition, and sales success followed.

 

Two of those most recent honors include being in the top 1% of both Silicon Valley REALTORS® as well as the top 1% of Santa Clara County REALTORS®.

 

Key to his success, he says, are his faith and his family, including his daughter Vanessa who is a behind-the-scenes powerhouse who keeps his business running smoothly, freeing up his wife, Jayne, for a very special and rewarding job. More on it shortly.

 

Sal says when Vanessa got her real estate license at the end of 2021 and joined the business, she opted to work behind the scenes rather than at a glitzy sales job. “She prefers doing the fun stuff.”

 

Vanessa concurs. “I enjoy things that are hands-on so I like having concrete tasks, for example, paperwork and marketing to name just a couple.”

 

Before joining her Dad, she had earned a degree in hospitality management and business from San José State University and worked in retail management and event sales. But she wanted more. “I wanted the freedom of working as an independent contractor for the flexibility, but still wanted that sense of direction and instruction from someone, which is why I chose and still choose to work with my Dad,” Vanessa says.

 

“The life and business lessons I’ve learned from Dad began way before working with him in real estate, and have been great as far as setting me up for success,” she says. “I truly believe my work ethic and desire to serve was instilled in me just by watching him when I was young and tying that into my day-to-day life.” 

 

As for Sal, he attended Pace University in White Plains for general studies before attending bible college, receiving an associate degree in Theology.

 

That followed the profound moment in his life when in 1980 he accepted Christ. "It wasn’t a religious experience but it was a change of heart and purpose,” Sal says. “I began working whole heartily unto the Lord and not unto men. I was no longer a people pleaser. Whether my supervisors were looking or not, I chose to work hard, work honestly, and work ethically as I knew I should do.”

 

“And there was a tremendous freedom available to me when I realized I didn’t have to be perfect, didn’t have to be No. 1, and no longer needed to be anxious as to what was ahead.” 

 

Later he and Jayne would end up in Boise, Idaho, for a couple of years before moving to Los Gatos for eight years and now residing in South County. Sal didn’t immediately return to real estate full-time when they moved to Los Gatos but worked in sales at a luxury jewelry store.

 

Anytime he thought about picking up his real estate career full throttle again, he says the business’s owners would beg him, a top associate requested by many customers, to stay. “So after three times of trying to quit the jewelry store where I was only supposed to be for one year, I finally made the jump.”

 

And while he believes his integrity has certainly contributed to his success, he feels it is more than just that.

 

“I go way above and beyond in serving people and am proud of all the client feedback and Zillow reviews backing that up,” he says. “Additionally, I will personally help stage, clean, and pack up my clients’ homes when they’re moving without hiring it out and without them paying extra for things that I am happy to do for them.”

 

Away from the workday, Sal says life couldn’t be better.

 

“I’m married to my best friend for 39 years. We have three wonderful God-fearing children and so far one grandchild.”

 

The couple loves traveling, both at least once a year as a couple and once a year as a family. Places they’ve visited include Italy, France, Spain, Gibraltar, Greece, Montenegro, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Texas, up and down the East Coast, up and down the West Coast, and Yellowstone National Park. At the time of this interview, they were getting ready for a trip to Alaska.

Joining Jayne and Sal on family trips are their youngest daughter, Vanessa, their oldest daughter, Tiffanie, their middle son, Joseph, their son-in-law, RJ, and their granddaughter, Aria.

 

Joseph has Down Syndrome, Sal says, adding that when Vanessa joined his business, she freed Jayne up to do what mothers do best: love and care for their children.

 

That love for their children and others is a sentiment both Sal and Jayne feel in their hearts.
 
Perhaps Vanessa says it best. “I especially admire my Dad’s longing to help people. He has a very caring and tender heart, and he uses it well. It’s his best tool. Everyone who knows him knows that when they need genuine advice, help, and/or guidance, he is the first person they should go to.”