Aaron and Annika Bongiorno: What it's like working with your spouse in Sydney real estate

A routine sales meeting eventually led to marriage and three children for Aaron and Annika Bongiorno. The principals at Stone Real Estate McMahons Point – who both once harboured dreams of becoming photographers – share a passion for property and spending time with their sons Hugo, Luca and Zack.

Where did you grow up?

Annika: I was born in London and we moved back to Mosman when I was one. I was very sporty at school but I wasn’t academic. I wanted to be a sports photographer. I’m a classic middle child; the black sheep.

Aaron: I grew up in Melbourne. I wanted to be a photographer, too. I was going to go further with my photography studies but in the back of my mind was the thought that it didn’t matter what course you had done, it was about who you knew. I didn’t know the right people.

How did you get into real estate?

Annika: I studied communications at UTS and did a postgraduate diploma in advertising. In my late 20s, I started in the marketing department at McGrath’s head office. When I’d been there about three months, one of the leading agents asked me to come and work in sales. I was in the right place at the right time.

Aaron: One of my eldest brother’s best mates had gone into real estate and was doing really well. He said I should come and speak to his boss. I was at that agency for about eight years. I bought my first property when I was 20. I spent a few years in Brisbane when I was approached about a sales manager job at McGrath Lower North Shore in Sydney.

Annika: He was my sales manager. I was a good student.

Aaron: I was really pleased with your results.

Was it love at first sight?

Annika: It was! I remember coming in late, as I always did, to a sales meeting. He was sitting very close to me and I thought, he looks pretty good. He did catch my eye. We now have three boys: Hugo, who’s 11, five-year-old Luca and Zack, who’s three. The boys and real estate are our life. Three years ago, we opened the first franchise of Stone Real Estate, with an office in McMahons Point. We’re also halfway through building our dream home at North Curl Curl.

What’s your most memorable sale?

Annika: Someone in real estate once told me that I’d never make it because I’m a woman and a mother. I wanted to prove them wrong. I never liked to admit that I was pregnant, in case people considered it a disadvantage. No matter how hot it was, I’d be dressed in an overcoat and a scarf, trying to hide it. One client did actually say, “Oh, for goodness’ sake, I know you’re pregnant.”

Two weeks before Zack was born, we sold a house in Wollstonecraft. It still holds the suburb record. When you’re pregnant, you can still do this job. You’re still the agent you’ve always been.

What are each other’s greatest professional strengths and weaknesses?

Annika: Aaron is an amazing negotiator. People really like him. As for weaknesses, he can be stubborn and doesn’t always think I’m right!

Aaron: When there’s a deal to be done, she has the patience and the finesse to get it together. As for professional weaknesses, really none come to mind.

Annika: What happens behind the scenes stays behind the scenes!