Thai-Speaking Real Estate Agent Builds Thriving Business Serving Palm Beach County Community

Written by:

Steve Marcinuk

Date:

29 Oct 2025

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The South Florida real estate market has become increasingly diverse, with agents finding success by serving communities that often lack representation. Nisachol DeVivo, a real estate agent with Marx Realty Group Inc, has established a unique niche as what she believes is the only Thai-English speaking agent in the region.

DeVivo’s journey to real estate began far from Florida. With a background in hotel and food management, she worked in five-star hotels across Dubai, Bangkok, and other international locations, even serving as a public relations officer for visiting dignitaries in Thailand. After moving to the United States, she owned a restaurant and ran her own Thai cooking school before transitioning to real estate.

“To be honest, you can make really good money in real estate,” DeVivo says about her career change. Her success, however, is rooted in serving a community that often faces language barriers during complex real estate transactions.

Serving the Thai Community

DeVivo’s bilingual abilities have become her strongest business asset. “I don’t see many real estate agents who speak English and Thai in South Florida. I would say that I might be only one,” she says. This unique position has generated a steady stream of referrals from the Thai community.

“Every time I go to the Thai temple or Thai social event, Thai people always trust me because I speak in their language to represent them,” DeVivo explains. Beyond language, she assists clients with technology challenges that can complicate modern real estate transactions. “People don’t really know how to use technology or DocuSign and all that, so I can explain them in Thai and make it easier for them.”

Her role extends beyond translation. DeVivo helps clients who do not speak English understand complex processes, making homeownership accessible to community members who might otherwise struggle to navigate the transaction.

Strategic Market Positioning

DeVivo has focused her business in Lake Worth and West Palm Beach, areas she considers undervalued compared to more expensive neighbors. “Lake Worth Beach is still really beautiful. It’s still underrated. It could be a quiet little gem that people don’t talk about much,” she observes.

Her approach reflects a clear understanding of local market dynamics. “West Palm Beach would be really overcrowded really soon, and people would move down to Lake Worth Beach.” Upcoming developments, including a new hotel, are expected to boost property values in the area, further enhancing its appeal.

Current Market Conditions

Like agents across Florida, DeVivo is navigating challenging market conditions, primarily driven by interest rates. “The home is not moving that much right now because the interest rate from the government is too high,” she says, noting current rates of around 6.75% compared to the 2.85% to 3.5% rates her clients enjoyed in 2016-2017.

In her market area, single-family homes priced at $650,000 and below are moving fastest, though even these properties typically remain on the market for more than 30 days. “If it’s a really good deal, could be two months. But if it’s a bad deal and the seller is not motivated, it could be more than a year,” DeVivo notes.

Inventory presents mixed signals. While prices have dropped about 30% from two years ago, inventory has increased by 30% over the past three years. “We have so many new construction that try to compete with the resale home, and nobody’s selling right now,” she observes.

Migration Patterns and Buyer Demographics

DeVivo’s client base reflects wider migration trends, with most buyers coming from New York. The reasons extend beyond weather to safety and economic factors. “A lot can sell the house in New York for a lot more money, and they can buy the house for less in Florida,” she explains. “If people don’t feel 100% safe in some area in New York, and people decide to sell the house.”

This migration has contributed to what DeVivo describes as overpopulation in South Florida. “Now we have traffic and overpopulation because a lot of people moving down to Florida,” she notes, though she expects future migration patterns to depend on political changes in source markets like New York.

Insurance and Cost Challenges

Florida’s insurance crisis is having a significant impact on DeVivo’s transactions. She cites an example of a $1 million home requiring $12,000 annually in homeowner’s insurance premiums. Rising property taxes and HOA fees add further barriers for buyers and sellers.

The situation has led to increased foreclosure activity. “You see some foreclosures coming up because once in a while I go to Palm Beach County auction calendar, and it’s so many houses that going to be on the auction,” DeVivo reports. She points out that Florida’s HOA laws are particularly strict: “Sometimes you only owe $5,000 from the HOA, and they can just sell your house in the market.”

Seller Expectations and Market Reality

One of DeVivo’s biggest challenges is managing seller expectations in a changed market. “The seller want the most money for the house, and the buyers also know that so many inventory in the market, and they don’t want to pay full dollars,” she says.

Even with multiple offers, sellers often reject bids that would have been acceptable in previous years. DeVivo describes reducing one listing price by 25% from the seller’s initial expectations, yet the owner was still reluctant to accept offers. “Last two years, example, you can get $1.2 million for your house, and now you can accept $750,000 for your house,” she illustrates.

Many sellers choose to wait rather than accept current market prices, hoping interest rate reductions will restore previous valuations. This creates a standoff, keeping inventory elevated and limiting transaction volume.

Market Outlook and Investment Advice

Despite current challenges, DeVivo remains optimistic about interest rate trends. “I totally believe it happened in less than two years” when asked about rates returning to 4%. She believes this would restart buyer activity and help clear existing inventory.

For investors and buyers, DeVivo recommends Delray Beach as the strongest market in Palm Beach County. “You can still find something small and you’re not going to lose money in Delray,” she advises. The area’s combination of restaurants, beaches, and consistent appreciation makes it her top recommendation for clients.

“Delray is never priced out, always going up,” DeVivo concludes, expressing confidence in the area’s long-term prospects despite current market headwinds.

Building a Sustainable Business

DeVivo’s success demonstrates how agents can build sustainable businesses by serving communities with specialized needs. Her bilingual skills, combined with competitive pricing and honest service, have created a referral-based model that continues to grow even in challenging market conditions. As South Florida’s demographics evolve, agents who can bridge cultural and language gaps are likely to find ongoing opportunities for growth and service.