In 2020, Benny “Kevin” Yento, a sales associate at Coldwell Banker Realty, made headlines when he completed the highest-priced home sale in Bridgewater in a decade. The 14-room estate on nearly seven acres at 1400 Mountain Top Road closed for $1,775,000—the most expensive home sale in Bridgewater since 2010. Yento sold the home in only 10 days, which was the fastest sale among Bridgewater homes at that price point or above in the last 10 years.
But for Yento, it was all in a day’s work.
Born in Indonesia, Yento launched his real estate career in 2011. “I have had motivation since I was a child. I know my goals,” he says. “Real estate has been my passion since I came to the United States. I started with Coldwell Banker and have remained with them since. The Coldwell Banker brand shares and supports my professional goals and together we have forged a long-term relationship of trust and respect.”
Since then, Yento has built a team of associates who demonstrate the same high standards he sets for himself: solid real estate knowledge, delivering quality service consistently and building a network of loyal contacts through honesty, integrity and trust.
Yento adheres to three core values: sincerity, discretion and persistence. “When I list a property, I am direct and honest with my clients. I know what it takes to attract multiple offers at the highest price,” he says. “Preparation, marketing and negotiation are key to bringing my clients the best results. Buying and selling a home is the biggest investment in someone’s life.
It’s important for clients to feel comfortable with me from the start.”
His efforts have garnered him numerous awards, including The New Jersey Realtors Circle of Excellence’s “Platinum Level Award” and New Jersey Monthly Magazine’s “Five Star Rating.” Over the past 11 years, he has sold over $335 million in residential listings, and last year he totaled over $79 million in residential revenue.
Yento, a Bridgewater resident, is an expert on Bridgewater and Bedminster. He primarily works as a seller’s agent in Somerset, Middlesex and Hunterdon counties with team members serving as buyer’s agents.
He prices each home right and markets it early and broadly, paying sharp attention to staging. “You can only impress someone once,” he explains. Clients are attracted to his accessibility and attention to detail throughout the process—down to the hand-fluffed pillows before an open house. He uses a photographer who creates images with high-definition quality to best showcase the homes.
His acute sense of “what buyers want” guides clients in how sometimes even small improvements can make a huge difference. For example, a fresh coat of paint, beautiful furniture and landscaping are easy upgrades that can elevate a home for sale. “The landscaping is the first impression potential buyers have when they come to your house,” he says. For homeowners looking to sell eventually, Yento says an investment in upgrading kitchens and bathrooms is money well spent. “If the kitchen and bathrooms are beautiful, buyers are more inclined to overlook other items, such as windows or flooring,” he says.
And yes, Yento adds, the crazy stories you’re hearing about the real estate market are true. “I can get upwards of 10 offers immediately on homes,” he says. "The market is moving very fast and buyers are willing to pull out all the stops to essentially win the competition for the house. From appraisal waivers to limiting inspections, we have seen it all.”
He sees most of the higher-end listings coming from Bridgewater. “People are upsizing from $700,000 homes to over $1 million,” he says.
Buyers are coming from areas like Union County, Edison, Manhattan, Brooklyn and Staten Island, enticed by what Bridgewater has to offer. “The town has an excellent school system, is a diverse community and people from urban areas can get more outdoor space,” he says. “In addition, there are amenities like Lifetime Fitness, Whole Foods and two Home Depot locations.” Other attributes that make Bridgewater attractive include easy access to train stations in Bridgewater, Somerville and Raritan, which makes commuting into New York easy, and its proximity to the airport.
“What I love the most is being able to help people achieve their dream of home ownership,” Yento says. “Whether it is negotiating the best deal for a buyer or selling properties to get the highest possible price.”
View Yento’s properties at somersetcountyhomesnj.net.