(Marc Cioffi)

When Marc Cioffi was growing up, he couldn’t imagine joining his family in the real estate business, despite his father and cousin’s efforts to lure him into the industry. 

“I never had much interest in real estate. I always wanted to become a police officer because I wanted to serve my community and make a difference,” says the broker of record of Sutton Group Kings Cross in Vaughan, Ont. “I’ve always had a strong protective drive.”

He joined the Toronto Police Service in 1999 and has had a long “very great career in all different aspects of policing,” says Toronto-born and raised Cioffi.

In 2016, his father, Lucio, began thinking about retirement and asked him to get his real estate licence as part of the succession plan for the business he had enjoyed for 35 years.

“I still wasn’t interested,” Cioffi says. But the good son took a holiday from his police career to study real estate. In-person training was required at the time. He got his licence in 2018.

“An easy transition”

Much to his surprise, during his studies, he realized he liked the legal aspects of the real estate profession. 

“It hooked me. I really enjoyed it,” he says. “The ethics and integrity aspect (of policing) serve me well, but the legal aspect is also beneficial. The legal documentation in both careers must be completed accurately and consistently with the law. I found that part to be a very easy transition.”

However, when he first started working as a realtor, Cioffi says he was “disappointed with the lack of ethics in the industry.” 

His wife, Maria, suggested he open a small brokerage that would allow him to control the type of company he wanted, one that would align value, integrity and ethics.

Taking the plunge

In 2020, he, his father, and cousin, Angelo, opened Kinsby Real Estate in Vaughan.

Next, Cioffi convinced his wife to get her licence. The family brokerage of four was busy. They didn’t recruit; instead working on their own to manage their client base, many of whom were first responders and had learned word-of-mouth about Cioffi’s special attention to their community.

Finding a niche

Cioffi says his law enforcement/first responder background adds a layer of trust and integrity that his like-minded clients want. “We chiseled out a niche,” he says.

Sutton Group Kings Cross offers discounts and services tailored to police officers, firefighters, paramedics, military personnel, and healthcare workers, and provides flexible scheduling with a team that’s available 24/7 to accommodate shift work. The brokerage has civilian clients as well, but most of them are referred by first responders.

Instead of specializing in a geographic area, the brokerage focuses on the needs of its clients. First responders don’t like to live where they work, Cioffi says. 

“They have a high tolerance for a higher commute.” That means his team helps clients buy and sell everywhere in Southern Ontario.

Finding a home for the agency

In 2024, it was time to explore adopting a brand name, so Cioffi and his wife interviewed several companies. “We ended up choosing Sutton Group and in January 2025 rebranded from a small brokerage to Sutton Group Kings Cross,” he says.

They chose Sutton Group because it’s a truly 100-per-cent Canadian brand and is a huge supporter of first responders through its charity work, he says.

It supports military relocation programs and has a referral program within the brand that makes transitions easier. They also liked Sutton Group’s client-centric business model. 

Everything, Cioffi says, aligns with his values.

Business is taking off

In part because of expansion supported by Sutton, Cioffi says that in six months, his brokerage has doubled in size.

 “When we started, there were two first responders (of four agents). We now have 12 agents. Six are first responders.” 

Cioffi says first responders have different needs. At his brokerage, “everyone who attends an open house is required to provide identification with a driver’s license. The normal civilian may think that’s not necessary, but for first responders, it’s their home and they have extra sensitivities to safety.”

To ensure everyone understands clients’ needs, “we have a three-stage interview process followed by a 90-day onboarding program where the individual will have tasks to complete.”

Much like the first-responder jobs that require a probationary period, the brokerage evaluates during onboarding to ensure the agents have what it takes to serve the community.

“To my knowledge, we’re the only ones who cater to first responders,” Cioffi says. 

“Sutton Group is so excited. They plan on implementing (a first-responders program) nationwide with special training to handle first responder clients.”

In addition to relying on referrals, the brokerage advertises in magazines and on websites, and on social media that cater to the first responders.

Giving back to the community

Sutton Kings Cross (currently based in Vaughan but soon to be moving to new digs in King Township) supports first responders through charity events such as Gloves Up, a boxing event that raises money for Beyond the Blue, which supports first responder mental health.

It also supports the annual Holly Jones golf tournament. Funds raised benefit the Dovercourt Girls and Boys Club. The company also sponsors police and fire sports teams.

“Don’t let anyone tell you ‘you can’t.’”

Anyone changing careers is likely to meet naysayers, but Cioffi offers this advice about making a career change: “Don’t let anyone tell you ‘you can’t’ transition from one career to another. That’s the person talking to you telling you they can’t. If you are passionate and motivated, you can be effective.” 

Connie Adair

Connie Adair is a contributing writer for REM.