Community Highlights: Meet Joséphine Saffert of Sapphire Development Group

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joséphine Saffert. 

Hi Joséphine, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As a 29-year-old immigrant from Germany, I never thought that one day I’d be contributing to building a major city like Nashville. Growing up, that was just this young girl’s “big dream”, but I’m so glad I was able to chase after it. 

I came to the U.S. in 2011. I got a scholarship running D1 track and field at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville. I was a whole 7 time zones behind my family in Germany and it was quite a culture shock. But I knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; I wasn’t going to pass it up. I adjusted, adapted, and became determined to chase the American Dream and see what I could do. I learned some incredibly valuable lessons during this time. Like how to continually stretch myself and embrace what’s uncomfortable. I tell this to anyone who wants to level up and see what you’re capable of: push yourself past your comfort zone again and again. Go for the opportunities to grow, learn and build! I’m a solid believer that the best version of yourself is truly waiting on the other side of those lessons. 

After college, I began to focus on what I really was drawn to: real estate and design. I build my green card case by developing new homes 5-min from Broadway in the Chestnut Hill area of Nashville. This 3.5-year immigration journey surely shaped me as a young female entrepreneur and real estate developer. 

The challenges were immense, but experience is a great teacher, and there was so much that I gained over the past 10 years. One thing I think we all can benefit from is to follow your gut and your gut alone. There is a reason why we experience a strong pull towards or push against things, experiences, and people in life. 

I remember thinking – one day I’ll design and build my own properties. I believe I was maybe 14 or 15 years old. I wanted it, but I didn’t think it would happen, let alone on another continent! But when the opportunity presented itself to go after it, I took it. Time waits for no one; it’s so important to make the most out of what’s given to us. So, I didn’t wait: I became a real estate developer a year out of college and started building residential properties in the city I love. I think this proves that no dream is too big when you’re willing to work at it. It all starts with putting your mind to that one thing and going after it with all you’ve got. 

People like to ask, “Why real estate and how did you get into architecture? Do you come up with the designs?” I believe I was 8 years old when I started sharing my dad’s passion for architecture and interior design. I started to tag along to his client’s meetings from one interior design showroom to another whenever I could. While he would go about his sales, I would wander around the galleries. Eventually, I started keeping a folder with paper cutouts of the coolest designs I’d see in their magazines they displayed. And still, to this day, I love how architecture and interior design impacts spaces and therefore people’s lives. And I love to incorporate that into each of my projects. 

Over the last four years, my real estate firm has grown tremendously, along with the city of Nashville. My firm showcases vertically integrated real estate, and we’re committed to giving back to this city. It’s awesome to be contributing to its thriving neighborhoods while focusing our efforts on acquisitions, developments, and sales. Today we build ground-up Urban Infill all around town and do real estate projects in the greater area. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
What’s a smooth road in Nashville?! [laughs] God no. I truly spent years in a so-called “fight or flight” mode. I’d say it’s been a struggle turned into a super-power when needed. I was constantly torn between two countries, two cultures, and the social expectations that come with each society, and it was a lot. 

10-years ago I was just ready for adventure. And hell, it’s been a heck of a roller-coaster ride. But while going through the motions of up-and-downs; I learned the power of being humble, authentic, and being able to embrace challenges with an open mind. It’s what makes us relate to others, build community, and create beautiful moments together as one society. 

Just like I said to follow your gut, I think the companion to that is to just trust yourself. 100%. Period. Exclamation mark. It’s definitely what I would’ve told my younger self. 

What I mean by that is: It often feels more comforting to trust an external “expert” than to trust just a gut instinct. Well, what we call a gut instinct is actually the limbic brain, and it just knows based on intuition but is not designed to be able to make the analysis “tangible” other than informing us in that “gut feeling” kind of way. 

It works silently and unconsciously when we dream and go about our lives. But I’ve found that it NEVER failed me once. So, trust yourself unapologetically. Guess what, even if we fail, we get up and do it better next time around. We call that trial and error and that’s what makes journeys so beautiful and raw. 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Sapphire Development Group?
We’re a full-service Real Estate firm focusing our efforts on acquisitions, developments, and sales. 

While Sapphire Development Group builds ground-up Urban Infill all around town and does real estate projects in the greater area, we’re committed to helping the Nashville community buy and sell via our Realtor Team. 

We believe Real Estate creates experiences, changes people’s lives, and brings people together. 

What does success mean to you?
I believe success is a cocktail of flexibility, drive, and perseverance. I’m committed to Nashville’s civic and business success by bringing my international background and vision to the community and real estate market. It’s exciting to be part of the high-performing business circle and see us all come together from various industries to build this city into the most attractive city in which to live in the United States – what unique energy! 

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://yoursapphireteam.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josephinesaffert/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JosephineSaffert.realestate/
• Other: https://www.sapphiredevelop.com/