Finding The Agent That Works For You

• What Set Brokerages Apart

• Who Is Compass

• The Latest Technology For Home Buyers

• Finding the Right Agent for You

• Home Type Specialists

Buying a home in Los Angeles and Pasadena is more challenging than it is in other parts of the country. 

SoCal buyers have to compete with hundreds of buyers, older homes that may need repairs, limited showing schedules, tough negotiations, and showings that can be as brief as fifteen minutes, all to make one of the biggest decisions of your life. The journey will take some professional and seasoned help.

Every buyer wants the best house their budget can afford. Getting to that place will take a winning offer and the assurance that you know what you are buying. One of the biggest decisions a future homeowner needs to make when planning to purchase a home is the selection of the agent that will represent them.

That agent, and the brokerage behind them, can make the challenging task of buying a home into a positive experience while selecting the wrong one could deem a much darker one.

What Sets Brokerages Apart

The first real estate brokerages in the US date back to the late 1800’s. The brand name brokerages most know followed shortly after; Coldwell Banker was formed in 1906, Century21 in 1971, RE/Max in 1973, Keller Williams in 1983 and many of them still operate in the fashion they were created. 

Some brokerages are where new agents go to get their first experience, while others brand off of an image of established luxury and more recently, we are seeing new digital discount brokerages.

While the specific agent has the greatest effect on the experience, the brokerage itself does have a hand in how they assist buyers with the largest transactions of their lives. The core ethics and a firm grasp on modern technology matter at the brokerage level.

Who Is Compass?

Compass, the real estate brokerage that I am an agent for, operates off a modern foundation of ethical principles that the recruited agents operate off of and has created some industry-first tools that have proven to be key in helping home buyers.

Envisioned in 2012, Compass is a privately owned and well-funded real estate company that was born out of technology. It is a modern real estate company that believes a supported agent, with accurate data and invaluable tools, is the only way to cater to the needs of a home buyer or home seller before, during, and after a transaction.

Compass embraces a culture of collaboration, expertise, and the utmost in ethical professionalism. While the company is not obsessed with sales figures, we ARE obsessed with long-term relationships and doing what is in the best interests of our clients. 

Today, Compass is 10,000 vetted agents in 35 major cities nationwide, but what really sets us apart is the caliber of agent that is asked to join.  We are not the brokerage for new to the market agents, and we are not the brokerage for those operating in outdated fundamentals. We are a niche brokerage built on passion, advanced technology, hard work, and honesty.

Unique Technology and Tools For Buyers

The vision of this new breed of brokerage has created some never-before-offered tools that help our clients. 

Compass Bridge Loans: Selling your house to buy another house, called a contingent sale, puts a seller at a major disadvantage, and in a hot market, your offer on that next home is less likely to be accepted. A bridge loan carries you into the next house enabling you to sell your previous home at your convenience.  

Coming Soon Listings: Our network of 10,000 agents share listings before they hit the market giving us a way to test the market and draw early interest. 

Collections: A tool we use to build collections of properties for buyers. These private platforms are where we share insight and scheduling on the properties a buyer is considering. 

There is No Shortage of Agents

Home buying is a long-term relationship. There are months of work involved, from initial consultations on needs through the transfer of ownership. Communication and coordination between buyer and agent will be on a daily basis, it is like entering into a new relationship.

California has some 200,000 licensed real estate agents and 20,000 new licenses are issued annually so you can pretty much throw a rock and hit an agent in California. The goal is to align with an agent that you feel is up to the task. Someone that is readily available, can offer insight that you can not garner on your own, is consultative and understanding throughout the process.

Finding the Right Agent for You

With so many agents to choose from, where do you start? Here are some tips:

Geography:

Narrowing by where the agent lives is a simple way to narrow the options. If an agent lives 20 miles from the area you are considering buying in, scheduling showings will be more difficult. Aligning the schedules of your agent, listing availability and yours can be a challenging task, an agent that can show on little notice is extremely helpful.

I generally work in the east side cities like Los Feliz, Silverlake, Eagle Rock, Highland Park, Pasadena and Altadena. This is close to home and where pre-war construction is prevalent.

Teams Vs Independents

We have all seen the agent ads on bus benches and on postcards in your mailbox. Most agents with large ad budgets are branded as a single agent but are most often a team of agents. While you think you are hiring the agent in the picture, it is more likely that a junior agent will be taking you around for showings and day-to-day communication.

While there is security knowing that the paperwork will be handled properly, junior agents can never offer the detailed insight you need as a buyer in this challenging market. You need someone that can do more than just open the door for you.

As an independent agent myself, I hold all the knowledge and can therefore answer any question when asked. It makes a huge difference when deciding if a home is right for you.

Category Specialists

Your next move is to find agents that have specific experience with the property you are buying. Condo sales are nuanced with how to get access, the strength of the HOA, pricing, and building amenities. If you are buying a condo, look for an agent that sells condos often, preferably one that has experience with that specific building or neighborhood.

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you will know my specialty is in PreWar (1880-1939) and Mid-century homes. If you are looking for a new construction mansion in Malibu, I am not the right agent for you.  If you want a condo in Hollywood, I am not the right agent for you.

My passion for the older homes and lofts found in the Hollywood Hills, Los Feliz, Silverlake, Eagle Rock, Highland Park, DTLA, Pasadena, and Altadena are what drives me and it is the client base I have formed and continue to build upon.   

A Note on The Nuance of Older Homes

Older homes present some very specific challenges that I have embraced. Having an intimate knowledge of mechanical systems like plumbing, electrical and HVAC enables me to advise buyers (and sellers) of the conditions of a property that most won’t.

Knowing what repairs could come down the road and what could become a major issue is a skill I have honed over the years. This guidance is invaluable.

Knowing the merits and challenges of classic construction takes a passion.  I strongly believe the preservation of these pieces of our architectural history falls into greatest jeopardy when there is a transfer of ownership.  It is for this reason that I dedicate so much of my free time to the advocacy efforts of historical, preservation, and conservancies in Southern California.

I am an elected board member of Pasadena Heritage and a frequent speaker and docent for the LA Conservancy, Bungalow Heaven Neighborhood Association, and several others. 

When You Are Ready, I am As Well

I have always taken pride in the long-term relationships I have formed. The result is a client base that has utilized me for several transactions and referrals to family, friends, and colleagues.  

If you are considering the buying of a Pre-War of Mid-Century home this year or in the future, I welcome the conversation to see if we are a fit.

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