How did you become "The Land Man" in the greater Los Angeles area?
This series of posts consist of three separate posts. As always, many members give me inspiration and in this case I was also asked to participate. With that said, I offer my first contribution. Thank you Dr. Paula McDonald & Kathy Streib for this inspiration.
When it comes to buying or selling vacant land in the greater Los Angeles area, there are only a handful of Realtors whose names pop up for buyers and sellers. For the past 26 years, I have been one of those Realtors. Agents who do not have vacant land as their niche market often refer their clients to me knowing that their clients will be in good hands. I've often been asked, “So, Endre, how did you get into this niche of selling vacant land?” When we relocated from Boston, MA, I began my CA real estate career in the Hollywood Hills Sunset Strip office of Fred Sands. My then manager, Robbie Sedway, asked me if I had any friends or family here in Los Angeles? My answer was a resounding NO. Next he asked if I had any money (keep in mind he had just seen me step out of a leased Honda Prelude). My answer of "No" yet again led him to the reply that "You will be the Land Man." As you can imagine, this is not what I had in mind as I was looking out the window at the famed Sunset Strip. So I sheepishly replied, “Well I don't know anything about land” to which he said "Very few Realtors do, so you will learn and you will become an expert."
And learn I did! My first listing was on a street where the neighbors of the lot I was showing would come out to be the fly in the ointment and did their best to ruin the sale. The buyer was an architect and had a partner who was an investor, hence the neighbors didn't want their views obstructed by having another house in proximity. Ultimately, I figured out the schedule of the biggest problem neighbor and would show my listing when that person wouldn't be around. Lesson one learned! Keep in mind, however, that was back in the day when you could get building permits and approvals on an average of about 8 months in the Los Angeles Hillside.
With that bit of information, my second post will cover the ins and outs of the approval process in the greater Los Angeles area.
Wishing you a safe and healthy life and I look forward to your comments. If you are looking for a knowledgeable, focused and goal-oriented Realtor in the Beverly Hills area who will help you achieve your Real Estate goals, please reach out to me directly! If you are looking for a pet friendly Beverly Hills Realtor who can handle and sell the most difficult properties that no one else could, please reach out to me directly!! If you are considering buying or selling a home, a luxury home, luxury investment real estate, luxury vacation homes, or luxury beach properties in Southern California, Los Angeles, Century City, Westwood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu, feel free to contact me at 310.486.1002 ( m) homes@endrebarath.com or visit one of my websites at https://www.endrebarath.com I contribute a portion of my commission to local animal rescue organizations. Endre Barath, Jr. Realtor at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties DRE#01238708
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