According to the National Association of Realtors, 63% of Realtors in the U.S. are women—a marked contrast to representation of women in commercial real estate—not just brokerage, but all segments.
Cheryl Osborn, owner of Casco Contractors, pointed out the disparities as keynote speaker of this year’s CREW-OC SPIRE Awards. Examples: Only 9% of all people working in construction are women, just 3% of chief executives of architectural firms and “one place I couldn’t find any data … women developers,” Osborn said.
The Business Journal reached out to five of Orange County’s top luxury agents, all recently nominated for a Business Journal Women of the Year award, about how they’ve been able to attain success, and why women as a whole have assumed the leadership role in selling residential real estate.
Adrienne Brandes, Surterre Properties Inc.
I don’t believe the challenges for women are any different than the challenges for men. I think women have an advantage in many cases. Residential real estate is a very emotional business—and, although this may be ‘profiling’—women are typically more adept at managing emotions. My master’s degree is in counseling psychology, and I am a certified negotiator … it helps me immensely in serving my clients and getting the deal done on their terms.
Marcy Weinstein, McKown, Weinstein & Associates, Surterre Properties
Moving to Newport in the late 1980s and trying to find a home in Orange County, I looked to many agents and found the most knowledgeable to be female agents.
Women are generally the ones more involved in the process of selecting a home and making it express the tastes and function at the same time. I feel we are more in tune as agents to service the needs of buyers of homes.
Shana Spitzer & Laura Roche, Spitzer Roche Team, Villa Real Estate
A couple factors have made our team of two women successful leaders in our field. One key is dedication to our clients … 24-hour concierge service. Attention to detail is critical for a successful transaction, whether it’s preparing a home to list, negotiating a contract, educating clients … or putting together an intense marketing plan to best showcase a home, ensuring the highest price possible. Our business has grown primarily through referrals.
Eliisa Stowell, Stowell & Associates, Surterre Properties
I became a Realtor about 15 years ago because I wanted a career that involved helping people, having flexible work hours so I could spend time with my family, and making a good living in an entrepreneurial environment. I was challenged by the perception that women are not equally ‘tough’ negotiators or as business savvy as men, but my clients soon discovered that a woman can have great skills in both. I think women actually possess greater intuition in reading people and making sure everyone’s needs are met. Having that balance between business savvy and understanding, and accepting the emotions involved, is crucial.
Recent luxury home sales include:
Beverly Hills in CDM
The newly constructed home at 4525 Camden Drive in Corona del Mar, inspired by the mansions of Beverly Hills, sold on April 17 for $11.8 million after listing in January for $15 million.
Designed by Orange County architect Mark Teale, the 8,341-square-foot residence showcases finishes such as waterfall-edge quartz slabs in the kitchen and a floor-to-ceiling glass wine cellar spanning 25 linear feet. It has six bedrooms and eight baths.
Kathryn White and Andre White of Compass represented the seller, and Matt Perry of Arbor Real Estate worked on behalf of the buyer.
Perfect Blend
A buyer paid $9.13 million for 39 Monarch Bay Drive in Dana Point on April 20. It was listed in February for $10 million.
Akin to a classic Cape Cod beach home but with today’s modern appointments, the home’s interior offers French white oak floors, extensive use of stone, and built-in cabinetry throughout. The main-level living space flows between the kitchen, dining room and multiple entertainment spaces. There are four bedrooms and four baths in the 4,263-square-foot home.
A large outdoor kitchen and barbecue area include a counter-height bar and fireplace. There’s also a newly constructed swimming pool. The property sits on a .47-acre oceanfront lot.
Julia Jackson-Brown of Century 21 listed the property, and Lee Ann Canaday of the Canaday Group, Remax Fine Homes was the buyer’s agent.
