About:
I grew up on the east coast in what was at the time the small town of Vienna VA, just a few miles from Washington DC. It was a great place to grow up, but somehow I always knew I would wind up in California. Maybe it was all that Beach Boys music, who knows. But after studying architecture at Cornell University, I came to California to find fame and fortune as a musician with a band I formed at school. Most people find that transition hard to believe. But as Goethe said: “Architecture is frozen music” – I say “music is melted architecture”.
I soon realized that music was going to be more a way of life than a way to make a living, and as much as I enjoyed architectural design, I decided to get my real estate license in 1979, because I felt it was a great fit for my people skills, coupled with my strong analytic and creative abilities. It was a perfect fit.
In 1981 I met the woman who would become my wife slightly more than a year later. Danielle, and just before the birth of our first daughter, Ashun, in 1983 we bought our first home in Redondo Beach. I joined Re/Max in 1984, when it was the new company on the block, built for highly motivated agents like myself.
We bought a home in Hermosa Beach in 1985 and welcomed our 2nd daughter Taylor shortly thereafter. We loved Hermosa Beach. All the Beach Cities are great. I have lived in all of them. But we felt a strong affinity for Manhattan Beach. We loved the school system, the casual elegance of the neighborhoods and the quaint downtown area. By the time we moved to Manhattan Beach in 1993, Danielle and I were already deeply involved in the schools. I sat on the school site council at Pacific School and then served on the transition committee that reopened Robinson School.
I can't imagine doing anything other than being a realtor and developer in the Beach Cities. I love helping people get their piece of this dream. I am proud of the fact that no other Re/Max agent has sold more real estate in the three Beach Cities combined than I have. I have helped a a great number of families in the past 33 years. And I have been able to utilize my design background in developing high end homes in Manhattan and Hermosa, through Villa d’Arte Development, which Danielle and I started in 2003. I enjoy bringing a lot of different tools into the real estate business. My background allows me to offer creative suggestions for remodeling and redesigning space that makes more options available to my clients. I spent the early part of my career focused on investment property, so I am also able to counsel my clients on all their real estate needs. And I am now able to offer property management services through my partnership with my son-in law, Taylor Williams, in First Light Property Management, setting new standards in maximizing cash flows and providing 24/7/365 real time, transparent on-line accounting.
I am often asked what makes me so successful in this business. I think it is based on my business philosophy – “add value to everything you touch”. I learned long ago that what I get paid to do is to walk people through the process of buying and selling real estate. If I could not add value to that experience than in this age of information, I would have to find something else to do. I have continued to educate myself in all aspects of this business. Being energetic and creative with the knowledge to back it up has literally made and saved my clients millions of dollars over the years. When you have the ability and truly care about your clients needs, success is automatic.
I have been fortunate in my career to have received every major award that Re/Max International has to offer. I qualified for the most prestigious award at Re/Max in 2006 - The Lifetime Achievement Award. I was one of the first 29 agents in the world to receive that award. Then in 2007 I was recognized by the Wall Street Journal as one of the top 30 real estate agents in the country for ALL companies.
But it's not all work. I enjoy travel, tennis, golf, cooking, music (of course), and most importantly my family. I am so fortunate to have virtually my entire family in Southern California. And to top it off, in August 2010 we were blessed with our first grandchild, Mason Robert Williams. Happiness is being a grandparent.
We all appreciate the fact that so many people continue to Let Freedman Ring, recognizing that my energy and enthusiasm for the business has never been greater, and that my experience can help them realize their goals. I will always strive to improve my marketing strategies and abilities. I network with all of the best agents in the area and use all the latest technology and media to assure my clients a successful result. Whether, buying, selling or investing, I am on their team.