With movie star looks and a million-watt smile, Palisadian Santiago Arana could easily be mistaken for a celebrity. Arana’s star is rising, but it’s not in the film and TV realm, rather it’s in the world of high-end real estate. The Bolivia-born real estate agent, who is the son of a kindergarten teacher and a prominent politician, has recently joined The Agency as a partner and is leading the firm’s expansion into the Westside. The Palisadian-Post met Arana at one of his Palisades listings for this month’s Q&A.
1. Did you always know you wanted to go into real estate?
No, while growing up in Bolivia, I went to a private university to study business and marketing and earned a scholarship to study finance in Israel. I wanted to learn English before going to Israel so I moved to the U.S. at age 23. I came here with $120, spoke no English and slept on my aunt’s couch in Santa Barbara. My $120 ran out pretty quickly so I got a job as a busboy. At night, I went to an adult education school to pick up English. In three months, I’d learned enough English to get promoted to waiting tables.
2. Did you end up going to Israel for your post-graduate studies?
No, I never did. I ended up meeting my wife at the restaurant where I was working. Then I got my real estate license and moved to L.A. and never looked back.
3. Do you remember your first sale in real estate?
My first sale was a condo in West Hollywood that sold for $480,000. I was really excited, especially because I represented the buyer and the seller.
4. What did you do with your first commission check?
I bought my wife the engagement ring I couldn’t afford to buy her before.
5. How did your real estate career progress?
I started out with Keller Williams in Beverly Hills then partnered with Rodrigo Iglesias for a while. I spent about five years with Sotheby’s in Brentwood and few years with Partners Trust. About six months ago Mauricio Umansky and Billy Rose, who started The Agency, invited me to become a partner. I’m an entrepreneurial kind of guy, so I was really excited to join them.
Photo: Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer
6. What impressed you about The Agency?
Most real estate companies do things in a very traditional, almost archaic way – basically waiting for buyers to find them. The Agency does things differently. We have an exclusive partnership with Savills, the biggest international real estate firm that tracks wealth, so we have exposure to wealthy individuals all around the world.
7. What’s your plan for The Agency?
I’m opening a new office on San Vicente in Brentwood in June then another office in Santa Monica and perhaps one in the Palisades. We’re not trying to become the largest company with a thousand agents; we’re focusing on bringing in a select group of very high-quality agents.
8. What’s your philosophy on selling real estate?
A lot of real estate agents are just interested in selling a house and getting the check. That’s not me. I’m in the customer service business. I cater to my clients by holding their hand throughout the process, helping them with move-in services, contractors, decorators and more. My goal is always to build a long-term relationship.
9. Why did you choose to live in Pacific Palisades?
As a realtor, I go everywhere and get to see a lot of houses, and I really loved the Palisades and wanted to move my family here. My wife, however, was concerned that it might be too far away from town. So we compromised by renting here for a while so she could decide if she liked it. She loved it! Now we’ve been here five years.
10. What do you like best about life in the Palisades?
Everything! It’s one of the last real ‘communities’ in L.A.
Contact: Santiago Arana, The Agency, Santiago@TheAgencyRE.com, (424) 231-2399.
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