Q&A: Ali Rassekhi

By ALEXANDRIA BORDAS | Reporter

Ali Rassekhi fell in love with Pacific Palisades while driving through its sprawling scenic streets over 20 years ago.
Rassekhi credits his genuine appreciation for the coastal area for helping him sell properties from Malibu to Beverly Hills. He specializes in single-family residences and describes the Palisades as, “the Hamptons and European Riviera coming together.”

Currently working as an agent at Coldwell Banker, Rassekhi’s determination to satisfy not only his clients, but also the needs of their surrounding neighbors gives him a competitive edge in the field.
The Palisadian-Post met with Rassekhi to learn more about his career in the high-stakes real estate industry and to see how he spends his free time. Hint:  Cheering on the Lakers with his son, Aleksander, and hiking the local trails are some of his favorite activities.

Alexandria Bordas: What drew you to the real estate business?
Ali Rassekhi: My father was a developer so I grew up on construction sites and during the summers as a student I would work at his sites.
When I graduated college I wanted to get involved on the sales side of it so I made the transition.

Bordas: Where did you grow up and what was your family life like?
Rassekhi: I was born in Germany and grew up with my parents and younger sister in Europe. My parents are originally Persian and we moved to the United States in 1980.
Being raised in Europe meant we got to travel to a lot of different European countries over the years.

Bordas: You sound genuinely enthusiastic when you talk about your love for the Palisades. What is your favorite part about working in this area?
Rassekhi: The surroundings. Honestly at least two or three times a day I will stop, for just a second, look around and say to myself ‘look where I work,’ it’s just so pretty. I work in such a beautiful area and I am making positive change happen for my clients.
I am very integrated and ingrained in the community on a daily basis. I never just wipe my hands clean after I sell a house. I am always there for the community.

Bordas: What is your biggest focus when working with your clients?
Rassekhi: If I am able to accommodate my clients, their neighbors and the third parties it means I am doing my job. It is such a small town so you have to consider the neighbors, which is what I emphasize most.
I find myself spending a lot of time with not just my clients but with everyone because I want to make everybody happy and to keep the whole process smooth for everyone.

Bordas: What are some challenges to your job?
Rassekhi: When you are dealing with residential real estate it is not just about numbers or making a sale, it is about how your buyer or seller may be impacting their immediate neighbors, which can be the most challenging part sometimes.
It has to be a situation where it is a win-win so everyone feels like they got what they needed to a certain extent in the transaction.
Residential real estate is a much more emotional situation, especially when things get miscommunicated or when you’re dealing with someone’s anxieties.
The challenge is balancing it all and guiding everyone towards a happy medium.

Bordas: What is your favorite way to start your day in order for it to be productive?
Rassekhi: First off, I live in the Marquez Knolls, which has great ocean and city views.
Starting my day with a coffee overlooking the Palisades and the Pacific Ocean knowing that I will be responsible for marketing and selling beautiful and valuable properties in our community is truly a blessing.
I make breakfast for my 11-year-old son, Aleksander, and get him ready for school.
After I drop him off I exercise and get ready for the day mentally and physically.
At the office, my assistant Corie and I meet first to discuss the day ahead. Afterwards it gets busy, because I like to be personally present for all showings at my listings. I think it allows me to have a good sense of the dynamics so I can then best serve my clients.
We then follow-up on our existing escrows and tend to anything that needs to be done to maintain a smooth and timely closing.

Bordas: Where do you see the real estate business in the Palisades heading in the future?
Rassekhi: More buyers from areas such as Beverly Hills and Trousdale are discovering the beauty and specialness of the Palisades and are choosing to invest in and purchase their homes here.
This new wave along with the commercial projects underway in the Palisades Village is going to continue driving our real estate values higher.

Bordas: How has technology changed the way the real industry works?
Rassekhi: I think we went through a phase where people thought that with the advancements in technology real estate agents would be obsolete and the lighter discount firms would become the top option for buyers and sellers. But that’s just not happening.
You need to have a strong and resourceful firm representing you and, most importantly, an experienced and dedicated agent who understands your needs and represents your interests throughout your experience with the market and all transactions.
Contact Ali at arassekhi@coldwellbanker.com or 310-359-5695.