Hugh Evans III

Father, entrepreneur and real estate professional, Hugh Evans III has a long and extensive range of experience in Los Angeles real estate.

From investing in income properties, developing high end homes and later founding Partners Trust real estate brokerage with three others in 2009, Evans has truly done it all. Evans, along with his colleagues, grew Partners Trust to an $11 billion brokerage and merged with Pacific Union International in January 2018 to create the largest independent real estate company by sales volume in California.

And, while raising two little ones in Pacific Palisades, Evans still manages to rank among the Wall Street Journal’s top agents in the country, Variety Magazine’s Real Estate Elite and the Hollywood Reporter’s Top 25 Real Estate Agents. Find out more about Evan’s impressive rise to the top here.

Palisadian-Post: Tell me about your childhood. Where were you born and where did you grow up? What were some of your hobbies and interests as a child and teenager?

Evans: My three sisters and I grew up in Santa Monica back when it was a bit more understated and the Country Mart was, in fact, a country mart. I loved Little League, and every now and then, I run into one of my old teammates and share memories of growing up in a quiet seaside community.

I played basketball and tennis in high school, and went on to play tennis in college. My father believed in the importance of travel and seeing different parts of the world, which included many family ski trips. Skiing will always be the greatest source of peace and calm in my life.

Post: Where did you go to college and what did you study?

Evans: I attended The University of Colorado and majored in English.

Post: What was your first job out of college? What led you to choose a career in real estate?

Evans: I went to high school on the East Coast and after college decided I wanted to return. I had a family friend who had a significant position in the president’s administration in Washington, D.C. He was also a tennis fanatic and so he offered me a job in Presidential Personnel at the White House on the condition that I would play tennis with him several times a week. Not a difficult decision. I was there for three years before returning to the West Coast.

In the early ’90s I met with my friend’s father to ask for advice about a career in the real estate industry. For many years he was involved with buying apartment buildings and one day woke up to find that he was very wealthy. He and his family had a wonderful life all sustained on passive income.

My oldest friend and I decided we would raise money to buy income properties, mainly apartment buildings, and from there, we eventually branched out to building high-end spec homes.

We were fortunate to have already built an investor base that had invested in income properties with us. Over a 10-year period, we built around 20 homes, many of which set new records for price and dollars per foot. I loved those days and met many people along the way. Gradually, buyers and sellers asked if I would help them with their real estate needs and, almost by accident, I became a full-time agent.

Post: How long have you lived in the Palisades and in which neighborhoods? What brought you here and why do you stay?

Evans: My family and I have lived in the Palisades for 10 years, specifically in The Huntington area. We found the Palisades to be the best possible place to raise our children, as it has quiet safe neighborhoods and sidewalks, and it gives our children the freedom to explore always under the watchful eyes of neighbors and friends.

We love the small town feeling with the Fourth of July parade and Halloween, and I think The Village will continue to improve the quality of life in the Palisades.

Post: How does your background help you when working with clients to buy or sell a home?

Evans: My experience with buying, building and selling spec homes has proven to be invaluable and a great source of comfort with all my clients. Beyond the actual construction process, I understand the range of emotions a buyer and seller experiences in buying and selling a home.

As an investor and builder, I’ve been through the ups and downs of several markets and particularly of note 2008. I have had my own money at risk and as a developer signed many personal loan guarantees. My experience investing and dealing with financial risk brings a unique perspective and a deeper level of caring about every dollar that is at stake.

Post: Do you represent homes in all neighborhoods of the Palisades?

Evans: Yes, all over the Palisades. But, perhaps the most important facet for me is the relationship I have and can hopefully build with the client. There is obviously a tremendous amount of communication between the agent and client and, as such, both sides need to feel comfortable.

Post: What are some of the most memorable homes you have sold or helped a client purchase?

Evans: One of the more memorable experiences was very early in my career. I represented a very notable public figure with purchasing a home and, throughout the process, he always took my calls and always listened to my advice. The entire experience gave me a tremendous amount of confidence.

At the other end of the spectrum, I represented a close friend’s little sister in purchasing a condominium. Just out of college, this was a huge amount of money and an important experience in her life. It was a wonderful feeling having someone trust me with something so meaningful, resulting in an endless amount of appreciation on her part. That was special.

Post: What do you and your family like to do for fun?

Evans: I have a 7-year-old daughter (almost 8—she’ll correct you) named McKay who goes to John Thomas Dye School and a 3-year-old named Hugh IV, or Beau, who is in school at Cassidy.

We spend quite a bit of time at the beach in the water, digging holes and building sand castles. On most weekends you might see us riding our scooters around the neighborhood, with my son usually far ahead of me.

McKay loves art and can sit for hours working on a project that will find its way onto our wall of treasures. Hugh loves his trucks and continually tests the quality of construction in our new home while playing with them. Hugh is winning.