REAL ESTATE Q&A: Bridget Stuart

In this month’s Q&A, Rodeo Realty’s Bridget Stuart reveals that she knew from a very young age that she wanted to be a real estate professional. She also talks about the most exciting things happening in real estate in the Palisades and why the next few years promise to be very interesting.

Sharpe: What was your childhood like?

Stuart: I am the fourth of five children from an Irish-American family. My grandparents immigrated to the U.S. back in the early 1930s. I was born in Virginia and raised in Maryland on the Potomac River.

The older I get, and the more people I meet, I realize what an extraordinary childhood I had. Scouts, dance, friends, parochial school, camping, travel, moving from Virginia to Maryland, living on the Potomac River with my own pier and crab pots, shucking oysters at the Oyster Festival, sports, theater and a large family for my own cheering section in all that I did.

My parents were in love with each other. One of my fondest memories was hearing my Dad sing to my Mom after I had gone to bed and they thought all of us were asleep.

Sharpe: Where did you go to college?

Stuart: I attended Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, from 1985 to 1990 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree after majoring in Political Science and French.

Sharpe: If you were to sell your childhood home, how would you describe it?

Stuart: What a great question! I would describe my childhood home in Virginia (birth through age 10) as a place where people laughed and cried, argued and made up, celebrated big occasions and observed moments of quiet reflection with four private rooms for growth and creativity.

One bathroom for seven people offered an opportunity for developing patience, negotiating strategies and good time-management skills. An attic for memories, treasures and secrets; a cellar for monsters and mysterious noises, a kitchen filled with warmth and dogs and kids and friends.

A coffee shop for my mother and her friends. A launching pad for five children that all turned out pretty well. A piece of my heart.

Sharpe: What do you like to do when you aren’t working?

Stuart: I enjoy writing, and often post ramblings about life on my blog. I participate in National Novel Writing Month in November, although I have yet to publish anything. Photography is a passion. I love to capture small slices of life through the lens and also have a photography blog on tumblr.

I attempt to play golf (not nearly as often as I would like). The beauty of my golf game is that I make all of the other golfers feel so good about their game.

Surfing is something that I started back in college in Virginia. Like golf, I do not get out to surf as often as I would like. I am working on my schedule so I can get back to a couple of days each week.

Sharpe: How did you end up in the real estate industry?

Stuart: I am one of the few people that I know who actually wanted to be a Realtor from a young age. My mother, Mary Wiley, sold real estate in Virginia when I was young. I used to play “real estate” – I would get dressed up, have a briefcase and show our house to my Mom or one of my sisters or brother and would sell them the house.

I had a huge dollhouse and two smaller ones, and often I would play with the dollhouse family as if they were moving and selling their house. I finally realized my goal of becoming a Realtor in 1998 and have been selling full-time since then. It is a wonderful career that has certainly had its ups and downs as any career does.

Sharpe: What do you recall about your first transaction?

Stuart: I remember that my first deal was a single-family home that sold for $189,000! Pricing has certainly changed since 1998. I remember being thrilled that the family was going to be able to move ahead with their dreams of a bigger home closer to her family now that they were having children.

Getting that first check was the start of a love affair with helping people achieve whatever goal they have for real estate in their lives.

Sharpe: Real estate can be a tough business. Did it take long for you to find success?

Stuart: My first year in real estate, I sold 11 homes and won a Rookie of the Year award from my association of Realtors. Since then, I have sold over 700 homes in the past 16 years.

During that time, there is very little that I have not encountered in terms of what can happen in the sale of real estate. I have developed my customer service platform, which I tailor to each client, and each property utilizing a real estate coach and mentor since 1999.

Sharpe: What would you say is the state of real estate in Pacific Palisades?

Stuart: Real estate at the moment is going through an interesting phase. Inventory is still at a very low point, interest rates are still low and people are looking to buy.

If you look at an overall market snapshot of single-family homes in Pacific Palisades it shows us that we have a robust real estate market.

Everything here – locations, views, architecture, schools, government and the overall environment of the town supports one of the highest priced real estate markets in our country.

Sharpe: What are the most interesting things happening in real estate in the Palisades now?

Stuart: One of the most interesting things happening right now is that Rodeo Realty Fine Estates has opened their newest location at 839 Via de la Paz.

While Rodeo Realty already had a presence in the community (add company stats here), now buyers and sellers will have the added convenience of the office in town. Now local agents who want to develop their real estate careers can do so right here, right now.

One of the reasons that I choose to practice real estate with Rodeo Realty Fine Estates is that it offers my clients a boutique level of customer service with a locally owned and operated corporation and at the same time, creates national and international exposure at a high level for our properties.

As the designated broker for Los Angeles County with Board of Regents Luxury Real Estate, the largest International Luxury Real Estate Network (luxuryrealestate.com), our company’s listings have prominent placement around the world.

Combine that with our listings being on Caimeiju in Asia and Prestige MLS in Europe – we have the world covered.

Sharpe: What other things happening in the Palisades could impact real estate?

Stuart: Of course, one of the most interesting developments in real estate in the Palisades right now is the impending Swarthmore Avenue redevelopment by Rick Caruso.

How will the town feel when he has finished putting his stamp on it? That will be one of the most interesting dynamics to watch play out over the next several years.

I have started a blog that will follow the development project with weekly photographs (swarthmoreavenue.blogspot.com). I plan to create a time-lapse video after the project is complete.

Contact Bridget Stuart: bridget@rodeore.com, (310) 909-6769.