Managing Broker & Owner

A Healthier Place to Live

I’d quit my advertising job and was living in Los Angeles, working on a novel I had small hopes for, when I decided to move to the southern Oregon coast. Although it seemed terribly impulsive, I knew the decision had been a long time coming. Two decades of living in major cities and working too many hours, had lost its appeal.

I needed a change. I traveled up California, through Oregon and to the top of Washington, in search of a charming coastal village. On the return drive south, I noticed Bandon for the first time. I drove slowly through Old Town and along the harbor, then down Beach Loop Drive. I called a local realtor with rentals, and 30 minutes later walked into the oceanfront home where I’d live the next three years. That was April of 1999.

I wasn’t planning on staying. I vividly recall signing a year lease, all the while thinking six months would be my max. Several weeks later I moved in. Staring out at the spectacular view of the Bandon beach and ocean below me, I thought, “Now I’ve really screwed up my life.”

I couldn’t have known it then , but the decision to move to Bandon was one of the best I’ve ever made. Big cities are fast-paced, exciting, filled with interesting people, terrific restaurants, great theatre and museums. I enjoyed them immensely. But big city life takes a toll. There’s a lot going on that’s less attractive.

In contrast, there’s a peacefulness and serenity in rural areas, particularly near water, whether a lake, river or ocean, that can’t be found in large cities. And there are other desirable aspects of ruralness, including clean fresh smelling air, fewer people and traffic, and a closeness with nature that refreshes the senses. It’s a feeling more than anything else; a mood swing to the positive causing an unconscious smile.

A Second Career in Real Estate

Once I made the decision to make Bandon my permanent home, the obvious next question was what to do for work? Conventional real estate wisdom says people locally raised will have the most insight and contacts in the market, and I, a complete outsider with no contacts to speak of, should have little chance of success. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Over the five year period from 2020 to 2024, I’ve been the #1 real estate broker in Bandon as measured in residential dollar sales by RMLS of Oregon.

Over the past 20 years, we’ve seen Bandon become a more affluent second home market. Virtually all our buyers come from California. They are typically 45+, educated with grown children, and looking for a second home that might in the future become their retirement home. These are the same people I grew up with, went to college with and worked with in Manhattan, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. We share similar life experiences and I therefore have a better understanding of their needs, desires and expectations. We communicate well.

My experience in the advertising business and the skills acquired over two decades, are a big help in the real estate business, which requires attention to detail, analytical skills to assess and understand the market, marketing and negotiating skills, and  excellent communication skills. My background has given me a big advantage, and combined with a strong work ethic, has produced excellent sales results.

Coastal Sotheby’s International Realty

I was approached by Sotheby’s International Realty in 2017 with an invitation to become an affiliate. It actually was more involved than an invite; there was a rigorous vetting process, and in January 2018 we opened as Coastal Sotheby’s International Realty.

The executives at Sotheby’s International Realty had concluded the southern Oregon coast was fast becoming a destination market, in part because of the scenic natural beauty and outdoor recreational opportunities, and also due to the incredible success and global reach of Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.

The Sotheby’s brand is one of the most iconic names in the world, representing the highest quality over hundreds of years, as well as wealth, luxury, art, culture. It is those enduring qualities that buyers and sellers of luxury real estate cherish and seek to cultivate. As a brand name, Sotheby’s is uniquely distinctive and powerfully motivating for those who treasure an association with it.

In the seven years since becoming Coastal Sotheby’s International Realty, I have been the 11th top selling residential broker (based on dollar sales) on the southern Oregon coast out of a total of nearly 2,000 brokers, and with an average sales price of over $800,000. During this same timer period, I have been the #1 residential broker in Bandon.