Joining the ranks of noted entrepreneurs of the decade, Gary Goldberg, founder and owner of Coastal Properties, has achieved in real estate what few of his colleagues will accomplish during their real estate careers. With sales in the past ten years exceeding $400 million, Gary can very well rest on his laurels and work at status quo. Instead, he chooses to continue to build upon what he has started and now ready for the next decade with renewed vigor and vitality.
Gary is the first to acknowledge that real estate is not what it used to be. He sees his clients and fellow real estate professionals struggling in a market besieged with foreclosures and short sales. "Everyone has to work harder, longer and smarter," he says. Interestingly enough, Gary is no stranger to hard work. When he started his Santa Barbara-based real estate firm, Coastal Properties, Gary remembers working long hours and not getting enough sleep. He was fortunate that he was at the right time and at the right place. Finding a niche in vacation rentals and then turning around and selling properties to the vacation rental clients worked very well at the time. He hit the ground running and his business grew rapidly and steadily.
During the real estate boom in 2005 and 2006 he closed over $100 million in sales, a feat that would be difficult to top given the current real estate downturn. Although he still maintains an upscale clientele with home prices ranging between $1 million to $20 million, he has learned to adapt to the present market conditions. The challenge has been how to work smarter and streamline the real estate process without cutting corners and compromising the quality of service his clients have become accustomed to. Instead of cutting back on the top-notch service he provides, he has learned to taper the variable expenses in running a real estate business and engage in more creative marketing. For instance, as the Internet progressively becomes the medium of choice for savvy home shoppers, he is no longer allocating as much advertising dollars to print advertising and instead uses the Internet to attract buyers and works directly with the buyers for his listings.
What has not changed is the manner in which he serves his clientele. Gary is still a working broker and continues to operate his business with the same level of commitment as when he first opened Coastal Properties fifteen years ago. Currently, there are twenty-five agents whose licenses hang at Coastal Properties and a staff of six – two in property management, two staff persons and two assistants working on serving buyers and sellers. Coastal Properties still maintains a property management division although the company’s focus is now more on residential home sales in Santa Barbara, Montecito, Summerland, Carpinteria, Hope Ranch, Goleta, Ventura and the Beaches.
Being an attorney, Gary continues to benefit his real estate clients in more ways than one. In a magazine article written about him a few years ago, Gary talks about the advantage he has being both a legal and real estate professional. He was quoted as saying, “I provide a service above and beyond what clients can find elsewhere because not only am I a real estate broker, I know the real estate industry and I have an extensive legal background.” As a lawyer, he is able to make sure his buyers and sellers are protected during the real estate process and have access to legal advice if necessary.
In order to feel the pulse of the industry, Gary has chosen to be immersed in it. He is known and well respected within the real estate circles. He has devoted many volunteer hours to the real estate boards he belongs to. Gary continues to be active in the Santa Barbara Board of REALTORS® where he sits on the Professional Standards and Grievance committees. In 2009, he was ranked #7 in volume of business and #8 in number of closings by the Board of REALTORS®.
Gary also finds a way to give back to the real estate industry through education. He continues to teach real estate practice at Santa Barbara City College. By staying on top of the industry trends, he is helping young real estate professionals by imparting some of his expertise to them. The knowledge and experience he has gained through the years has made him a valuable resource to those aspiring to achieve success in the realm of real estate. It is a legacy he hopes to leave behind long after he has left his mark.
Quintessentially, one can say Gary Goldberg has "arrived". While continuing to work on improving the bottom line for Coastal Properties, he realized he no longer has to prove himself. Gary set his sights on mentoring and helping others. He always had a soft spot for those who are less fortunate. Blessed with a philanthropic nature, Gary believes in giving back to the community he serves. Through the years, his firm has contributed to various charities and organizations such as the United Way, the Rescue Mission, The Women's Shelter, Kiwanis, Boys and Girls Clubs, the Santa Barbara and Carpinteria Chambers of Commerce, and various local schools and food drives. He also finds time to share happy occasions with his family – his siblings, nieces, nephews and godchildren.
Gary always knew he would enjoy having his own family when the time came. That moment presented itself when he married the love of his life, Maureen, who brought with her the beautiful Zoe. Their family was completed in 2009 with the birth of his twins, Garrison and Grace.
Having a family has added a whole new dimension to the balance Gary has worked hard to attain. His priorities have shifted and he is seeing everything again with a fresh outlook and goals that go beyond his own. Like fine wine, Gary Goldberg has mellowed but has consistently improved with the maturity needed to reach his full potential. The result is the finest vintage in real estate you can find.
