The city of Carmel, California, was incorporated in 1916. By that time, young artists, writers, and intellectuals had been flocking to the beautiful town in northern California for years, evidenced by the founding of Carmel Realty in 1913, before the town was even incorporated. Nearly 100 years later, Carmel Realty holds the honor of being the oldest real estate firm on the entire Monterey Peninsula. The company even predates the now internationally iconic Pebble Beach Golf Links, which just hosted the 110th U.S. Open in mid-June, built on the seaside property neighboring Carmel to the North.
With that history comes long-term values that clients here truly appreciate. The Mitchells, a fourth generation Monterey Peninsula real estate family, owned the company until 2004, at which time the sales division of the company was sold. Under the helm of Shelly Mitchell Lynch, Carmel Realty expanded its luxury property management business and rebranded the company as the local leader in luxury real estate. Peter Butler, who had been a top-producing agent with the Mitchell Group, personally excelled, selling more than $250 million during his 14 year tenure of working with the Mitchells.
In 2009, longing for the family-owned company values that Carmel Realty offered, Peter joined forces with Shelly and her mother Vicki Mitchell to forge a powerful partnership and re-launch Carmel Realty’s brokerage services division. “We are not trying to be the biggest company around, just the best.” Butler explains. “We are determined to develop and maintain the highest-quality, locally owned boutique-type real estate firm. It is important for us to always know exactly what is going on in every aspect of our business. We are in total control of our destiny now, which allows us to ultimately serve our clients better.” Just one year later, 22 agents have added their support to the sales team. Even more noteworthy, in the first six months of 2010, the Carmel Realty sales team has closed more than $100 million in transactions. The Luxury Property Management division now represents more than 150 rental properties and generates more than 1,000 incoming
calls per week.
“We hand picked the best of the best in our sales partners and associates,” explains Managing Broker, Malone Hodges. This includes colleagues Steve LaVaute and Lynn Brown Knoop, who recently closed escrow on a new $18 million home on Cypress Drive in Pebble Beach, which features breathtaking golf course and ocean views. Butler recently sold a 1950s estate at 3325 17 Mile Drive for $6.5 million, despite being in need of some major renovations—the views alone make it worth the price. The majority of the properties he personally represents are in Pebble Beach, where he says he “lives, works, and plays.” An avid golfer, he fell in love with the area during annual family vacations. He grew up in Iowa and ultimately relocated to Pebble Beach in 1996.
