Power Players of Los Angeles: Jeff Hyland, John McMonigle, Myra Nourmand and more

Haute Living talks with everyone who’s anyone in the red hot Los Angeles marketplace.

Photography by Laura Wagner

Jeff Hyland
(The Gatekeeper)

[highlight_text] Personal attention and staying on top of things will guarantee happiness all around. [highlight_text]

Jeff Hyland’s career spans over 20 years as a leading real estate broker. In addition to being one of the first exclusive affiliates of Christie’s Great Estates, Inc., Jeff is also a past president of the Beverly Hills Board of Realtors. As an architectural historian, he assisted in the publication of books on Wallace Neff and Paul Williams. Clearly one of the most recognized real estate figures in all of Southern California, he was recently named “The Gatekeeper of Holmby Hills” by Town & Country magazine. He partnered with Rick Hilton to create Hilton & Hyland, a unique and dynamic combination of success, expertise, and experience where both principals, along with the entire staff, have distinguished themselves as sophisticated industry veterans who are committed to redefining personal service.

HL Where are you from? What attracted you to L.A.?
JH My parents moved here because my father was a screenwriter. He wrote 19 motion pictures, so I was born and raised in the Little Holmby section of Los Angeles.

HL What attracted you to real estate?
JH As a native, I was always attracted to the neighborhoods surrounding where I grew up. A love of exploring nearby communities taught me to appreciate architecture, and the two became the cornerstone for my passion of real estate.

HL Who was your first mentor, and how did he/she influence you?
JH A devoted teacher at the Ojai Valley School instilled in me the love of California history. During my early years in real estate, I began to focus on local history and subsequently, it became such an important part of my career that today, I have become an expert. My contemporaries in and out of the business have fondly referred to me as an architectural historian.

HL You’ll never be found without your…
JH Photos of my four-legged companions and my wife, Lori.

HL What were your yearly sales for 2007? Forecast for 2008?
JH We have created what our competitors acknowledge as the hottest office in town. Even in a slowing market, our continued growth through expansion should generate another $200 million in sales to close $1 billion in 2008.

HL What is your most memorable deal?
JH The sale of totally untouched Enchanted Hill, so named by Greta Garbo, to Paul Allen. It was 120 acres in Beverly Hills with the most commanding views from downtown Los Angeles to the Pacific Ocean.

HL Where do you live?
JH My wife forced me to buy TV producer Ralph Edward’s 1960s time-warped home on a hilltop in Beverly Hills. We spent two years rebuilding and then furnishing in French Art Deco. Today, we have a contemporary villa that overlooks a 25-acre preserve that is eight minutes to the office. I lovingly blame her every time we watch the sun set over seven mountain ridges all the way to Malibu.

HL If money were no object, what property on the market would you recommend in Southern California?
JH My partner’s grandfather’s house, which sits on eight acres overlooking the Bel-Air Country Club. It will never be duplicated.

HL What is your formula for keeping your high-end and/or high-profile clients happy?
JH Personal attention and staying on top of things will guarantee happiness all around.

HL Tell us one thing most people wouldn’t know about you.
JH I don’t party every night, and read more than 50 books a year.

HL What is your proudest achievement?
JH Building Hilton & Hyland into the most respected real estate boutique office in Los Angeles.

HL Where would we find you on a Friday night?
JH R & R.

HL What are your favorite vacation destinations and/or leisure activities?
JH Visiting almost any art museum anywhere. For quick escapes, it’s taking friends out on my boat. The captain pilots and I have as much care-free time as any guest.

HL Your forecast for the L.A. real estate market for 2008?
JH Because of the enormous new money finding its way to Beverly Hills, I foresee a very healthy residential market in the high-end for years to come.

HL What are your personal goals for 2008?
JH Every year, it has been to slow down. Now that I can, I work even harder. Actually, my goal will be to publish my upcoming book, The Legendary Estates of Beverly Hills, the sequel to The Great Estates of Beverly Hills. I have completed the research, and Rizzoli is going to distribute with an October release.

HL In your opinion, what makes L.A. so special?
JH Everyone has a chance to succeed. We have no ruling families and Los Angeles is all about the future. Of course, we are also fortunate to have the best weather.

John McMonigle
(The Celebrity Realtor)

John McMonigle and his talented team at the McMonigle Group, based in Newport Beach, have acclaimed national and international success. John made history over the past five years by totaling more than $1 billion in property sales. He is dubbed the foremost expert in residential real estate as well as real estate developments. His expertise has landed him on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Access Hollywood, The Insider, and other major TV shows nationwide. Here, Haute Living is proud to bring you the celebrity realtor’s outlook on life and his profession.

HL Where are you from? What attracted you to L.A.?
JM I’m originally from a small town in Oklahoma. The pursuit of better climate, economy, and real estate market attracted me to L.A.

HL What attracted you to real estate?
JM I have been attracted to architecture since I framed houses in the hot sun as a teenager.

HL Who was your first mentor, and how did he/she influence you?
JM Bill Feeney was a top producer in Newport Beach who took me under his wing and taught me the value of organization and infrastructure, and, most importantly, the basic meaning of a “team approach.”

HL You’ll never be found without your…
JM Smile, it is important to have fun in this business.

HL What were your yearly sales for 2007? Forecast for 2008?
JM The McMonigle Group sold more than $500 million in luxury real estate in 2007 and is having a record year thus far in 2008.

HL What is your most memorable deal?
JM My last one.

HL Where do you live?
JM In Shady Canyon.

HL If money were no object, what property on the market would you recommend in Southern California?
JM It is difficult to pick a favorite, as the McMonigle Group consistently represents so many spectacular properties. One that is close to my heart is Villa Del Lago (www.villadellagoestate.com), a truly one-of-a-kind landmark estate in Newport Coast. It demonstrates the synergy between my development firm, Monarch Estates, and my sales practice at the McMonigle Group.

HL What is your formula for keeping your high-end and/or high-profile clients happy?
JM Very simple: always looking for ways to raise the bar for marketing and service.

HL Tell us one thing most people wouldn’t know about you.
JM I’m relatively shy.

HL What is your proudest achievement?
JM Marrying my incredible wife.

HL Where would we find you on a Friday night?
JM Date night with my wife, Robin, or home playing basketball with my sons.

HL What are your favorite vacation destinations and/or leisure activities?
JM Palm Desert, Aspen, Cabo San Lucas, and Montana. I love playing golf and boating.

HL Your forecast for the L.A. real estate market for 2008?
JM I get paid to be positive and that is easy to do when you look at the fundamentals this market has.

HL What are your personal goals for 2008?
JM Achieve our clientele’s goals.

HL In your opinion, what makes L.A. so special?
JM The city’s entrepreneurial spirit.

Myra Nourmand
(The Breadwinner)

Known as the First Lady of Real Estate in Beverly Hills, Myra Nourmand has successfully sold and listed numerous properties ranging from $1 million to $30 million. While working with her husband Stephen and son Michael at Nourmand & Associates, Myra has built up her real estate expertise in the luxury market. Her clientele is mainly composed of the entertainment industry’s moguls. Various television appearances, including The View and the Discovery Channel’s Hollywood Real Estate Homes have allowed Nourmand to gain trust and respect among her high-profile clients.

HL Where are you from? What attracted you to L.A.?
MN I grew up on the East Coast in New Jersey and upstate New York. After spending my high school and college years in Buffalo, New York, I met my husband, got married, and decided to replace the wintry blizzards and snow with warm sunshine all year round. The weather was one of the most important factors that attracted me to L.A., however, the metropolitan lifestyle was also a contributing factor.

HL What attracted you to real estate?
MN My husband Stephen Nourmand, who started the company in 1976 as a high-end luxury real estate boutique. And since he lived and breathed real estate 24/7, it was an easy transition for me to become part and parcel of this family business.

HL Who was your first mentor, and how did he or she influence you?
MN Stephen was my first mentor; he would always say to me, “Myra, you sold me, you can sell the world.”

HL You’ll never be found without your…
MN Cell phone, client list/data base, and a big smile!

HL What were your yearly sales for 2007? Forecast for 2008?
MN In 2007, we hit $75 million. As of the end of April 2008, I have closed over $55 million in sales. My projected 2008 sales will be in excess of $100 million dollars.

HL What is your most memorable deal?
MN My most memorable deal involved a beautiful home in Beverly Hills which I was fortunate enough to sell four different times to four different celebrities in a matter of 10 years, and each time, the ante went up $1 million.

HL Where do you live?
MN Beverly Hills-where else?

HL If money were no object, what property on the market would you recommend in Southern California?
MN I would buy the biggest piece of property in Malibu on the sand, with a beautifully appointed Hamptons traditional-style home with at least 8,000 square feet, where I could go for a special weekend with my family and friends. A house like this would be at least $40 million.

HL What is your formula for keeping your high-end and/or high-profile clients happy?
MN I recently wrote a book, titled From Homemaker to Breadmaker, on how to sell high-end luxury real estate. I have devoted a chapter on exactly how to keep your high-profile and high-end clients happy, it’s called the 4 E’s of Real Estate-Effort, Expertise, Ethics, and Enthusiasm.

HL Tell us one thing most people wouldn’t know about you.
MN That I am a very happy homemaker. I love to cook, entertain, and work in my garden, which is why my book is the perfect vehicle to share my success and know-how with other real estate professionals in the country. In another life, I might have been an interior designer, florist, or a clone of Martha Stewart. I love beauty, architecture, furniture, and gardens; it is an extension of my personality.

HL What is your proudest achievement?
MN My proudest achievement has been the success of my children. My daughter Nicole is a successful pediatrician and has blessed me with two beautiful grandchildren. My son Howard has a post-production company, which continually redefines cutting edge aesthetics for commercial, music video, and film. My son, Michael, who has joined me in our real estate company, was recently appointed the youngest director of the Beverly Hills Board of Realtors and is actively involved in all aspects of real estate, from selling to administration.

HL Where would we find you on a Friday night?
MN Friday night is synonymous with family, friends, fun, and a feast of food.

HL What are your favorite vacation destinations and/or leisure activities?
MN My favorite vacation destinations are Hawaii, Mexico, and Europe. My favorite leisure activities are reading, theater, and concerts.

HL Your forecast for the L.A. real estate market for 2008?
MN The market is correcting itself and prices have leveled off, however, homes that are priced right, i.e. good location, views, great architecture, etc., are still selling at record-breaking prices. Although there are brokers that are languishing in the marketplace, I have never been busier and my volume of sales continues to rise.

HL What are your personal goals for 2008?
MN Making Nourmand & Associates the number one high-end luxury boutique in Southern California and keeping it as a privately held firm.

HL In your opinion, what makes L.A. so special?
MN I love L.A. To me, it encompasses everything one could wish for: fabulous weather, an incredibly diversified mix in its population that adds interest and variety to our city. We are so privileged to have so much culture available to us-the many museums, theaters, Hollywood Bowl, Music Center, and Staples Center. Where else in the United States are you that fortunate to be able to surf in the Pacific Ocean, get in the car, and two hours later ski in the snow!

Christophe Choo
(The International Broker)

BlackBerry-clad power broker Christophe Choo wrangled the highest sale price for a home in the history of Holmby Hills this year at $22 million. Naturally, he credits constant communication and honesty for his astonishing successes. The half-Korean, half-French Christophe possesses a riveting enthusiasm for Los Angeles and its blend of cultures and varied terrain; it’s no wonder he has mastered the way to sell some of the priciest real estate around. Despite his recent and overall success on the real estate front, this mogul is down-to-earth, finds inspiration in generosity, and describes his favorite Friday nights as those in his pajamas.

HL Where are you from? What attracted you to L.A.?
CC I am one of those rare individuals who was actually born and raised in Los Angeles, however, being half French and half Korean, I spent a portion of my youth living in Europe and Asia. Since L.A. is so international and such a wonderful and beautiful place to live, I figured why live anywhere else?

HL What attracted you to real estate?
CC I was 19 and modeling in Europe and Asia, yet I have always loved great architecture, magnificent homes, landscape design, and beauty in general. My wife suggested I go into real estate. I thought, “What a great business; I can combine all of the things I love and have unlimited money-making potential.”

HL Who was your first mentor, and how did he or she influence you?
CC I have no particular mentor. I have always studied and tried to follow the examples of people and cultures I respect and admire. There are so many. I simply try to incorporate the best traits of anyone I meet and make it a part of who I am.

HL You’ll never be found without your…
CC BlackBerry. I must admit I am part of today’s world of instant information, and aim to continuously provide my clients with immediate service.

HL What were your yearly sales for 2007? Forecast for 2008?
CC 2007 was one of my best years ever, including an estate I sold for $22 million, the highest sale price for a home in the history of Holmby Hills. I project 2008 will be an even better year.

HL What is your most memorable deal?
CC The one I just sold in Holmby Hills. Not only did my wife and I have the privilege of living there for 6 months, but we did a number of incredible events to market the home to high-end buyers by partnering with Rolls-Royce, Robb Report, Tallarico Jewelers from Rodeo Drive, Fortis Vineyards, and Zino Platinum, the world’s finest cigars.

HL Where do you live?
CC We live in an area just adjacent to Beverly Hills called Beverlywood, one of the few Home Owners Association’s communities in Los Angeles.

HL If money were no object, what property on the market would you recommend in Southern California?
CC The two finest properties on the market today are just around the corner from the one I recently sold. They are asking $89 million and $125 million, and should be the properties of choice for buyers with unlimited money.

HL What is your formula for keeping your high-profile clients happy?
CC Constant communication, honesty, and really caring about their needs. I always try to put myself in my client’s place, and treat them as I would like to be treated.

HL Tell us one thing most people wouldn’t know about you.
CC I love life’s simple pleasures, sitting in the garden enjoying the trees, flowers, birds singing, the wonderful sky, and California sunshine. I am grateful for every moment and truly enjoy my life.

HL What is your proudest achievement?
CC Being kind, loving, and generous. I am on the board of Covenant House California, a shelter for homeless youth; I love spending time with the kids and encouraging them to be their best and to realize that anything is possible if they choose it to be.

HL Where would we find you on a Friday night?
CC Surprisingly, I love to be home on Friday nights, unless we have a specific event to attend. I like nothing better than spending the evening at home in my pajamas with my wife, two dogs, and two cats.

HL What are your favorite vacation destinations and/or leisure activities?
CC Just about anywhere in the French or Italian Riviera. I love Antibes, Nice, Saint-Tropez, Monte Carlo, Portofino, and the Amalfi Coast. These are truly some of the most beautiful and special places in the world with incredible food, scenery, and shopping-also a great place to relax and make new friends and clients.

HL What is your forecast for the L.A. real estate market for 2008?
CC The high-end market over $10 million is still very healthy and we are not seeing much change. The other price ranges are experiencing some challenging times.

HL What are your personal goals for 2008?
CC To make a lot of money, donate a lot of money, help as many people as I can, and work on my spiritual nature.

HL In your opinion, what makes L.A. so special?
CC L.A. is one of the most unique and special places in the world. We have the best weather anywhere, an incredible blend of cultures, which translates into incredible restaurants and unbelievable shopping where you can buy almost anything. L.A. has just about everything you could want: beaches, mountains, and the desert, all within a short drive. One of the things I especially love, unlike New York, Paris, London, Hong Kong, and many other cities, is that you can go to a fabulous party with movie stars, celebrities, business magnates, and the likes in Beverly Hills and be back home in 5 minutes to a peaceful and secluded residential area. Where else can you have such wonderful diversity?

Raju Chhabria
($2 Billion Agent)

Over the last two decades, Raju Chhabria Real Estate has been a force to be reckoned with in the Los Angeles real estate market, specifically in the Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, and Torrance communities. His firm holds the impressive records of earning over $2 billion in lifetime sales and more than $100 million in yearly sales since 1997. Raju himself has been ranked Shorewood’s No. 1 agent since 1994, and was ranked No. 26 nationally for 2007 by the Wall Street Journal. Originally from India, his easygoing and always courteous nature proved a great fit for Los Angeles and quickly propelled him to the upper echelons of the industry. Not surprisingly, some of the people he admires are Bill Gates, Tiger Woods, Donald Trump, and Roger Federer. Though they represent a selection from diverse fields- sports, technology, and business-they are all superstars and it is easy to see how Chhabria has followed in their paths.

HL Where are you from? What attracted you to Los Angeles?
RC I am originally from Bangalore, India, and moved to L.A. in 1984. My beautiful wife is originally from Bangalore and moved to L.A. in 1980. She returned to Bangalore for a visit and I ended up deciding to move to L.A. after that.

HL What attracted you to real estate?
RC I arrived in L.A. with $10,000 and the intention to go into the import/export of leather goods. Well, that didn’t work out, so two months later, I was broke. I had studied accounting and law in India but my degree was not accepted in the United States so I decided to get into real estate.

HL Who was your first mentor, and how did he or she influence you?
RC I would say it was the person who taught my certification class. He said if we did one-third of the work he did, we could make a million dollars.

HL You’ll never be found without your…
RC Phone, of course.

HL What were your yearly sales for 2007? What is your forecast for 2008?
RC For 2007, it was $189 million, and for 2008, I project $250 million. I have already sold $130 million so far.

HL What is your most memorable deal?
RC The first house I ever showed. It’s kind of a funny story; we walked in on a couple making love! I had just gotten my license and was so embarrassed. I did, however, manage to find a house for the buyer later that night.

HL Where do you live?
RC Palos Verdes, Los Angeles.

HL If money were no object, what property on the market would you recommend in Southern California?
RC Beachfront property in Manhattan Beach.

HL What is your formula for keeping your high-profile clients happy?
RC Lots of service, attention to detail, to have knowledge of the industry and the properties, and, of course, to always be courteous.

HL Tell us one thing most people wouldn’t know about you.
RC I’m a funny guy.

HL What is your proudest achievement?
RC Coming here from overseas and being one of the most successful brokers in L.A. and in the United States.

HL Where would we find you on a Friday night?
RC Probably at home, watching a Lakers game on TV. I’m a big basketball fan.

HL What are your favorite vacation destinations and/or leisure activities?
RC Hawaii and Europe for vacations. I play tennis twice a week and work out with a trainer twice a week.

HL Your forecast for the L.A. real estate market for 2008?
RC In my area, it will stay stable and strong. Other areas could go soft but the high-end areas will keep selling.

HL What are your personal goals for 2008?
RC I would like to stay healthy and do more charitable work. I’ve started doing some and hope to expand that part of my life this year. Also, to make sure that my two sons continue to be well and happy.

HL In your opinion, what makes L.A. so special?
RC The weather is beautiful. There is plenty of opportunity. There are 500 large companies in the vicinity of my office so there is a lot of business activity. Also, the leisure activities; where I live, I am close to skiing, the mountains for hiking and I can partake in water sports. And then there’s Hollywood for nightlife, where there is all kinds of entertainment. And, above all, people here are nice

Joyce Rey
(Queen of California)

Joyce Rey is the head of the Estates Division of Coldwell Banker Previews International in Los Angeles. Her decades of successful experience with landmark properties allow an intimate understanding of the Los Angeles real estate market and the city as a whole. Here, she speaks of her Southern California background, her professional beginnings, and her varied accomplishments and goals in the Los Angeles real estate market. This high-powered agent shares with Haute Living a touching desire to improve and beautify the city she calls home. This integrity, along with a shrewd understanding of the marketplace, equates to an agent who emphasizes world-class customer service while maintaining top clients and properties with a refreshing straightforwardness.

HL Where are you from? What attracted you to L.A.?
JR I was born in Hollywood, raised in Orange County, and graduated with a master’s degree from the University of Southern California. I fell in love with Los Angeles while I was studying to become a business law teacher in South Central Los Angeles.

HL What attracted you to real estate?
JR My intention was to make a difference in our beautiful city. I was later married to an actor and bought and sold several homes. I loved the process. After that, it looked easy! I left teaching due to my husband’s series of film locations.

HL Who was your first mentor, and how did he or she influence you?
JR My first mentor in life was my father, an incredible attorney. My real estate mentor was Jack Hupp, a former all-American basketball player, author of the Beverly Hills Board of Realtors Code of Ethics, and twice president of the Chamber of Commerce. Jack was extremely dignified, honorable, straightforward, and always had a sense of humor, as well as a positive outlook.

HL You’ll never be found without your…
JR Concern for others and a smile on my face.

HL What were your yearly sales for 2007? Forecast for 2008?
JR My annual sales for 2007 were over $130 million , and I always hope to do better each year. On the personal side, I always try to improve myself as a human being.

HL What is your most memorable deal?
JR Each deal is important, and memorable, but several stand out: my representation of the Mary Pickford estate Pickfair, and the sale of this historic estate to Jerry Bus; my representation of the exquisite Sonny and Cher estate on two occasions, which ultimately represented the highest sale in the United States at the time.

HL Where do you live?
JR I have lived for many years in a beautiful award-winning architectural home in Beverly Hills, originally designed by the architectural firm of Smith and Williams, and recently redesigned by Waldo Fernandez and Mark Rios.

HL If money were no object, what property on the market would you recommend in Southern California?
JR Fleur De Lys, which is one of the most exceptional properties I have seen in my lifetime. It received an award from President Jacques Chirac as one of the finest examples of French architecture in America.

HL What is your formula for keeping your high-profile clients happy?
JR Putting my clients’ best interests first, and providing the best possible service and always enhancing my knowledge of the marketplace.

HL Tell us one thing most people wouldn’t know about you.
JR I am adopted, and some years ago, I appeared on 60 Minutes in search of my roots, and found a great family.

HL What is your proudest achievement?
JR In 1979, I established the first division in America exclusively devoted to estates in excess of $1 million! Also, being a mother and a mentor to a foster child.

HL Where would we find you on a Friday night?
JR Probably something different each Friday night, such as a cultural or sporting event, catching a great film, or a quiet dinner with friends.

HL What are your favorite vacation destinations and/or leisure activities?
JR I love the outdoors, and a brisk walk in the lovely canyons and mountains of West Los Angeles. I adore Kundalini and Iyengar yoga, but don’t have enough opportunity to practice.
Vacations are wonderful getaways to recharge my batteries. I usually plan one or two major holidays each year. Last year, it was a ball at Versailles. New Years, it was a wedding in Brazil and visiting relatives in Buenos Aires. I am now planning a trip with the FAI organization to Italy. I try not to miss the Sun Valley Writers Conference and the Renaissance Weekends. Careyes and San Miguel de Allende are my favorite spots in Mexico, and everyone loves a fabulous weekend in New York, or a quick stop at the Ojai Valley Inn.

HL Your forecast for the L.A. real estate market for 2008?
JR In spite of the turbulent stock market, and the sub-prime mortgage crisis, our high-end real estate market is very active. The local and international demand is strong. In particular, properties in excess of $10 million are selling very well.

HL In your opinion, what makes L.A. so special?
JR There are things that make Los Angeles a special place to live. Everyone loves the climate and the tremendous cultural opportunities. (Our new museums are amazing!) We have sensational sports teams, a fabulous public library, and an exciting and talented entertainment community, the best restaurants, and a wonderful friendly community filled with ethnic diversity.

Valerie Fitzgerald
(Heart and SOLD)

Over the last 15 years, Valerie Fitzgerald has single-handedly managed to build a multi-million dollar real estate business, establish her own charity foundation, speak around the country at numerous business conventions, and appear on national television shows like Entertainment Tonight and MTV’s Cribs, or more recently, on NBC’s new series Open House LA. Fitzgerald is ranked among Coldwell Banker’s Top 10 agents nationwide, and earned the attention of the Los Angeles Business Journal for the highest sales volume in L.A. County for residential real estate in 2000. Despite her ever-growing success, her life is anything but one-sided; she is the proud mother of a 21-year-old who she calls her inspiration. Fitzgerald recounts her remarkable experiences in an upcoming book, published by Simon and Schuster later this year. “It means everything to me,” she says of her life. “You need to have the dream of how you want your life to be, and then you need the heart to go and get it. Don’t ever give up-if you shoot for the moon and miss, you are still among the stars.”

HL Where are you from? What attracted you to L.A.?
VF I was born in the heartland: Huron, South Dakota. My family moved to upstate New York and we lived on a chicken farm. I had to box eggs before school most mornings. At one point, we moved to L.A. I was working for Revlon and it was not working out for me and a friend suggested I go into real estate. I was not only a single mother but I was also broke and really scared at the time.

HL What attracted you to real estate?
VF At the time I went into real estate, I didn’t have the luxury of making choices based on what I was “attracted” to. I had a baby to raise and I decided to focus and give it my all to have a successful real estate career.

HL Who was your first mentor, and how did he or she influence you?
VF Without a doubt, my very first mentor was Judah Hertz. He taught me perseverance and to not take things personally. My second mentor was a wonderful woman who initially scared me. Her name was Thelma Orloff. She was tall and always dressed to the nines. She would say, “Just keep a smile, kid, and they will love you.”

HL You’ll never be found without your…
VF Positive attitude. There isn’t anything else.

HL What were your yearly sales for 2007? Forecast for 2008?
VF I have been fortunate to have consistent gross sales of approximately $160 million in residential sales each year for a while now. While I do follow a business plan, I am also aware that there are conditions that can skew projections. So to claim that we will surpass the previous year’s achievements in 2008…I feel would give no credibility to a changing climate. To be honest, we will do just great.

HL What is your most memorable deal?
VF My most memorable deals are the ones where both buyers and sellers are happy at the closing and we have dinner together to celebrate.

HL Where do you live?
VF I live in Brentwood, California, in a family neighborhood where neighbors are friendly.

HL If money were no object, what property on the market would you recommend in Southern California?
VF My own home…but I am not a seller…ha ha ha, where have I heard that before?

HL What is your formula for keeping your high-profile clients happy?
VF I don’t have a “formula” for keeping anyone happy including myself. I am so pleased to represent the people I do, and what I give to my clients is information. They are constantly informed about where their home stands in the “perception” world of value-locally, nationally, and internationally.

HL Tell us one thing most people wouldn’t know about you.
VF I have written a book that is being published by Simon and Schuster in New York and will be released February 2009. It is called Heart and SOLD and it is a collection of lessons and stories about raising a baby and a business.

HL What is your proudest achievement?
VF Without a doubt, being the mother of Vanessa Fitzgerald, a wonderful young woman I am so proud of.

HL Where would we find you on a Friday night?
VF Reading, writing, dinner with friends…but always going to bed manifesting the partner I would like to one day share my life with.

HL What are your favorite vacation destinations and/or leisure activities?
VF One day I had the realization that my daughter has been in 23 countries and she’s just 21. So traveling is immensely important to me. Let’s see…where to start? Dinner in London, lunch in Paris, a walk on the beach, and dancing in Istanbul or Saint-Tropez.

HL Your forecast for the L.A. real estate market for 2008?
VF Considering that there is a low inventory of homes available for sale, a lot of foreign investing as a result of currency exchanges, a plethora of buyers on the side lines, and reasonably low interest rates, I expect 2008 to continue to be strong.

HL What are your personal goals for 2008?
VF My personal goals grow every year. I will be healthy, I will listen to and be available for those people in my life that value a relationship with me. I will give my heart and soul to my family first. My friends and my clients will know the truth as I know it, and I will be on the New York Times best seller list with my book.

HL In your opinion, what makes L.A. so special?
VF There are a lot of things that make L.A. special. I look for the “twinkle” in life and a sense of humor.