The Agency is proud to announce Dan Urbach has joined the team as Managing Director of our newly-opened Pacific Palisades office. A Westside native and one of its top-producing agents, Dan brings more than 25 years of real estate experience representing buyers and sellers in the exclusive neighborhoods of Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, Brentwood, and Malibu.
Dan joins The Agency after several standout years at Berkshire Hathaway, where he was a consistent top producer in the Pacific Palisades office and recognized in the “Top Ten” of the company’s 42,000 real estate professional nationwide.
“Dan’s command of the Westside marketplace is unrivaled,” says Mauricio Umansky, Co-Founder and CEO of The Agency. “His reputation in the Palisades community and steadfast commitment to his clients make him a natural fit to lead the new office. We are beyond thrilled to have him on board.”
We caught up with Dan to hear his plans for the Pacific Palisades office, market projections for 2018, and reflections on growing up on the California coast.
What are your goals for the Palisades office?
I believe that The Agency’s reputation and strong brand presence in L.A. will translate exceedingly well to Pacific Palisades. The goal is not to grow quickly, but to carefully attract talented, high-integrity agents. I expect it won’t be long until we’re expanding the Palisades office.
What was it that drew you to The Agency?
I have been keeping an eye on The Agency since its inception five years ago. From the beginning I’ve been impressed by The Agency’s cutting-edge marketing and advertising, their ability to bring in top-notch real estate agents and their increasing market share.
What excites you about Pacific Palisades real estate?
I love Pacific Palisades and I love selling real estate here. The Palisades has a small-town feel with our walking village, 4th of July Parade, farmer’s market and beachy vibe. There are so many different little neighborhoods within the Palisades—the Alphabet Streets, Riviera, Huntington Marquez Knolls, Castellammare, Highlands, Via Bluffs and El Medio Bluffs. Each has its own character and uniqueness. And of course, I’m excited about Rick Caruso’s new Palisades Village development, which is scheduled for completion in late summer of 2018. I’m looking forward to a vibrant Village and can’t wait to catch a movie with my family at our new theater.
As a Malibu native, how have you seen the area—and market—change over the years?
I couldn’t have wished for a better place to grow up than Malibu, with the Pacific Ocean in front and the Santa Monica Mountains directly behind. It was like a huge playground for me. The Palisades is much the same, and I couldn’t think of a better place to raise my family. As for the market, the biggest change is that back in the days before the internet, real estate information was tightly guarded by real estate agents. Today anyone with a cell phone, tablet or computer has access to every single home and condo on the market via hundreds of websites and apps. Our job as real estate professionals is, now more than ever, focused on being experts in the neighborhoods, skilled negotiators, minimizing liability and making sure our clients are making wise, informed decisions, as well as assisting our buyers and sellers through the increasingly complicated transaction process.
How do you perceive the Westside market now and what are your projections for 2018?
I’m optimistic and bullish through the rest of this year and into 2018. Westside residential real estate continues to be in high demand. While prices have continued to climb, the Westside of L.A. still represents a great value compared to New York, London, Hong Kong and even San Francisco.
