Congratulations to one of our July Agents to Watch, Brian Zuckerman! Brian brings to the table a diversified business approach, built on experience, passion for the real estate industry, and a desire to get his clients into their new homes. Keep reading to learn more about Brian!
What was the first thing you wrote on your to-do list for today?:
Check in on clients who just moved into their new home.
What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?:
Don’t do that.
What is your favorite part about working in real estate in this part of the world?:
There’s a reason people say they’re from Sonoma County. You’re not just living in one particular town. A collection of small towns, each unique, each within a short distance, makes up a larger region that represents the best possible lifestyle one can imagine.
Sonoma County is just a thing, sometimes hard to define, but for me, a day doesn’t pass that I don’t viscerally appreciate the good fortune of being here with my family.
The weather, the bounty of agriculture, the never-ending views, and varied landscape just add up to something magical. There’s what I call the Sonoma Glow that I see on people’s faces. It’s a look of peace, of contentment, like they are living a discovered secret and wouldn’t be anywhere else. I’ve never lived in a place where I’ve experienced such a thing.
Tell us about a recent challenge you came upon and how you conquered it.:
I have a diversified practice and a fair share of clients who invest in multi-family and short-term rentals (STR’s). STR’s fit the classic risk/reward profile. Returns can be outsized but it’s a tricky business. The challenges include an ever-changing ordinance and zoning landscape, market saturation, etc.
I happen to manage a few destination properties in both Joshua Tree and Healdsburg. It’s inevitable that some of these will underperform, and the asset either needs to be utilized differently or sold. I have several of these at the moment. One can’t bend reality, so discovering a solution that preserves as much equity as possible is the challenge. This may include converting to a mid-term rental, long-term rental, or taking a short-term hit, selling, and doing a 1031 into something more promising.
The hardest part of this isn't the mechanics but the psychological. Helping clients understand that not everything can be a home run, that base hits add up over time, is key.
What role has mentorship played in your career?:
I have an early experience with this that is imprinted in my mind. More observational mentorship. And it's not exactly related to my career, but in some ways it probably translates.
I was 8 years old and was the youngest member of a swimming relay event that featured one member from each age group. Eric Yacheshev was the oldest and a local legend. He was dominant and never took his foot off the gas. His physicality matched his performance. Outsized. Something about witnessing that just stuck.
The moment his mentorship was revealed was during that relay. He was the first leg (backstroke), I was the 3rd leg (butterfly). My job was to maintain the sizable lead he created. I did that. As I hit the wall, he bent down his giant frame, grabbed me by the wrist, and shot me out of the pool onto dry land. It was a flicker of a moment that demonstrated his approval and excitement over my performance, and that he was in good company and that I was perhaps worthy of following in his footsteps.
The feeling I had in that moment has never left me. Small things matter.
What's your favorite home design feature that you wish more homes had?:
Outdoor shower and Scullery/2nd Kitchen. Sorry, that’s two.
If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would you choose and why?:
Terry Kath (founding member and lead guitarist of Chicago). Jimmy Hendrix was in awe of him. Soulful, a master of his craft and a huge talent. I’d dig into this and ask some questions.
Someone is coming to visit Sonoma/Mendocino/SF County. Where should they go first?:
Drive down Sonoma Valley and visit Jack London State Park, followed by dinner at Glen Ellen Star, then circle back up through Bennett Valley. This road less travelled is quite beautiful and meant to be fawned over. A great prelude to the rest of Sonoma County.
What's something you're looking forward to in the upcoming year? (Wedding, vacation, new opportunity, etc.):
I have a few clients doing remodel projects on properties they purchased with me. I am overseeing the redevelopment. Helping to curate the experience of a destination property, then delivering the completed project. This is the sweet spot for me. Fueling the business of real estate with creative vision in a collaborative journey that culminates in something extraordinary. These are dreams crafted into reality.
