In a shifting real estate market, the guidance and expertise that Inman imparts are never more valuable. Whether at our events, or with our daily news coverage and how-to journalism, we’re here to help you build your business, adopt the right tools — and make money. Join us in person in Las Vegas at Connect, and utilize your Select subscription for all the information you need to make the right decisions. When the waters get choppy, trust Inman to help you navigate.
Are you receiving Inman’s Agent Edge? Make sure you’re subscribed here.
Even if you’re a luxury agent, there are some listings that are truly next-level. Maybe you’ve been the listing agent for a home that’s far beyond anything you’d ever marketed before. Maybe you’ve been the buyer agent for truly discerning and moneyed buyers for whom only the best will do.
Did the listing come as a bolt from the blue or as the result of long-term nurturing? Did you know the client well, or was it a one-off transaction? Were you intimidated or supremely confident as you negotiated the priciest transaction you’d ever experienced?
Last week, we asked you to tell us about the most expensive sale of your career; here’s one response:
My most expensive sale was an Edward Killingsworth residence in Long Beach, California.
We represented the buyers, long-time clients, who have an appreciation for unique architecture especially California and Long Beach architecture. Killingsworth’s history and contributions to mid-century architecture are unmatched; this particular home was the personal residence of Laura and Edward Killingsworth.
He built the home over many years with his children helping out. They cleared the lot, leveled the lot, planted the trees (many exist there still) and laid the brick by hand in the outdoor courtyard, and, of course, the home itself. His son was gracious enough to elaborate at length on the history of the build and of his parents, who were fascinating people.
We sent the listing to our clients mostly as a “check this out.” They asked to see it, bought it and preserved it. It is used as a fundraising space and a permanent case study for architects, both students and masters.
Every time I was at the home, the spirit of the space washed over me. Especially the outdoor space at just the right time of day — dusk.
The property sits alongside the 100+-year-old Virginia Country Club with expansive fairways and eucalyptus trees swaying in the onshore breeze.
I love knowing that I can, with a phone call, visit this magical place anytime I like, to sit in the presence of such an amazing architect and a bit of history in the city that I love: Long Beach.
Now it’s your turn. Share your stories in the comments below.