Darin DeRenzis of Sotheby’s International Realty

Here, the top-producing agent Darin DeRenzis chats with DIGS about his market expertise, flourishing partnerships and passion for the South Bay.

What, specifically, makes you so passionate about the industry?

Darin DeRenzis: To put it simply, I love the idea that we are helping people find homes. Homes are not places that where we live; they are the places where we raise our families, entertain our friends and in some ways define who we are. There is something special about being an integral part of that process.

Will you describe your real estate philosophy?

Darin DeRenzis: I believe in a high level of personal service. I don’t want a lot of clients, I want a handful of clients that I can service at the highest possible level, and in turn that service will naturally lead to us helping their friends and family too.

How do you cater to your clients’ individual needs?

Darin DeRenzis: Recognizing our client’s motivations, needs and desires is the most important part of what we do. It’s our job to help them clarify these things and then in turn execute and make the process as pain-free and stress-less as possible. My experience and connections with vendors in the South Bay allow me achieve that goal.

What distinguishes your firm from others in the same market?

Darin DeRenzis: I am a partner in the Edler | DeRenzis Group, the top producing luxury team in the South Bay. We are unique because we operate like a family in every way; we have traditions that we follow, like handing out pies at Thanksgiving, that give us a personal touch that most of our competitors don’t offer and our clients enjoy.

We were all born and raised in the South Bay; I live in Hermosa Beach and my partners live in Palos Verdes. Because of that reach we bring a wealth of market knowledge as a whole, from San Pedro to Manhattan Beach, which I think is unmatched. We operate as individuals in support of individual clients, of course, but we also bring the team support to each listing in whatever capacity is needed.

What makes you the competitive choice in this market?

Darin DeRenzis: To begin with, and I touched on this before, but my partnership with Rick Edler and Kitty Edler allows me to be networked at the highest level both in the highly competitive markets of Manhattan and Hermosa Beach as well as on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. More then 20 percent of real estate transactions in these markets have, in the last two years, happened off the MLS. It is critical to know what inventory is coming, and just as critical to know what inventory has sold so that pricing strategies can be tweaked as the market goes up, cools down and heats back up again.

The second thing that we have is our affiliation with Sotheby’s International Realty. In our advertising we often use the tag line, “Local Touch with a Global Reach.” That says it all, but it is only part of the story. Sotheby’s gives all of our listings an unprecedented marketing reach to the affluent communities of Southern California, throughout the U.S. and internationally, with over 700 offices worldwide operating in every major market in the world. We cover the local aspect of selling real estate as individuals, but reaching the broader market online would be impossible without Sotheby’s.

How does your knowledge of the South Bay market contribute to your success in the industry?

Darin DeRenzis: I was born and raised in Palos Verdes, and have lived my entire adult life at the beach. I understand what it means to live in the South Bay because I have had personal exposure to almost all aspects of it. You can’t teach the knowledge that comes with that experience, and that gives me credibility with my clients, everyday.

What makes the South Bay market so covetable?

Darin DeRenzis: We have always enjoyed a housing market that is fed by the strong and diverse economies of both the financial districts of Downtown L.A., and the studios of Hollywood and the Westside; but more recently with the rise of Silicon Beach to help fuel that engine. Also, it is hard to see anything but an extremely positive long-term outlook for our market.

Not only does everyone want to live in our cities because of the lifestyle, schools, etc., but now you also have people from the Silicon Valley and elsewhere buying second homes on the Strand just because they want to be part of it as well, if only part-time. It’s fairly incredible if you think about it.

What do you love most about the South Bay?

Darin DeRenzis: More than anything, I love the fact that all of our communities in the South Bay operate like small towns, even though they are not. Everyone wants to come home to a neighborhood where they feel welcome, where they can hang with their neighbors, take part in traditions like the Hometown Fair, St. Patrick’s Day parades and Little League parades, etc.

In the South Bay you are part of a small community with the lifestyle everyone wants to live, but you are still centrally located with access to all that Los Angeles has to offer. I feel lucky to be a part of it everyday.

You are also involved with a few charities. Will you tell a little about that?

Darin DeRenzis: I am currently on the board of Walk with Sally and though not a charity, also heavily involved with the non-profit Hermosa Beach Little League. Walk With Sally provides mentoring and support services for children whose parents or siblings are affected by cancer.

It is a charity that is near and dear to my heart and I am proud to be a part of it. Recently our team has also gotten involved with the Special Olympics, sponsoring an athlete – which I am really excited to be a part of.

What do you enjoy doing when not selling real estate?

Darin DeRenzis: I coach a lot of Little League baseball and I have to say, I love it.

Photo by Kieron McKay