Real Estate Articles
Chris Isaacson, Ready to Lead Local Trade Association in 2015
On January 14, 2015, the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® will usher in a new board of directors, with Chris Isaacson, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage –Woodside, at its helm.
Friends and colleagues describe Isaacson as low key, approachable, and a good listener. He is also regarded as a "great motivator."
Isaacson was born in Santa Clara, but grew up in Portola Valley. He graduated from Menlo-Atherton High School and attended UC Santa Barbara before graduating from Pepperdine University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management.
Isaacson brings to the local trade association and organized real estate a strong background in banking and finance. Prior to becoming a REALTOR®, he worked at the Montecito Bank & Trust in Santa Barbara, starting as a teller and later, loan officer. He rose through the ranks and moved to San Diego, where he served as branch manager and commercial loan officer for California Bank & Trust and Citibank in San Diego.
After a number of years in San Diego, Isaacson said it was time to make a change. He decided to return to his roots and embark on a real estate career. He got his real estate license in 2006, and joined his mother, Jean Isaacson, in the business. Mother and son form a team at the Coldwell Banker Resident Brokerage Woodside office.
Isaacson notes 2006 wasn't the best time to get into real estate since that was the time the market began its downturn, but having survived those turbulent times has proved to him that he can succeed in the business. "It gave me a perspective in the reality of how it (real estate) works," says Isaacson.
The ability to be your own boss, having more control of your daily schedule, building relationships are aspects of the business Isaacson enjoys. Then there's the emotional attachment to clients. "It can be intense," he muses.
Isaacson remembers negotiating the sale of property that belonged to the deceased parent of five siblings who could not agree with each other. It took over a year to sell the property.
"The family dynamics, it's different all the time. You never know because each transaction, each client, is different. This is what keeps the business interesting. It's all about people, and you make great friends along the way," says Isaacson.
From the beginning of his real estate career, Isaacson got involved in organized real estate. He joined the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® soon after he got his real estate license. He is past chair of the Menlo Park/Atherton District and the district's RSVP (REALTOR® Service Volunteer Program) committee. He has served on SILVAR's board as a director at-large and as a California Association of REALTORS® Region 9 director.
"If I was going to invest in my career, I wanted to have a voice," explains Isaacson. He encourages other members to do the same. Get involved, keep informed.
Isaacson looks to 2015 with much optimism. "We are all so fortunate to live in such a special place at this point in time. Apple, Google, Facebook, Stanford University, HP, and the list goes on of top companies and institutions located in our area," marvels Isaacson. "It is really no wonder our real estate market continues to outperform the rest of the state. The challenge in this kind of market, though, is inventory. There will be competition for listings, but I am always amazed at the level of cooperation among agents. It is unique."
The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) is a professional trade organization representing over 4,000 REALTORS® and Affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. SILVAR promotes the highest ethical standards of real estate practice, serves as an advocate for homeownership and homeowners, and represents the interests of property owners in Silicon Valley.
The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and who subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.
Variations of this article have appeared in local area newspapers.
For further information, please email or call the SILVAR office at (408) 200-0100.