Not Every Idea Is A Good One…
IF IT WEREN’T FOR OUR TWO CHILDREN…
What’s that saying,“when you love what you do, you never work a day in your life?” That’s my entire truth; becoming a Mom and raising my two kids will be the greatest job and privilege of my lifetime, as I learned well over the next 32 years and still believe today.
When I left Los Angeles and my job in the entertainment business to move back “home” to Rancho Santa Fe and go into real estate, I thought I had finally found my niche. I had my license for almost three years, before going out on my own, and for two of those years, I did my time as an assistant/intern for Coldwell Banker in Rancho Santa Fe, where my older sister was also an agent. Then one day my friend, Bill, who was one of the agents I assisted at Coldwell Banker, and had become a dear and trusted friend, introduced me to Kay Wasser and Carol Hard, the owners of Plaza Properties, and suggested I might want to work in an office, where I wouldn’t be over-shadowed by my Sister’s very strong presence? That had to be one of the greatest developments I experienced in my young career. Plaza’s corner office location in the Ranch, right on the corner of Paseo Delicias and La Granada was a dream come true; smack dab in the middle of town, next to Quimby’s Restaurant, a local “institution,” which meant I didn’t have to go far when I had forgotten to eat and was starving. Because it was a small office with an interesting assortment of older agents, who knew the Ranch well, but were not terribly motivated or “hungry” for work (wildly understated) meant I could take as much “floor time” as I wanted and in the first eight months of the year, I had sold over 7 million dollars of real estate. That doesn’t sound like much in today’s world, but as a 27 year old, relatively new agent… in my world it was huge. I felt invincible. Kay and Carol couldn’t have been better mentors, and when a “referral” client called from Los Angeles to work with a local agent, who knew the area well and was willing to show him development property all the way from the Ranch, up to and past Temecula, my two teachers were happy to direct him my way, and I was more than happy to oblige. I was raised in Rancho Santa Fe, my family was known, had been an active part of the community, and I felt completely at ease working in the area. In fact, while the Ranch’s unique, high-profile, and high-dollar property price tags were intimidating to some of the other agents I knew, the special bond and feeling of comfort the Ranch stirred in me, only served to energize and motivate me more. I loved every bit of it.
So when my new referral client walked in to Plaza the day we had scheduled for property showings, I knew a bit about his background and was prepared for the day ahead. He was a commercial agent from LA, who happened to represent a wealthy developer seeking several hundred acres of property which could be subdivided into communities of small, five acre “ranchettes.” I had already researched the options and driven all over north San Diego county to preview any large parcels that existed. Any available properties that were officially listed as well as ones that I dug up privately after tirelessly talking to every resource, agent, or acquaintance I had ever made who knew vacant land were on my list. I found ones that had access to existing utilities, as well as ones that came with nothing but rolling topography and lots of dirt! If a deal was to be made, it would be just my second contract. The day went well and I was authorized to draw up a Purchase Contract. After hours of support, guidance and education from Kay and Carol early the following morning, I was all set to forward the extensive package of documents. Those two women made it their mission to ensure that the deal had been reviewed, revised and left no detail unaddressed. With their help I produced a contract that contemplated any question, loophole, possible item that might require disclosure, as well as a thousand other factors. When I called Ken, the L.A. agent, to say our contract and purchase offer was ready for his client’s approval and that a copy had already been faxed to his office for review, he was incredulous! Spending hours together while I showed him every single property that was available, and even a few that weren’t, we obviously had some time to talk and get to know each other. He had worked for a large commercial firm in Los Angeles for ten years, and while he could have been a tad concerned at how “green” I was, had he known the relative brevity of my experience as a solo real estate agent, that didn’t happen. Imagine what he would have thought had he known that this transaction was just my second deal? Not even a hint of concern was shown as he poured over the thorough package of documents and resulting contract that I had put together, thankfully with Kay and Carol’s tutelage. Three days later, we opened escrow. The deal was for $3.7 million dollars.....it closed 75 days later, and I was flying high! That significant early success fueled my drive and I wanted to conquer the real estate world. Over the next several months, I sold four additional million-dollar plus properties. I spent more time in the office than all the other agents combined. I offered to take floor time and hold open houses at every possible opportunity. Together with volunteering constantly for any number of community events and fund-raising causes steadily supplied a fresh stream of new people (clients) entering my life.
Through it all, my friendship with an agent from my Coldwell Banker days, Bill Door, continued to blossom. Bill was the reason I joined Plaza Properties and was just like a big, old Teddy Bear. He disarmed everyone with his infectious smile and unassuming nature which made people, be it friend, business associate, client, man or woman feel immediately at ease. He had some inexplicable, take you by surprise, charm, and even though he was married when we first met, I found myself wishing he wasn’t. Nevertheless, over time, and even after his subsequent separation, it didn’t matter anymore, because we had cultivated a friendship far more valuable than I was willing to jeopardize or sacrifice by any type of fooling around. Plus, Bill was never short of female company.
Nevertheless, we had developed a weekly routine; we talked almost daily, sometimes saw each other two to three times a week, usually went on “caravan” together, and I loved and looked forward to our Thursday lunches at the RSF Club. Thursday, August 17, 1989, proved no exception! I arrived at the Club, and Bill was just pulling in the driveway too; I waited and we walked in together. There was a large golf tournament that day, so while it was busy, teeming with people and bustling with energy outside on the greens, as well as on the patio, we had our pick of almost any table in the dining room. Bill chose a four top table near the window, as it was a beautiful day to gaze outside, and he also knew how much I hated to sit in the middle of the room. We were catching up about a new buyer I had, when he stood up to greet someone who must have walked up behind me; I turned around to smile, extending my hand to greet the man while we exchanged hellos! Bill was quick to introduce us, asked the man to join us, which he promptly did, sitting down next to me and opposite Bill. But already, as soon as Bill said the man’s name, I knew I was being set up. I thought after the last incident when Bill attempted to play matchmaker, I had made it VERY clear.....thanks, but no thanks. I wasn’t interested in either of the two men, who had become fast clients and even faster friends of Bill’s, after they each purchased substantial homes in the Ranch from Bill a couple months earlier, following an impromptu visit to Rancho Santa Fe. Following a leisurely lunch at lovely Mille Fleurs, they made an unscheduled stop into Coldwell Banker, the real estate office which just happened to be across the patio courtyard from the charming French cafe. The many paned windows of the real estate office, each displaying a beautifully framed photo of office listings captured the men’s attention. Bill was, coincidentally, on the floor that afternoon, and proceeded to squire the men around the Ranch for the remainder of that day which resulted in both men, bachelors, purchasing large homes. Our poor mutual friend, Patsy, also in Bill’s office was devastated when she realized that the Saturday “floor-time” she pawned off on Bill earlier in the week had been so fruitful. Patsy was known for always feeling uniquely entitled to whatever it was she wanted. It would be another 12 years before she attempted to recoup her loss from that weekend floor time. After the passing of husband #2, Patsy was especially motivated to “land herself the catch she deserved,” even if the object of her attention and ambition was married to an “alleged friend.” Oops I digress… back to Bill’s good fortune! Both bachelors were very travelled, had multiple homes across the country and worked all around the world, but had also become smitten with the beauty and charm that Rancho Santa Fe exuded. Bill was successful already, but these two new clients turned him into an overnight, real estate rockstar. Typical Bill; his low-key swagger, managed to turn a slow Saturday “on the floor” into a $4.500,000 million score! Three weeks later the men were new Ranch Santa Fe residents. Somehow, that development incentivized Bill into playing “Yente” for the two, successful, wealthy, middle-aged men…currently focused on improving their tennis games, acquiring exotic cars, and procuring real estate projects.
Anyways Paulo, bachelor #1, was not my type at all, nor was I his. He was way too slick; nevertheless, that didn’t stop him from asking me to go away with him for the weekend after one cup of coffee. Bachelor #2, Al was casually well dressed, in a long sleeve, off-white linen shirt with cuffs rolled up slightly and tucked neatly into khaki shorts. I would later discover that was just one of a number of “California uniforms” he frequently sported, all courtesy of the personal shopper at Lina Lee in Beverly Hills, who had his credit card on file, and sent monthly boxes of “goodies” for him to choose from. The Lina Lee ensemble was finished with a rich, chocolate colored, leather belt that matched the color of his tasseled driving moccasins, which he wore sock-less. Relatively attractive, with salt and pepper, well-cut hair, Al was cleanly shaven and bore a slight resemblance to Robert DeNiro. He wasn’t terribly tall, maybe 5’7 - 5’8, but appeared fit, tan and had the most (almost freakishly) muscled calves I’d ever seen. He also had a slight New Yorker’s accent, that I thought was occasionally peppered with a tiny hint of a “lisp.” The conversation shared over lunch was easy, and centered mostly around the houses Al and pal, Paulo, had purchased. Al was eager to share the changes he was making to the “Knyper house,” a somewhat severe Contemporary that had been on the market quite a long time. Al didn’t care that Contemporary architecture and the Ranch were not ideally suited for one another, so after negotiating a pretty sweet purchase price, he bought the property. Even though the house wasn’t an architectural style usually found or favored throughout Rancho Santa Fe, this particular property sat on a quiet promontory on the east side of the Covenant, and had a beautiful view of the reservoir, just one street over from Lago Lindo, which curiously enough was the street I had grown up on. My childhood home sat a stone’s throw away, in front of and due west of El Camino Del Norte, the street where Al’s new home, and the tiny private drive called Rancho Cielo was located. Al was describing the work in progress at his new property, when Bill’s cell rang. Bill got up from the table to respect the club’s well-established etiquette about cell phone calls. During his absence, Al and I struck up a lively conversation about the way he and Paulo happened upon the Ranch, and the serendipitous decision they had each made about buying additional homes so quickly. Fifteen minutes later, lunch was drawing to a close, and Al explained he was leaving for the weekend, but wondered if he might be able to take me to dinner that evening so we could finish our conversation and get to know each other a bit better. Although he was definitely more attractive to me than Paulo had been, I still didn’t feel much chemistry and had already made plans with my Dad and his wife to celebrate Dad’s birthday before they left town for the weekend. So, it was an honest and easy reply, when I thanked him but said, I had another commitment and wouldn’t be able to join him that evening. He didn’t seem particularly disappointed or impacted, and just said he was sure we’d see each other again, as he would be back in town the following week. Bill had since made his way back to the table, saying he had taken care of the check and was having to leave. His Mother was battling throat cancer, in the hospital and facing surgery, so I knew how important it was he attend to the painful obligation ahead. We all walked out together, I hugged Bill telling him I would check in with him in the morning and bid goodbye to Al, who explained he was going to head to the Tennis Club and Pro Shop across the parking lot to introduce himself and set up a workout for next week! I got in my car, pointed it back towards the office, and didn’t give my second “set up” much further thought.
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