SOUTH BAY DIGS | Digital Edition Online

4.30.2021 | DIGS.NET 57 M A R K E T "e beautiful thing is that the five of us have a chem- istry that is undeniable," says PACIFICA's Lynne Lear. "It's respectful and collaborative." Lear, a local off-market specialist, is a founding partner alongside other long- time real estate figures Dan O'Connor, Jeremy Shelton, Karynne im and Chris Plank—the latter of whom is the former broker of record at both Shorewood and Sotheby's. ere's chemistry, yes, and differing areas of real estate expertise to create a powerful and comprehensive whole. "We have a nice blend," Shelton describes. "We all do everything in real estate, but each person has a tagline under their name." ere's a Strand expert, for instance, and an agent with a specialty in investment properties. One agent is focused on new development, while another's forte is off-market listings. And so forth. "It makes for a really nice, inherent balance among the group," O'Connor points out. While the agency may be new, their collaboration is not. Or as PACIFICA puts it: Our name is new—but you've known these agents for years. "We all worked at the same office for years," says Shelton, describing how the group gelled during their many years of working together at the Shorewood Realtors office in Manhattan Beach. Each of the principals, who live and work in the Beach Cities, is distinguished by a commitment to the community and many years of experience—20 to 30 years in local real estate, respectively. "All of our chil- dren have graduated from or are currently attending a local school," notes O'Connor. "We speak the language of the South Bay." e agents were inspired to form PACIFICA in response to a changing real estate landscape that saw control at local agencies being ceded to big-name brokerages. "We didn't want to go to a venture capi- tal-backed company headquartered somewhere far away, where we were only going to be built up to be sold," Lear describes. "at type of change is very disruptive." Instead, the group envisioned a boutique brokerage where they could leverage their respective experience and networks in the Beach Cities, all the while holding the reins of their business to better to serve their clients. "Boutique to us means keeping it local in terms of hands-on service," says im. "We are energized by this move, to create a career home for us and to add more successful, high-integrity agents." ough operating with a strong local touch, at PACIFICA there's also an emphasis on tech and global reach as it pertains to real estate. "We have the most cutting-edge, back-of- fice systems that create more flexibility for the agents to do what they're good at," she points out, "which is buying and selling real estate for clients." eir independence ultimately translates to PACI- FICA operating in a nimble and streamlined manner, without being beholden to higher powers, or having to charge clients extra fees to kick up to an outside brokerage. Summing it up, says Plank: "We're individual agents coming together every day with the brain trust of the five of us." Perhaps the biggest reward so far has come from their most crucial audience. "Every single client of ours has been proud of us, and so supportive when we told them about the new agency," states Lear. "It's incredibly satis- fying." For these five agents, PACIFICA is a quest that stirred in their minds for some time. Now launched, the group reflects: "e time has presented itself for us to execute our vision of a true boutique brokerage, move to our collective next level and control our destiny." 918 Manhattan Ave, Hermosa Beach ($2,850.000) 938 Duncan Ave, Manhattan Beach ($4,450,000) 1947 Valley Park in Hermosa Beach ($5,799,000) 636 Manhattan Avenue, Hermosa Beach ($2,450,000)

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