I was interested in a foreclosed-upon condo in Sherman Oaks at the very bottom of the market back…read morein Feb. 2012. The selling party was the bank. That's how I was first introduced to Michelle Zepp-Carrillo and her then-(senior) selling partner. They represented buyer (me) and seller (the bank), with my full knowledge. The transaction went smoothly and to my satisfaction in all respects, and the well-located condo proved to be a wise investment indeed, having increased in value from $170,000 to $575,000. One day, the Tax Man will get his share, if he waits long enough.
By spring 2016 I was thinking of investing some accumulated cash in another, affordable condo, seeking again a run-down property, well-located, with upside potential. There were not many choices that checked all the boxes within my price range. Having stayed in touch with her over those preceding four years, (and, she with me), I was happy to call Michelle to assist me in the search. I was happy to do most of the early footwork, picking out, online, properties that seemed promising. Michelle patiently drove me around, from The Valley, to Inglewood, as we checked out the units that fit my criteria. She liked to kick the tires so to speak, knocking on doors of neighboring units so as to elicit those folks' TRUE opinion of the given complex, including all the DIRT we wanted to hear. Not all agents would be gutsy enough to do that sort of thing, but Michelle is not your ordinary agent.
When that unit and complex disappointed (poorly run complex with serious financial and management issues, but we knew all about that going in), we sold the property in mid 2021 after I chose to extensively renovate it. Despite the intractable issues at the complex, I still sold at a decent profit. Once again, Michelle came through, giving advice on pricing and renovation priorities, preparing the final details as it went to listing, showing the unit, and handling with competence the usual details of the offer/acceptance/escrow period.
Don't let the little girl high voice fool you. This is a tough, experienced pro, who has unusual GEOGRAPHICAL BREADTH. In the course of her foreclosure years, she worked with properties from the very northern limits of L.A. County, down to the O.C. and the Mexican border. She doesn't have a "farm" as the term goes; is not hung up on hoeing over and over again one tiny neighborhood or town. Michelle has a much wider view and much wider experience in all sorts of neighborhoods, all over Southern California. And she has the gas bills and tire/brake job invoices to prove it.
She has become a friend. She is a genuine person, grounded, no real estate agent airs, and she will make you laugh a lot along the way; Michelle is a naturally funny person. She can't help it. I can't recommend her too highly.
