For the second year in a row, Leo Nordine brokered the most residential real estate deals in Los Angeles County, selling 304 homes, just shy of his 1999 record of 308.
His top-ranking status means the 38 year old broker and die-hard surfer (who lives in a one bedroom apartment overlooking the beach) hasn’t taken a vacation in 10 years.
“On one hand, I am really focused on my business; I work from 7 to 7 during the week. But I’m equally focused on my health. It’s a nice atmosphere here. We don’t get stressed out.”
While Nordine sold about $62 million worth of homes last year, he still doesn’t live in his own home. He and his wife, Molly, who works with him handling all the escrow details, have been renting their Redondo Beach apartment for 11 years now. It is conveniently located above Nordine’s office, which is literally

on the sand, where he employs six full-time workers. It also just happens to overlook his favorite surfing spot. There is no computer on Nordines desk, and he doesn’t know how to use one. He spends 90% of his time on the phone, taking calls from agents about his listings and putting deals together. He also eschews voice mail, with a live person answering the phone 12 hours a day. “This business is about customer service. Agents who want to increase their business should focus on taking more care of their clients and less on their image. Nobody cares if you have a fancy house or car. Just be yourself.” While the Nordines don’t live in their own home, they’ve spent 14 years worth of commissions buying up over a dozen

beach bungalows and renting them out to save them from being razed by developers. Most of them are now owned clear. When business slows down, Nordine wants to build a small contemporary two bedroom house with a pool and a giant basement to warehouse his 100 vintage surfboards.

– Deborah Belgum